Hear the word of the Lord from Psalm 34:
I will bless the LORD at all times;
praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together.
Every day is the right day,
every time is the right time to praise God.
Those who are humble, and not totally tangled up
in their own lives will hear, and gladly add
their voices to the song.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him, and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD,
and was saved from every trouble.
Our worship does not protect us from fear,
But faithfully practiced, it will deliver us from fear.
Though we may be troubled, let us never be ashamed.
May our hope in our God change the look on our face
And the way that we walk.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those
who fear him, and delivers them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
Not all messengers are visible, not all angelic hosts are seen;
remember the servant of Elisha and the hills
around their camp that great day.
Even beyond that, remember the name Emmanuel –
God is with us – because God is really with us.
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift his countenance upon you –
and give you peace.
Ron
Psalm 34:1-8; 2 Kings 6:17; Number 6:24-27
Showing posts with label worship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label worship. Show all posts
Friday, August 14, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Who could stand?
Hear the word of the Lord:
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!
To be down in the depths is to be in over your head,
Buried in things to do, responsibilities to cover,
Jobs that get missed, commitments that fall short.
Anyone with any sense would cry out to God;
plead with him for help,
pray for his undivided attention.
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.
If God really were a cosmic traffic cop,
there would be so many warrants for our arrest
that Dillinger would blush for looking the amateur.
If God were the kind of judge some of my brethren
expect to meet “on the day”, then I would advise
that they go stock up on barbecue sauce, because
they’ll be on the rotisserie soon enough. Yet,
Somehow God knows of our iniquities, and
We’re still standing as if nothing happened.
Something significant has happened, though;
God has been true to his real identity:
He cleans up messes that Hercules wouldn’t touch.
He is helper of the certifiably helpless.
He is the redeemer of those who have indebted
themselves into a slick pit of slavery.
He is the savior of lost people in lost causes,
and the praise of our lips, our lives,
is all that we can hope to offer him.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
That is not to say that this Holy One, this Other,
will jump to our whim, our whistle, or our whining.
Sometimes he seems even to miss when we’re
really in need, really victims, really righteous.
We had best understand that we don’t understand
how he works, or when he works, at all.
We are not told to understand, though,
but to be found faithful, to be found waiting.
Sometimes the wait is long, as long as the night
watch in the hours before dawn: dark, dark,
and dark until a soul is dizzy with the dark.
Yet no matter how dark the dark, or deep the dark,
or long the dark, we must not lose hope.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.
His steadfast love will save his people;
that is why I want to be found waiting among
his people, today, and in the day.
Blessings,
Ron
Psalm 130 – NRSV
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!
To be down in the depths is to be in over your head,
Buried in things to do, responsibilities to cover,
Jobs that get missed, commitments that fall short.
Anyone with any sense would cry out to God;
plead with him for help,
pray for his undivided attention.
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.
If God really were a cosmic traffic cop,
there would be so many warrants for our arrest
that Dillinger would blush for looking the amateur.
If God were the kind of judge some of my brethren
expect to meet “on the day”, then I would advise
that they go stock up on barbecue sauce, because
they’ll be on the rotisserie soon enough. Yet,
Somehow God knows of our iniquities, and
We’re still standing as if nothing happened.
Something significant has happened, though;
God has been true to his real identity:
He cleans up messes that Hercules wouldn’t touch.
He is helper of the certifiably helpless.
He is the redeemer of those who have indebted
themselves into a slick pit of slavery.
He is the savior of lost people in lost causes,
and the praise of our lips, our lives,
is all that we can hope to offer him.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
That is not to say that this Holy One, this Other,
will jump to our whim, our whistle, or our whining.
Sometimes he seems even to miss when we’re
really in need, really victims, really righteous.
We had best understand that we don’t understand
how he works, or when he works, at all.
We are not told to understand, though,
but to be found faithful, to be found waiting.
Sometimes the wait is long, as long as the night
watch in the hours before dawn: dark, dark,
and dark until a soul is dizzy with the dark.
Yet no matter how dark the dark, or deep the dark,
or long the dark, we must not lose hope.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.
His steadfast love will save his people;
that is why I want to be found waiting among
his people, today, and in the day.
Blessings,
Ron
Psalm 130 – NRSV
Monday, April 13, 2009
Freedom to be vulnerable ...
Over the next few days I will be sharing some of the closing thoughts from our team members. I wanted to close down this devotional experience this way so we can all hear the hearts of our brothers and sisters in the trenches with us. I wanted to share with you some of what I have heard and felt over the past few months of this experience. Thank you all for your help and encouragement along the way.
Jason
Angela’s Thoughts
Good morning! I had something I wanted to share with you before the day of "business" began :)
One memorable experience I had in regarding to your awesome devotional schedule is from a different perspective.
I don't remember what it was that kept me from the meeting this particular morning, but it was the morning that you discussed worship and had a lengthy time of singing as a group. I have thought about that morning many times since knowing I missed it.
I have tried to envision what the group sounded like, tried to imagine what the room felt like, what everyone's faces looked like, and tried to recreate what my heart may have felt in those moments. And I find myself very saddened that I missed such a beautiful moment of spiritual intimacy shared with my closest friends and family. Personally, I need to sing as a channel of encouragement and connection to God, as well as listen to music that praises our God. We have replaced a lot of TV time by listening to the Christian XM station on the satellite, but it's just not the same and it never can be as hearing the combined voices of those who love God and each other deeply. I know that it's taught over and over again about "not forsaking the assembly" out of respect for the elders, the congregation, and your own relationship with God. But never have I felt the repercussions of "forsaking" the assembly so strongly than to know what I missed out on. I can't imagine going through life, let alone a job like we have, without that sense of family, belonging, connection, and even sorrow when opportunities for time spent together are lost out on.
