A friend sharpens a friend ...

As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend.
Proverbs 27:17

As we prepare for our time of worship with our family on Sunday, there are some thoughts that I would like to share. Many times we will not "feel" like worship. Many times we want to just stay home. Many times we feel like we are tired of the motions and just don't want to mess with it today. That's when we need to realize this: "They are like a heap of fresh and burning coals warming one another as a great strength and freshness and vigor of life flows into all." This is a quote from Isaac Pennington, a brother from our past. So often we forget how much we need our time together in worship. We need that time of praise and thanksgiving to God, and we need that time of warming each other up in our faith.

I sat in a dark basement tonight with our boys and some of our houseparents. I watched as "our" boys took turns leading their favorite worship songs, reading scriptures, and saying prayers. They were sharpening each other and didn't even know that they were doing it. I saw our boys encouraging each other before and after the worship time. I saw some boys trying to sing and actually listening to what the words were in the songs. They were a heap of burning coals warming the fire burning in my heart.

Let's walk into worship tomorrow with an expectancy. A heart longing for what God is going to do with and through us during our time together. I can't wait to worship with our family again.

Love and blessings to you all today.

Jason

My strength and my song ...

Exodus 15
A SONG OF DELIVERANCE

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD:

"I will sing to the LORD,
for he has triumphed gloriously;
he has hurled both horse and rider
into the sea.
The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.
This is my God, and I will praise him—
my father's God, and I will exalt him!
The LORD is a warrior;
Yahweh* is his name!
Pharaoh's chariots and army
he has hurled into the sea.
The finest of Pharaoh's officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.*
The deep waters gushed over them;
they sank to the bottom like a stone.

"Your right hand, O LORD,
is glorious in power.
Your right hand, O LORD,
smashes the enemy.
In the greatness of your majesty,
you overthrow those who rise against you.
You unleash your blazing fury;
it consumes them like straw.
At the blast of your breath,
the waters piled up!
The surging waters stood straight like a wall;
in the heart of the sea the deep waters became hard.

"The enemy boasted, 'I will chase them
and catch up with them.
I will plunder them
and consume them.
I will flash my sword;
my powerful hand will destroy them.'
But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.

"Who is like you among the gods, O LORD—
glorious in holiness,
awesome in splendor,
performing great wonders?
You raised your right hand,
and the earth swallowed our enemies.

"With your unfailing love you lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your might, you guide them
to your sacred home.
The peoples hear and tremble;
anguish grips those who live in Philistia.
The leaders of Edom are terrified;
the nobles of Moab tremble.
All who live in Canaan melt away;
terror and dread fall upon them.
The power of your arm
makes them lifeless as stone
until your people pass by, O LORD,
until the people you purchased pass by.
You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain—
the place, O LORD, reserved for your own dwelling,
the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established.
The LORD will reign forever and ever!"

What would your song be? How would you worship if you just saw locusts, frogs, darkness, blood, and your slave master's son die? If you just saw a huge pillar of fire keeping the Egyptians away from your children, how would you worship? If you just walked through a sea with starfish, and dead fish all around you, how would you worship? If you just saw a couple of dolphins swim by your very own water wall as you are holding your son's hand and walking, how would you worship?

The Israelites just had so many amazing things happen to them. This is how a couple of them worshiped. They made a song up with lyrics. They praised God for so many things. Sometimes all God is really wanting from his children is devotion. He wants to know that they are giving it their all. The Israelites were so excited to be leaving Egypt. God helped them through that situation. They worshiped.

How are you worshiping right now? Today was amazing. Our time of song and prayer and just being together was amazing. Being in the presence of God changes everything. Make a list of all of the things that keep you from living fully for Christ. Now make a list of all of the things that God has done in your life lately. Could you sing a song about it? Are you allowing God to deliver you?
God is longing to be in relationship with you. He is calling you right now to a life-long style of worship. Read this Psalm over again to yourself, and think of yourself as one of the Israelites on this journey. God revealed himself to them? How are you seeing God today? Worship is one of the main ways to truly fill our cups. Whether it is corporate, or individual, God is changing lives as you read this. Are you one of them?