It is difficult for someone with my temperament to admit that I am in need of anything. But there is no denying the fact that I need my friends. I need my brothers and sisters. I need their encouragement through their presence, their prayers, their words, and their songs. To pretend otherwise is both cowardly and selfish. Praise be to God and His Son, that we have the freedom to be vulnerable with each other and that that vulnerability completes God's plan for His Kingdom, both now and in eternity.
Thanks for a wonderful time of challenge and growth <>< Angela
(hint, hint: can we please sing again sometime)
Jason
Angela’s Thoughts
Good morning! I had something I wanted to share with you before the day of "business" began :)
One memorable experience I had in regarding to your awesome devotional schedule is from a different perspective.
I don't remember what it was that kept me from the meeting this particular morning, but it was the morning that you discussed worship and had a lengthy time of singing as a group. I have thought about that morning many times since knowing I missed it.
I have tried to envision what the group sounded like, tried to imagine what the room felt like, what everyone's faces looked like, and tried to recreate what my heart may have felt in those moments. And I find myself very saddened that I missed such a beautiful moment of spiritual intimacy shared with my closest friends and family. Personally, I need to sing as a channel of encouragement and connection to God, as well as listen to music that praises our God. We have replaced a lot of TV time by listening to the Christian XM station on the satellite, but it's just not the same and it never can be as hearing the combined voices of those who love God and each other deeply. I know that it's taught over and over again about "not forsaking the assembly" out of respect for the elders, the congregation, and your own relationship with God. But never have I felt the repercussions of "forsaking" the assembly so strongly than to know what I missed out on. I can't imagine going through life, let alone a job like we have, without that sense of family, belonging, connection, and even sorrow when opportunities for time spent together are lost out on.
It is difficult for someone with my temperament to admit that I am in need of anything. But there is no denying the fact that I need my friends. I need my brothers and sisters. I need their encouragement through their presence, their prayers, their words, and their songs. To pretend otherwise is both cowardly and selfish. Praise be to God and His Son, that we have the freedom to be vulnerable with each other and that that vulnerability completes God's plan for His Kingdom, both now and in eternity.
Thanks for a wonderful time of challenge and growth <>< Angela
(hint, hint: can we please sing again sometime)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Learning his vocabulary
“I dedicated one whole year to learning how to live with a perpetual openness to Jesus as my present Teacher. I determined to learn his vocabulary: is he addressing me through those singing birds or that sad face? I sought to allow him to move through every action: my fingers while writing, my voice while speaking. My desire was to punctuate each minute with inward whisperings of adoration, praise, and thanksgiving. Often I failed for hours, even days at a time. But each time I came back and tried again. That year did many things for me, but it especially heightened my sense of expectancy in public worship. After all, he had graciously spoken to me in dozens of little ways throughout the week; he will certainly speak to me here as well. In addition, I found it increasingly easier to distinguish his voice from the blare of everyday life.
“When more than one or two come into public worship with a holy expectancy, it can change the atmosphere of a room. People who enter harried and distracted are drawn quickly into a sense of the silent Presence. Hearts and minds are lifted upward. The air becomes charged with expectancy.”
Richard Foster
I don’t think that any of us know what to expect when it comes to worship. Sometimes we walk into a worship service and we are already frustrated at the happenings of the day, and then we start getting distracted. You are worried about a relationship, you are upset that the song leader is singing too many songs you don’t know, you are tired, you may fall asleep, you have a problem with the sermon, or the minister, and the list keeps going on. When we focused on worship early on in this spiritual formation process I quoted the above thoughts from Richard Foster. What if we did enter into a worship service with this attitude? What if we entered into every day with this attitude? Can you imagine what would happen?
During one of our devotional experiences we lit candles and prayed and sang songs for close to 45 minutes. I thought that it was an amazing time of drawing nearer to God. So many of you felt the same way as I did and we walked away with such an uplifted spirit.
Psalm 63
O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
I have personally been thirsting for God ever since that moment. It was a longing, but it was something that even when I had those times of worship, it just left me wanting more. Did you feel that way? It was pure. It was holy. Do we desire more of that? I think we can all say a resounding yes. How can we try and make sure that it happens? We need to start by expecting God to work in the lives of those we work with, those we work for, and those we come in contact with every day. Spend some time in worship today. Take a few minutes and just sing, or put on some Christian music and just sing at the top of your voice. Pray constantly and deeply for those you love. Worship begins right where you are. You do not have to be in a pew on a Sunday morning to experience it. I am expecting things to change in the lives of those who are reading this right now. God, please bless each heart and help them to seek you and praise you with wholehearted devotion. The more we stay in the presence of God, the easier it becomes to see those worship moments every day of our lives.
Start expecting God to move and look around for the change.
Your fellow worshiper,
Jason
“When more than one or two come into public worship with a holy expectancy, it can change the atmosphere of a room. People who enter harried and distracted are drawn quickly into a sense of the silent Presence. Hearts and minds are lifted upward. The air becomes charged with expectancy.”
Richard Foster
I don’t think that any of us know what to expect when it comes to worship. Sometimes we walk into a worship service and we are already frustrated at the happenings of the day, and then we start getting distracted. You are worried about a relationship, you are upset that the song leader is singing too many songs you don’t know, you are tired, you may fall asleep, you have a problem with the sermon, or the minister, and the list keeps going on. When we focused on worship early on in this spiritual formation process I quoted the above thoughts from Richard Foster. What if we did enter into a worship service with this attitude? What if we entered into every day with this attitude? Can you imagine what would happen?
During one of our devotional experiences we lit candles and prayed and sang songs for close to 45 minutes. I thought that it was an amazing time of drawing nearer to God. So many of you felt the same way as I did and we walked away with such an uplifted spirit.
Psalm 63
O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
I have personally been thirsting for God ever since that moment. It was a longing, but it was something that even when I had those times of worship, it just left me wanting more. Did you feel that way? It was pure. It was holy. Do we desire more of that? I think we can all say a resounding yes. How can we try and make sure that it happens? We need to start by expecting God to work in the lives of those we work with, those we work for, and those we come in contact with every day. Spend some time in worship today. Take a few minutes and just sing, or put on some Christian music and just sing at the top of your voice. Pray constantly and deeply for those you love. Worship begins right where you are. You do not have to be in a pew on a Sunday morning to experience it. I am expecting things to change in the lives of those who are reading this right now. God, please bless each heart and help them to seek you and praise you with wholehearted devotion. The more we stay in the presence of God, the easier it becomes to see those worship moments every day of our lives.
Start expecting God to move and look around for the change.
Your fellow worshiper,
Jason
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
You have become so dear to me ...
Today, I received an email from a deacon at the last congregation where we worked and worshipped. As I read this email and began to pray for the prayer request in the email, I realized something. We may have moved 1,300 miles away from our brothers and sisters up in Pittsburgh, but I still feel the closeness and the love in my heart that I did on the day that we left.
Dave, who is the deacon I mentioned earlier, is such a giving man. His passion for the Lord and doing the right thing explodes out of every pore of his body. I cannot tell you the times that he bent over backwards to help someone else out. As the worship leader there, you couldn’t have found a better person to watch during worship, because he was pouring his heart out with every word he sung. The day that I told the congregation that we had chosen to move away and the reasons why we were moving, he felt cut to the heart. We left the congregation because we couldn’t afford to live in that area with our growing family and the amount they were able to pay me. I hate that this was our reason, but we had to think of our family’s well-being. Anyway, Dave came up to me afterwards with check book in hand and said, “How much do you need to get you guys to stay with us?” Can I tell you how tempted I was to take that money so we could stay and worship with our family there?
We had a bond. There was a connection in Spirit, in heart, and in passion. So many great things had happened and were happening. We love our Pittsburgh family. Dave reminded me of something today. He reminded me of the Community! We were a community concerned for each others' well being. We were concerned about each other’s kids. We were all there for each other. I never doubt the love they had for all of us. Our kids learned so much about God and His family while we were at Crossroads.
We love you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. - 1 Thessalonians 2:8
This family meant so much to us. They still do, but we have been led here to this community. We are a family working, living, crying, hurting, loving, ministering, worshipping, serving, and being together. We have all been drawn here for a reason. We have all come from varying backgrounds. The amazing thing though, is that I believe that God placed us all in each other’s lives for a reason. Did you know that community is a discipline? Practicing being together is a discipline. Some of you may think that this should be something so easy to practice. We are together a lot, so doesn’t that make us a community practicing community anyway? Part of this community is realizing that we are sharing in all of this together. Not only the good times and the fun times, but the hard times as well.
Others…become agents of grace in our growth toward wholeness in Christ while we become agents of God’s grace to their growth. - Robert Mulholland
I want to challenge us all to practice intentional friendship. Practice a friendship that goes beyond just the shallow knowledge of each other. Some are already setting aside time to sit down and study together. They pray and read the Word together. They share their hearts and have this time where they are being vulnerable and close to each other. That is a great part of the community. That is being with each other in the strongest way possible. I am responsible to make sure you are growing closer to God. You are responsible for me as well. We are responsible for showing this community to our boys and letting them know that this is a safe place to be together and grow together in ways they have never grown before.
I want to challenge you all to think of ways that you can grow closer in this spiritual sense in our community. If you feel drawn to form a bible study group, or just meet and pray once a week together in our coffee shop, or whatever, listen to that Spirit’s tug in your heart and do it. Think of it this way, if I have become so dear to you, like in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, what are you doing to help me grow in my faith? We should all be asking ourselves that question about each other every day. Take the time to consider what you are doing and follow the Spirit’s guidance as he leads us all into a deeper community of believers.
I love you my brothers and sisters!
Jason
Dave, who is the deacon I mentioned earlier, is such a giving man. His passion for the Lord and doing the right thing explodes out of every pore of his body. I cannot tell you the times that he bent over backwards to help someone else out. As the worship leader there, you couldn’t have found a better person to watch during worship, because he was pouring his heart out with every word he sung. The day that I told the congregation that we had chosen to move away and the reasons why we were moving, he felt cut to the heart. We left the congregation because we couldn’t afford to live in that area with our growing family and the amount they were able to pay me. I hate that this was our reason, but we had to think of our family’s well-being. Anyway, Dave came up to me afterwards with check book in hand and said, “How much do you need to get you guys to stay with us?” Can I tell you how tempted I was to take that money so we could stay and worship with our family there?
We had a bond. There was a connection in Spirit, in heart, and in passion. So many great things had happened and were happening. We love our Pittsburgh family. Dave reminded me of something today. He reminded me of the Community! We were a community concerned for each others' well being. We were concerned about each other’s kids. We were all there for each other. I never doubt the love they had for all of us. Our kids learned so much about God and His family while we were at Crossroads.