Jason

In the presence of God ...

I was a junior in college at Harding University and I was asked to go with one of my friends to the 8:30 service at Downtown. I didn't know what to expect because I had already been to worship that morning, and then again to a small group at 5 pm. I remember thinking, that I had never had this much "church" in one day before.

As I walked into the gym at Downtown, I could feel this sense of something coming from many of the people in the room. There was nothing special about the room. We were in a gym and there were chairs placed all around the large room. Up in the front of the gym was a podium, a table with communion set out, and there was a screen that I guessed was for the songs. The singing began. We sang about five or six songs, and then the worship leader opened up the room for spontaneous singing. He said, "There will be a short thought to direct our minds, and then during the songs, when you are ready to come and take of the Lord's Supper, come and take them at the table or you can go wherever in the gym or outside."

Being from the traditional background that I was, I had never heard of anything like this before. I was a little shocked and almost like, what should I do? My answer came very quickly, because as the songs were sang throughout the gym, I felt this urge to remember. I wanted to remember what my Jesus did for me. I made it personal, but at the same time, I was there with so many of my friends and so many other Christians. We were all remembering Jesus together. I could feel his presence in the room. I could feel that God was there with us and this was very pleasing to him. I stood up and walked down the aisle to take the emblems and as I watched others take them at the table, I felt this urge to find a small corner of this huge building and just be alone with God.

I found my corner and just knelt down. I continued to sing and then just stopped and started praying out loud for what was going on in my life. I prayed for my spiritual walk and how I felt like for so long I had been so far away, I prayed about the spiritual life of my family and my friends, and I thanked God for his Son. I say I prayed out loud, because the singing was so amazing and beautiful, but very loud all at the same time. We all just felt so comfortable just singing at the top of our lungs. I remember feeling like that was one of the first times I truly felt God listening and taking away my burdens. I then took the bread and the juice and continued in worship on my knees. I left that evening in tears and with such a renewed sense of my faith.

This was the first time that I truly felt "Shekinah," or being in the glory of God. His presence was everywhere. I also truly felt "Koinonia" for the first time. There was a deep inward fellowship among us all that night. I will be using these two words this week in our devotional/discipline time. We have focused on Silence, Prayer, Study and now we have Worship. I am sure that many of us can think of these times in our lives where we felt like we were a church family truly dwelling in the presence and that deep indwelling connection to our brothers and sisters during and after worship. That is what I long for now. What about you? The more that we have this time of worship together, the more growth will happen and the more people will come to be a part of God's Kingdom, just by watching, listening, singing, and praying.

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47

Worship means so much more than just being in a building more often and sitting in pews and singing the same old songs, and listening to a sermon. Worship is in every day, and in everything that we do. Even being a part of the community we have at Westview, I can feel the spirit of the Lord everyday in discussions and in prayers. Worship is Shekinah, and it is Koinonia. Being together in the presence of God. Does it get any better that that?

Jason

Soaking up the story ...

One Sunday morning in mid-January a young man by the name of Mike came and visited our worship services. He came and joined in our youth class, and then afterward, one of our deacons invited him out to lunch. I just happened to go along on this lunch and got to know Mike even better. Our youth group ended up going over to someone's house that afternoon and hanging out and then meeting up again later for a small group at our house. Mike came to all of these.

As we sat and talked about our faith and what Jesus has done in our lives, Mike spoke of his faith and how he had grown up Catholic and where his family worshiped just seemed so fake. He said he was looking for something real to show him that God exists. That Sunday night he said that he thought he had found it. He mentioned all the ways that we had shown him hospitality that day and how we had been Jesus to him that day. That Thursday we met at our local Starbucks and had our every Thursday bible study and low and behold, Mike came. He just ate up every bit of what we discussed that Thursday afternoon. He soaked up all he could about Jesus and that afternoon he decided that he wanted to give his life to Jesus. We baptized him that evening. It was amazing. He heard the Word of the Lord. He dug into every passage of scripture that I showed him and could quote some of the passages. He was a spiritual sponge. He still is.