We love you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. - 1 Thessalonians 2:8
This family meant so much to us. They still do, but we have been led here to this community. We are a family working, living, crying, hurting, loving, ministering, worshipping, serving, and being together. We have all been drawn here for a reason. We have all come from varying backgrounds. The amazing thing though, is that I believe that God placed us all in each other’s lives for a reason. Did you know that community is a discipline? Practicing being together is a discipline. Some of you may think that this should be something so easy to practice. We are together a lot, so doesn’t that make us a community practicing community anyway? Part of this community is realizing that we are sharing in all of this together. Not only the good times and the fun times, but the hard times as well.
Others…become agents of grace in our growth toward wholeness in Christ while we become agents of God’s grace to their growth. - Robert Mulholland
I want to challenge us all to practice intentional friendship. Practice a friendship that goes beyond just the shallow knowledge of each other. Some are already setting aside time to sit down and study together. They pray and read the Word together. They share their hearts and have this time where they are being vulnerable and close to each other. That is a great part of the community. That is being with each other in the strongest way possible. I am responsible to make sure you are growing closer to God. You are responsible for me as well. We are responsible for showing this community to our boys and letting them know that this is a safe place to be together and grow together in ways they have never grown before.
I want to challenge you all to think of ways that you can grow closer in this spiritual sense in our community. If you feel drawn to form a bible study group, or just meet and pray once a week together in our coffee shop, or whatever, listen to that Spirit’s tug in your heart and do it. Think of it this way, if I have become so dear to you, like in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, what are you doing to help me grow in my faith? We should all be asking ourselves that question about each other every day. Take the time to consider what you are doing and follow the Spirit’s guidance as he leads us all into a deeper community of believers.
I love you my brothers and sisters!
Jason
Monday, March 30, 2009
Glimpses of hope ...
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. Philippians 1:3-7
Today I was reminded of something. We were having our Impact class this morning and we did an activity that involved worshipping together, praying together, and taking the Lord’s Supper together. Eight boys in our class and I sat in a circle and read from the scriptures. They partnered up and said prayers for each other that brought a couple to tears, and they sang songs that sounded so beautiful that we had people standing outside the doors worshipping with us.
Since the boys were partnered up, I was the odd man out so I sat out of the experience and allowed the boys to all play a part. One of our boys stood up towards the end of the time and brought me the bread and the juice. He asked another of our boys to continue in song while he prayed for me. I sat there and allowed him to pray over me and I took the communion. I was actually brought to tears, because this boy thought of me. So often there are times when we wonder whether or not the people we are teaching, actually get it. This was a “Yeah God!” moment where I wanted to shout it from the rooftops and stand and say, “Hallelujah, they are getting something!”
We had another moment like this at Winterfest, where a few of us house dads were given the honor of having our feet washed by some of our boys. That was just another time where God used the bits and pieces of the Message that we have all been bringing into the lives of our boys, to truly start a transformation process in their lives.
I chose the passage in Philippians because that is something that I can see myself saying about some of our boys right now. “A good work,” has begun in the lives of our boys. God, who began that good work, will carry it on to completion. I celebrate and thank our God that he is showing these little glimpses of hope that our ministry is definitely not in vain. Not that I ever thought that our work was in vain, but we all need a little “Yeah God!” moment in our lives now and again.
If you have had some of these moments in your life, please share them with us all, because we all need a chance to celebrate in the great things that God is doing in our lives and in the lives of those we love so dearly. There are many different ways of practicing Celebration, but seeing those glimpses of hope and God’s glory in our ministry are definitely something we all need. Celebrate the great things that are happening in your life and ministry by sharing them with your co-laborers, with your family, and with your friends. Praise God for those we love and wrestle in prayer over. Thank God for those you love, and tell them!
Thanks for allowing me to be a part of this ministry with you all!
Jason
Today I was reminded of something. We were having our Impact class this morning and we did an activity that involved worshipping together, praying together, and taking the Lord’s Supper together. Eight boys in our class and I sat in a circle and read from the scriptures. They partnered up and said prayers for each other that brought a couple to tears, and they sang songs that sounded so beautiful that we had people standing outside the doors worshipping with us.
Since the boys were partnered up, I was the odd man out so I sat out of the experience and allowed the boys to all play a part. One of our boys stood up towards the end of the time and brought me the bread and the juice. He asked another of our boys to continue in song while he prayed for me. I sat there and allowed him to pray over me and I took the communion. I was actually brought to tears, because this boy thought of me. So often there are times when we wonder whether or not the people we are teaching, actually get it. This was a “Yeah God!” moment where I wanted to shout it from the rooftops and stand and say, “Hallelujah, they are getting something!”
We had another moment like this at Winterfest, where a few of us house dads were given the honor of having our feet washed by some of our boys. That was just another time where God used the bits and pieces of the Message that we have all been bringing into the lives of our boys, to truly start a transformation process in their lives.
I chose the passage in Philippians because that is something that I can see myself saying about some of our boys right now. “A good work,” has begun in the lives of our boys. God, who began that good work, will carry it on to completion. I celebrate and thank our God that he is showing these little glimpses of hope that our ministry is definitely not in vain. Not that I ever thought that our work was in vain, but we all need a little “Yeah God!” moment in our lives now and again.
If you have had some of these moments in your life, please share them with us all, because we all need a chance to celebrate in the great things that God is doing in our lives and in the lives of those we love so dearly. There are many different ways of practicing Celebration, but seeing those glimpses of hope and God’s glory in our ministry are definitely something we all need. Celebrate the great things that are happening in your life and ministry by sharing them with your co-laborers, with your family, and with your friends. Praise God for those we love and wrestle in prayer over. Thank God for those you love, and tell them!
Thanks for allowing me to be a part of this ministry with you all!
Jason
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Change the subject ...
Hear the word of God:
Please, sir," the woman said, "give me this water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to get water."
"Go and get your husband," Jesus told her.
"I don't have a husband," the woman replied.
Jesus said, "You're right! You don't have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!"
"Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?"
Jesus replied, "Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
The woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Then Jesus told her, "I AM the Messiah!"
John 4:15-26
Jesus knew the woman at the well before she even showed up. He knew the type of life she had been living. When she asked for the living water so she would never thirst again, he brought up a sore topic. He brought up the fact that she had been living in sin for a while. The woman told the truth, but she was convicted. She changed the subject quickly onto worship. She knew this man had to be someone special, but she didn't want to talk about her personal life anymore. Where are we supposed to worship? Jesus told her that true worshipers worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The woman stated that she knew the Messiah was coming, then Jesus said those resounding words. I AM the Messiah! What would you have done in her shoes, or sandals?
In looking through this passage and trying to put our lives into it, I am challenged because I believe that we go through conversations like this one every day. People come and talk to us or a conversation just happens and when we challenge them with the right thing to do, the subject is changed. They don't want to always admit their wrongs, or talk about what they have been through. Shouldn't we understand this. We have been there too. I would guess that there are some of us who would change the subject ourselves. Jesus had to help her look past where she had been and showed her that he was who she had been longing for in her heart for so long.
The boys we minister to, and the people we work with everyday are watching us and they can see if we are reflecting the love of Jesus. They can see if we are pointing them in the direction of the Son, or if we seem to be as lost as they do. Spend some time in a peaceful setting today and let God show you where you have been and if there are things you need to deal with, then lay them at the feet of Jesus. Spend some time preparing your heart, so you are able to point others to the Messiah!
Jason
Please, sir," the woman said, "give me this water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to get water."
"Go and get your husband," Jesus told her.
"I don't have a husband," the woman replied.
Jesus said, "You're right! You don't have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!"
"Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?"
Jesus replied, "Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
The woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Then Jesus told her, "I AM the Messiah!"
John 4:15-26
Jesus knew the woman at the well before she even showed up. He knew the type of life she had been living. When she asked for the living water so she would never thirst again, he brought up a sore topic. He brought up the fact that she had been living in sin for a while. The woman told the truth, but she was convicted. She changed the subject quickly onto worship. She knew this man had to be someone special, but she didn't want to talk about her personal life anymore. Where are we supposed to worship? Jesus told her that true worshipers worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The woman stated that she knew the Messiah was coming, then Jesus said those resounding words. I AM the Messiah! What would you have done in her shoes, or sandals?
In looking through this passage and trying to put our lives into it, I am challenged because I believe that we go through conversations like this one every day. People come and talk to us or a conversation just happens and when we challenge them with the right thing to do, the subject is changed. They don't want to always admit their wrongs, or talk about what they have been through. Shouldn't we understand this. We have been there too. I would guess that there are some of us who would change the subject ourselves. Jesus had to help her look past where she had been and showed her that he was who she had been longing for in her heart for so long.
The boys we minister to, and the people we work with everyday are watching us and they can see if we are reflecting the love of Jesus. They can see if we are pointing them in the direction of the Son, or if we seem to be as lost as they do. Spend some time in a peaceful setting today and let God show you where you have been and if there are things you need to deal with, then lay them at the feet of Jesus. Spend some time preparing your heart, so you are able to point others to the Messiah!
Jason
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Living water ...
We will talk about one key passage over the next several days. Hear the word of God:
Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them—his disciples did). So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?"
Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."
"But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?"
Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."
"Please, sir," the woman said, "give me this water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to get water."
"Go and get your husband," Jesus told her.
"I don't have a husband," the woman replied.
Jesus said, "You're right! You don't have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!"
"Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?"
Jesus replied, "Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
The woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Then Jesus told her, "I AM the Messiah!"
John 4:1-26 – NLT
Blessings,
Jason
Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John (though Jesus himself didn't baptize them—his disciples did). So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?"
Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."
"But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said, "and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?"
Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."
"Please, sir," the woman said, "give me this water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to get water."
"Go and get your husband," Jesus told her.
"I don't have a husband," the woman replied.
Jesus said, "You're right! You don't have a husband— for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!"
"Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?"
Jesus replied, "Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it's here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
The woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Then Jesus told her, "I AM the Messiah!"
John 4:1-26 – NLT
Blessings,
Jason
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Here I am to worship ...
Paul and Silas in Prison
One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved."
This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And instantly it left her.
Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. "The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted to the city officials. "They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice."
A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, "Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!"
The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household." And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, "Let those men go!"
So the jailer told Paul, "The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace."
But Paul replied, "They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!"
When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.
Acts 16:16-40 NLT
Every time I read this passage of scripture, I am blown away at Paul and Silas' attitude of worship. No matter where they were or what had just happened to them today, they were hardcore God-followers, longing to have that close time with their Father. I hope that over the past week, you have had so many of those times with your Father. I know that I can feel God working and moving in my life in ways that I haven't experienced in a long time. I am seeing changes in the lives of those around me, and I even have been noticing changes in some of our boys.
Tonight at the Wellington Athletic Center, we all decided to take our boys and our families to just get some time and get some exercise and have some fun. While we were there, a woman walked up to me and asked me where we were from. I told her that we were from the Westview Boys Home and that we are here just having fun together. She asked me several questions about our ministry, and she commented that she could tell that we were "church" people as she called it. She said that she hadn't seen such polite young men in a long time. She commented that she had a grandson that has had so many problems lately that she wished she had a place like Westview that she could contact and get some help for him. I gave her the office phone number. We will see if she calls.