Hear the word of God:

On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors. They remained standing in place for three hours* while the Book of the Law of the LORD their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their God. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the stairway of the Levites and cried out to the LORD their God with loud voices.

Then the leaders of the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—called out to the people: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!" Then they prayed:

"May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise!

"You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them.. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.

"You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans and renamed him Abraham. When he had proved himself faithful, you made a covenant with him to give him and his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word.

"You saw the misery of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cries from beside the Red Sea. You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, his officials, and all his people, for you knew how arrogantly they were treating our ancestors. You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten. You divided the sea for your people so they could walk through on dry land! And then you hurled their enemies into the depths of the sea. They sank like stones beneath the mighty waters. You led our ancestors by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night so that they could find their way.

"You came down at Mount Sinai and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and instructions that were just, and decrees and commands that were good. You instructed them concerning your holy Sabbath. And you commanded them, through Moses your servant, to obey all your commands, decrees, and instructions.

"You gave them bread from heaven when they were hungry and water from the rock when they were thirsty. You commanded them to go and take possession of the land you had sworn to give them.

"But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands. They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them, even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, 'This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!' They committed terrible blasphemies.

"But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!

"Then you helped our ancestors conquer kingdoms and nations, and you placed your people in every corner of the land. They took over the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan. You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land you had promised to their ancestors.

"They went in and took possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them. Even the Canaanites, who inhabited the land, were powerless! Your people could deal with these nations and their kings as they pleased. Our ancestors captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, with cisterns already dug and vineyards and olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate until they were full and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in all your blessings.

"But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies. So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer. But in their time of trouble they cried to you, and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies.

"But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, and once more you let their enemies conquer them. Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times!

"You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen. In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn't listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them. But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!

"And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now. Every time you punished us you were being just. We have sinned greatly, and you gave us only what we deserved. Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your Law or listen to the warnings in your commands and laws. Even while they had their own kingdom, they did not serve you, though you showered your goodness on them. You gave them a large, fertile land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness.

"So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land. The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery."

The people responded, "In view of all this, we are making a solemn promise and putting it in writing. On this sealed document are the names of our leaders and Levites and priests."
Nehemiah 9:1-38

I know this is a lot of reading, but it is the story of a people who were lost and knew it, but now they have found their way back, by hearing the Word of the Lord. Just like Mike. The Word of God convicts, changes, and reestablishes our feet on solid ground. I pray it convicts us all today and the rest of our lives. Take the time to read, soak it up, and then like Mike and like the Israelites, make the promise to change.

Jason

Making it clear ...

Hear the word of God:

Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!"

Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The Levites--Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah--instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Nehemiah 8:5-10

How does reading the Word of the Lord make you feel? Do you find yourself so excited to read it that you are practically crying the entire time? Do you feel so overcome with joy at the knowledge that is pouring out of the scripture?

So many of God’s people had come back from being away from home for so long. They hadn't had the ability probably to read the word of the Lord. They did not have much knowledge of the Word of the Lord. They were just a people without a home.

The Word was read by Ezra and lives began to change. The Israelites were so excited they fell to their faces and worshipped the Lord. When was the last time you felt that?

I pray that in our time of study together, you have felt the urge to be in the Word more and to allow the Words of the Father to pour over your soul. The people in this story felt like a people without a home and a God. Yet when they came back home, they were reminded of their love for God’s word by Ezra reading scripture most of the day, and by their just standing there, listening and taking it all in. Hopefully we can all be this way. Hopefully we can all have the same attitude as we approach our God through scripture.

Read through this passage in Nehemiah. Read through Nehemiah and imagine yourself there in that crowd, building those walls, rebuilding the city, hearing the Word of the Lord read aloud for the first time in years, and maybe for the first time ever. We will dig into more of this scripture tomorrow, but for now, take the time to let his Word bring you to your knees. Ezra and the Israelites stood there the whole time dwelling in the Word and taking it in. Can't we spend a little more time ourselves? I wonder what would happen?