What does this have to do with anything? Paul and Silas had so many things happen to them. No one would have blamed them if they had done a little complaining that day, but they worshiped. They lived their lives and spent their time in such a way as to let everyone around them know who they love and what they stand for. I believe that our boys were doing that tonight. One of the boys was even running around the gym singing "Here I Am to Worship". How appropriate could you get?! God moves in our lives. He is working every day just trying to break down the barriers in your life. Once he has started breaking through, he wants to overflow into the lives of those around you. Paul and Silas witnessed this firsthand and the Kingdom grew that day. I pray that you can see the change in your own life as we continue on our journey to spiritual growth.
Jason
One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved."
This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And instantly it left her.
Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. "The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted to the city officials. "They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice."
A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, "Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!"
The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household." And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, "Let those men go!"
So the jailer told Paul, "The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace."
But Paul replied, "They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!"
When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.
Acts 16:16-40 NLT
Every time I read this passage of scripture, I am blown away at Paul and Silas' attitude of worship. No matter where they were or what had just happened to them today, they were hardcore God-followers, longing to have that close time with their Father. I hope that over the past week, you have had so many of those times with your Father. I know that I can feel God working and moving in my life in ways that I haven't experienced in a long time. I am seeing changes in the lives of those around me, and I even have been noticing changes in some of our boys.
Tonight at the Wellington Athletic Center, we all decided to take our boys and our families to just get some time and get some exercise and have some fun. While we were there, a woman walked up to me and asked me where we were from. I told her that we were from the Westview Boys Home and that we are here just having fun together. She asked me several questions about our ministry, and she commented that she could tell that we were "church" people as she called it. She said that she hadn't seen such polite young men in a long time. She commented that she had a grandson that has had so many problems lately that she wished she had a place like Westview that she could contact and get some help for him. I gave her the office phone number. We will see if she calls.
What does this have to do with anything? Paul and Silas had so many things happen to them. No one would have blamed them if they had done a little complaining that day, but they worshiped. They lived their lives and spent their time in such a way as to let everyone around them know who they love and what they stand for. I believe that our boys were doing that tonight. One of the boys was even running around the gym singing "Here I Am to Worship". How appropriate could you get?! God moves in our lives. He is working every day just trying to break down the barriers in your life. Once he has started breaking through, he wants to overflow into the lives of those around you. Paul and Silas witnessed this firsthand and the Kingdom grew that day. I pray that you can see the change in your own life as we continue on our journey to spiritual growth.
Jason
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Then sings my soul ...
I know that you are busy. I know that so much is happening around you. I know that you feel like you have so many people and situations calling your name and needing your help right here and now, but you need to take about 30 minutes at least and go for a walk. Put your walking shoes on and step out your door and just start walking down the road, or down the sidewalk, or just around in your yard. Get out, and while you are out, I want you to think about these words.
How Great Thou Art
Carl Boberg (1886)
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder.
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art.
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art.
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art.
Can I tell you how amazing it is to step outside after being cooped up all day doing homework? This is something I can speak of personally. I step out the door and see all of the words of this song come to life. I can hear, smell, see, and feel the beauty of our Lord around me.
So often I can't though. I get up and I rush around to get the boys ready, or get myself and my children ready. I try to make sure that things get done, and that I don't make mistakes. It is a life of go, go, go. When I slow down though and take it all in and get a little exercise, I can feel the change in my heart and my spiritual life. We need this. We need to step out in to creation and just take in all that God has given us. We need to share these moments with our families, with our boys, with each other. It was all made for us. Take a break today and enjoy what God has given. Enjoy it with someone you love and use this time to recharge your batteries and then you can start all over again tomorrow, but this time you will be ready for the hustle and bustle, because you spent time worshipping and praising God for what he has given you.
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
Psalm 105:1-4
Jason
How Great Thou Art
Carl Boberg (1886)
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder.
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art.
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art.
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art.
Can I tell you how amazing it is to step outside after being cooped up all day doing homework? This is something I can speak of personally. I step out the door and see all of the words of this song come to life. I can hear, smell, see, and feel the beauty of our Lord around me.
So often I can't though. I get up and I rush around to get the boys ready, or get myself and my children ready. I try to make sure that things get done, and that I don't make mistakes. It is a life of go, go, go. When I slow down though and take it all in and get a little exercise, I can feel the change in my heart and my spiritual life. We need this. We need to step out in to creation and just take in all that God has given us. We need to share these moments with our families, with our boys, with each other. It was all made for us. Take a break today and enjoy what God has given. Enjoy it with someone you love and use this time to recharge your batteries and then you can start all over again tomorrow, but this time you will be ready for the hustle and bustle, because you spent time worshipping and praising God for what he has given you.
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
Psalm 105:1-4
Jason
Monday, March 16, 2009
Feel the glow ...
In Pennsylvania, it begins to get cloudy around November and it stays cloudy until around early April. As a break from the gloom one year, we were able to fly down to Florida to be with Misty's family. We had a great time in the sun and a great time in the warmth. When we came back from Florida, people at our congregation noticed how nice and tanned we were. We had gotten some sun, the very thing that they had not seen in months. You could look especially at my face and see how much sun I had been exposed to. I had a massive sunburn. I could feel the glow and warmth of the burn on my face. Although the people were jealous of the sun and fun we had in Florida, no one was envious of the pain.
In Exodus 34:29-35, Moses went to the top of Mount Sinai where God chiseled the new tablets that held the ten commandments. He spent 40 days and 40 nights away from his people, away from food, and away from water.
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai. When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.
I have always thought this was an amazing story. Moses would spend so much time with his God: listening, worshiping, and speaking with Him, that he would walk away with a glowing face. The people would see this glow and know that Moses had been with God. He just glowed with the warmth, love, joy, glory, and presence of the Lord. How awesome! We are told in 2 Corinthians that Moses would veil his face to keep the people from seeing the glow fading away from his face.
How much time do we spend with our God? What is our worship time like with God? Is it amazing and hope-filled? Do we leave with this joy in our heart and this love to share? Moses would just sit, walk, and talk with God. He would come back with God-burn! Just like I came back with sun-burn, Moses had his own version. I know that I have days where my time alone with God in personal worship and my times in public worship have left me feeling like I had God-burn. I felt like I was just glowing from my wonderful, awe-inspiring time with our God. I pray for days like that. I pray for worship times like that. I pray that for you as well. If you are longing for that relationship, it starts where you are. You make the effort to stop all you are doing and try to quiet your soul enough to just "Be" with God.
God-burn, what a way of overflowing to those around you! If you choose to take the time to spend with him, forget the sun tan lotion, and get ready to soak up that time with your Father. Get ready to share that time with someone else.
Jason
In Exodus 34:29-35, Moses went to the top of Mount Sinai where God chiseled the new tablets that held the ten commandments. He spent 40 days and 40 nights away from his people, away from food, and away from water.
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai. When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.
I have always thought this was an amazing story. Moses would spend so much time with his God: listening, worshiping, and speaking with Him, that he would walk away with a glowing face. The people would see this glow and know that Moses had been with God. He just glowed with the warmth, love, joy, glory, and presence of the Lord. How awesome! We are told in 2 Corinthians that Moses would veil his face to keep the people from seeing the glow fading away from his face.
How much time do we spend with our God? What is our worship time like with God? Is it amazing and hope-filled? Do we leave with this joy in our heart and this love to share? Moses would just sit, walk, and talk with God. He would come back with God-burn! Just like I came back with sun-burn, Moses had his own version. I know that I have days where my time alone with God in personal worship and my times in public worship have left me feeling like I had God-burn. I felt like I was just glowing from my wonderful, awe-inspiring time with our God. I pray for days like that. I pray for worship times like that. I pray that for you as well. If you are longing for that relationship, it starts where you are. You make the effort to stop all you are doing and try to quiet your soul enough to just "Be" with God.
God-burn, what a way of overflowing to those around you! If you choose to take the time to spend with him, forget the sun tan lotion, and get ready to soak up that time with your Father. Get ready to share that time with someone else.
Jason
Saturday, March 14, 2009
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
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
Friday, March 13, 2009
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
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
Thursday, March 12, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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
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
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Rhythm of life ...
Why do we spend so much time in prayer, in devotion, in times of renewal? Consider these words from Christine Pohl:
Because hospitality is so demanding, we must find a renewing rhythm of work, rest, and worship. Without periods of rest and solitude, and without access to spiritual nourishment, we wear out quickly. It is easy to overlook prayer, study, and rest when the demands of hospitality are urgent and overwhelming. It is impossible, however, to sustain hospitality without attention to both the spiritual and physical needs of the practitioners.
Out of his years of experience in offering hospitality, Jean Vanier concludes, “It is easy to be generous for a few months or even years. But to be continually present to others, and not only present but nourishing, to keep going in a fidelity which is reborn each morning, demands a discipline of body and spirit.” Quoting a Franciscan prior who works among the urban poor, Vanier offers an important warning:
“If we do not care for our bodies, and if we do not find a rhythm of life we can sustain in the years to come,” he said, “it is not worth us being here. Our job is to stay. It is too easy to come and live among the poor for the experience, to exploit them for our own spiritual ends and then to leave. What we have to do is stay.”
A distinctive of Benedictine life is their vow of stability – a permanent commitment to a particular monastic community in a particular place. In accepting certain spatial and communal boundaries on their lives, they are able to establish a strong sense of place, which can welcome, anchor, and nourish both monks and guests. Settled boundaries and commitments can provide an environment of rest and freedom that enhances a capacity to offer hospitality.
Most communities and individual practitioners of hospitality have learned the hard way about the necessity of finding time and space for renewal. Communities of hospitality close down periodically to allow workers time to be refreshed. Every person needs some time during the week to get away from his or her regular activities. Persons and families need at least small amounts of personal space. These needs become intensified when people are offering hospitality to a steady flow of strangers who require significant attention and investment.
We nourish our lives with personal prayer and community worship. We are fed through reading and studying Scripture, and we are renewed through serious observance of Sabbaths. Meals, worship, and the [Lord’s Supper] combine together to nourish those who offer hospitality.
May God bless our day with time for these kinds of refreshing,
Ron
Because hospitality is so demanding, we must find a renewing rhythm of work, rest, and worship. Without periods of rest and solitude, and without access to spiritual nourishment, we wear out quickly. It is easy to overlook prayer, study, and rest when the demands of hospitality are urgent and overwhelming. It is impossible, however, to sustain hospitality without attention to both the spiritual and physical needs of the practitioners.
Out of his years of experience in offering hospitality, Jean Vanier concludes, “It is easy to be generous for a few months or even years. But to be continually present to others, and not only present but nourishing, to keep going in a fidelity which is reborn each morning, demands a discipline of body and spirit.” Quoting a Franciscan prior who works among the urban poor, Vanier offers an important warning:
“If we do not care for our bodies, and if we do not find a rhythm of life we can sustain in the years to come,” he said, “it is not worth us being here. Our job is to stay. It is too easy to come and live among the poor for the experience, to exploit them for our own spiritual ends and then to leave. What we have to do is stay.”