Jason

Imagining the story ...

It has become more and more evident that I need to set up study times with my children, but as we all know, it can be very difficult to find the time. A couple of weeks ago my son, in all of his wisdom, came up to me and asked if we could do a Bible study together. I started putting it on our chore list in the mornings for our family to do together. I can always find the time for my own personal study in the morning, but it has been difficult lately to sit down as a family amidst all the busyness. That first morning we sat and started studying this passage. We even read the passage out of Elijah's little Bible that he was given to take to Bible class. This is the passage we read.

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. 'Teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?'

'What is written in the Law?' he replied. 'How do you read it?'

He answered: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.'

'You have answered correctly,' Jesus replied.

' And who is my neighbor?'

In reply Jesus said: 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, 'Look after him,' he said 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?'

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him.'

Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.'

We read this story as a family and asked the questions that Jesus did. Who was the neighbor? The coolest thing happened that day. Our children fell in love with being in the story of Jesus. They started asking questions about the Good Samaritan, and how they could be a good Samaritan too. We made a little list of ways we can serve others. Ever since that day Elijah has been trying to find ways of serving others.

It is so important that we make the Bible come alive both to ourselves and to our family. When we study the Bible, we can dwell on a passage long enough and let it soak into our lives to the point that we are a part of the story. Our kids actually imagined the story in their own eyes. They imagined the good Samaritan putting Band-Aids on the hurt man. They imagined the robbers on top of a mountain looking down on the poor man. The story became so real to them that they actually wanted to live like the good Samaritan. I have been studying for years from the Bible and in that one afternoon of studying with my children I heard so much theology just flowing out of my kids. The things we can learn from studying. Wow!

We as parents need take some time to sit with our children, as much as we can, and read with them. We can make the Word come alive to them. We can let it come alive for us. Let’s act on what we read. Like in the Good Samaritan story, we can find some kind of service project we can do as a family.

The Word of God is living and active in our lives.

Jason

Luke 10:25-37

My heart's delight ...

Hear the word of God:

Oh, how I love your instructions!
I think about them all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are my constant guide.
Yes, I have more insight than my teachers,
for I am always thinking of your laws.
I am even wiser than my elders,
for I have kept your commandments.
I have refused to walk on any evil path,
so that I may remain obedient to your word.
I haven't turned away from your regulations,
for you have taught me well.
How sweet your words taste to me;
they are sweeter than honey.
Your commandments give me understanding;
no wonder I hate every false way of life.

NUN
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
I've promised it once, and I'll promise it again:
I will obey your righteous regulations.
I have suffered much, O LORD;
restore my life again as you promised.
LORD, accept my offering of praise,
and teach me your regulations.
My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
The wicked have set their traps for me,
but I will not turn from your commandments.
Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart's delight.
I am determined to keep your decrees
to the very end.

SAMEKH
I hate those with divided loyalties,
but I love your instructions.
You are my refuge and my shield;
your word is my source of hope.
Get out of my life, you evil-minded people,
for I intend to obey the commands of my God.
LORD, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!
Do not let my hope be crushed.
Sustain me, and I will be rescued;
then I will meditate continually on your decrees.
But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees.
They are only fooling themselves.
You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum;
no wonder I love to obey your laws!
I tremble in fear of you;
I stand in awe of your regulations.

AYIN
Don't leave me to the mercy of my enemies,
for I have done what is just and right.
Please guarantee a blessing for me.
Don't let the arrogant oppress me!
My eyes strain to see your rescue,
to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.
I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love,
and teach me your decrees.
Give discernment to me, your servant;
then I will understand your laws.
LORD, it is time for you to act,
for these evil people have violated your instructions.
Truly, I love your commands
more than gold, even the finest gold.
Each of your commandments is right.
That is why I hate every false way.

Psalm 119:97-128

Blessings,

Jason