A distinctive of Benedictine life is their vow of stability – a permanent commitment to a particular monastic community in a particular place. In accepting certain spatial and communal boundaries on their lives, they are able to establish a strong sense of place, which can welcome, anchor, and nourish both monks and guests. Settled boundaries and commitments can provide an environment of rest and freedom that enhances a capacity to offer hospitality.
Most communities and individual practitioners of hospitality have learned the hard way about the necessity of finding time and space for renewal. Communities of hospitality close down periodically to allow workers time to be refreshed. Every person needs some time during the week to get away from his or her regular activities. Persons and families need at least small amounts of personal space. These needs become intensified when people are offering hospitality to a steady flow of strangers who require significant attention and investment.
We nourish our lives with personal prayer and community worship. We are fed through reading and studying Scripture, and we are renewed through serious observance of Sabbaths. Meals, worship, and the [Lord’s Supper] combine together to nourish those who offer hospitality.
May God bless our day with time for these kinds of refreshing,
Ron
Monday, December 22, 2008
Being found in human form ...
Today, scripture and prayer for our meditations.
If then there is any encouragement in Christ,
any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit,
any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete:
be of the same mind, having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.
Let each of you look not to your own interests,
but to the interests of others.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death —
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1-11 - NRSV
Prayers
Søren Kierkegaard
Our Father, you called us and saved us in order to make us like your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Change us, day by day, by the work of your Holy Spirit so that we may grow more like him in all that we think and say and do, to his glory. Amen
Yes, Lord Jesus Christ, whether we be far off or near, far away from you in the human swarm, in business, in early cares, in temporal joys, in merely human highness, or far from all this, forsaken, unappreciated in lowliness, and with this the nearer to you, do you draw us entirely to yourself.
Peace,
Ron
If then there is any encouragement in Christ,
any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit,
any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete:
be of the same mind, having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.
Let each of you look not to your own interests,
but to the interests of others.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death —
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1-11 - NRSV
Prayers
Søren Kierkegaard
Our Father, you called us and saved us in order to make us like your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Change us, day by day, by the work of your Holy Spirit so that we may grow more like him in all that we think and say and do, to his glory. Amen
Yes, Lord Jesus Christ, whether we be far off or near, far away from you in the human swarm, in business, in early cares, in temporal joys, in merely human highness, or far from all this, forsaken, unappreciated in lowliness, and with this the nearer to you, do you draw us entirely to yourself.
Peace,
Ron
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The glory of the Lord shone around them ...
As is our custom, a scripture for Saturday:
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:1-20 – NRSV
Blessings,
Ron
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:1-20 – NRSV
Blessings,
Ron
Friday, December 19, 2008
A star that does what stars do not ...
This is no natural phenomenon.
These men know and understand nature.
They have traced the arcs of the stars.
They have searched out the eccentricities of the
bright and orbiting planets.
If they were to see a comet,
it would not be their first.
Yet what they see shakes them,
it moves them to leave their ivory towers
to seek out the remarkable person marked
by this bright portent, this luminous omen.
It is a star; a star where once there was none.
A star that does what stars do not:
Stand still.
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Matthew 2:1-12 – NRSV
These learned and wise ones come bringing gifts,
Offering tribute to what must be a great and mighty king.
Somehow the starry signal is so clear,
somehow the child seems so extraordinary,
that the simple shepherds and the simple surroundings
do not distract from the message or its power, but,
instead, make clear just what kind of message
God is sending through this child.
These wise ones come bringing gifts, yet
They leave feeling that they have been out-given.
Now, it is true that wisdom can lead to despair,
much learning can make one too timid to act,
and scholarship too frequently provokes cynicism,
but these wise ones have been given hope.
And courage.
And faith.
A Prayer
Kim Kwan Suk
Give us hope
To look forward
To happy tomorrows.
Give us courage
To face hardships
Without losing hope.
Give us faith
So that the joy of receiving Christ
Will lead us to serve our fellow [human].
Give us appreciation
For the gifts we have received
That we might use them responsibly
Daring to give
Friendship, service, and love.
Give us Christmas throughout the year
Blessings,
Ron
These men know and understand nature.
They have traced the arcs of the stars.
They have searched out the eccentricities of the
bright and orbiting planets.
If they were to see a comet,
it would not be their first.
Yet what they see shakes them,
it moves them to leave their ivory towers
to seek out the remarkable person marked
by this bright portent, this luminous omen.
It is a star; a star where once there was none.
A star that does what stars do not:
Stand still.
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Matthew 2:1-12 – NRSV
These learned and wise ones come bringing gifts,
Offering tribute to what must be a great and mighty king.
Somehow the starry signal is so clear,
somehow the child seems so extraordinary,
that the simple shepherds and the simple surroundings
do not distract from the message or its power, but,
instead, make clear just what kind of message
God is sending through this child.
These wise ones come bringing gifts, yet
They leave feeling that they have been out-given.
Now, it is true that wisdom can lead to despair,
much learning can make one too timid to act,
and scholarship too frequently provokes cynicism,
but these wise ones have been given hope.
And courage.
And faith.
A Prayer
Kim Kwan Suk
Give us hope
To look forward
To happy tomorrows.
Give us courage
To face hardships
Without losing hope.
Give us faith
So that the joy of receiving Christ
Will lead us to serve our fellow [human].
Give us appreciation
For the gifts we have received
That we might use them responsibly
Daring to give
Friendship, service, and love.
Give us Christmas throughout the year
Blessings,
Ron
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