Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
Psalm 103, verses 1 thru 5; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
So, another Holy Week is here. For those not raised up with or familiar with churchese (that’s the unofficial language of churches), Holy Week is that time we are called to remember that week leading up to the death of Jesus–and, of course, His Resurrection. While some may call this practice pagan, I find it helpful to focus my scattered attention to all that Jesus did that week. Have you ever thought about how powerful memories really are? Whether they are good memories or painful memories. Their power is unmistakable and undeniable.
While there are moments we can’t remember why we walked into a room (that’s me!), or remember where we put our cell phone (me again!), still memories are powerful. The thing about memories is that they will help us–or they will hurt us. They will pick us up when we are ready to quit. Or they will kick us down and stomp all over us again; leaving us bruised and bloodied, making the memory feel like it just happened. Can’t speak for you–but that sounds like memories have a lot of power over us. And they do.
We can, and do, hold on to memories–both the good and the painful ones. AND. . .we can make new memories. And sometimes–yes sometimes–it is good, very good to refresh some memories. Especially when it comes to what Jesus did that week nearly 2,000 years ago. Remembering the “good times” is what David was doing when he wrote this song. We don’t know for certain what prompted David to write it.
Maybe he was having a good day and simply wanted to write down what he was happening in his heart. Or maybe–just maybe–he was having a really, really, I mean REALLY bad day. Yes, followers of God have really bad days, too. And in that really bad day, he also chose to remember what God had done for him. Look at that list, and it’s just a partial list but a really good one:
He forgives all my sins
heals all my diseases
He redeems me from death
crowns me with love and tender mercies
He fills my life with good things
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s
This Holy Week is the perfect time for each of us to take a stroll down Memory Lane. Every act and every word of Jesus was deliberate. Each day, starting with that Palm Sunday, He was thinking about you and me. It was ALL about you and me! Since His Holy Week was all about us, let’s make OUR Holy Week all about Him! Look and listen carefully to everything Jesus did back then. And then. . .Remember He Did It For You And Me, the sinners that we are!
23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
Matthew chapter 8, verses 23 thru 25; from the New Living Translation (NLT)
My Monday Morning Question is a good one, and a valid one; considering the times we are living in. And it’s not just in the United Methodist Institution, storms have permeated into the fabric of just about every area of life on this third rock from the sun. Storms are everywhere–not the meteorological kind. And these storms are an EF 5 tornado, Cat 5 hurricane, biblical proportion flood, a 50 foot tsunami, and a 7.5 magnitude earthquake all rolled into one! And that’s putting in mildly.
If you’ve lost your job, a child, a spouse, or inflation has you trying to decide do you buy your medicines or do you eat–these storms can and often are overwhelming to say the least. You feel like you are one of those disciples in that boat. The waves are rough and the wind ever rougher. You know that panic is about to invade your life–if it hasn’t already invaded your space. The fear of drowning hunts you down like a Kodiak bear.
And to my fellow United Methodists, I don’t have to tell you that we are in a storm. And the storm just seems to grow in intensity. For example, recently I’ve learned that Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and the North Georgia Conference Appointive Cabinet removed another conservative pastor from a growing church and demoted him–all without consultation of the pastor Dave Hinson nor the congregation known as Winder First UMC. And hearing these horror stories that even Stephen King couldn’t imagine, it only intensifies our emotions.
With all this in mind, let’s look at the opening Passage. Jesus had another busy day of teaching, healing, and contending with pretenders who said they wanted to follow Him. So, He gets into a boat with the disciples and tells them to go to the other side. So these disciples set sail. And what does Jesus do? He lays down and takes a nap. See! Taking naps are Biblical! But then that storm comes up! The disciples are fighting desperately to keep their boat afloat! And they have entered Panic Mode! And what is Jesus doing? He’s still asleep! Now, picture this: All of them are in a storm–and the storm is in all of them–except Jesus. He’s in the same storm they are in–and they, the disciples, have allowed that storm to be IN them. But that doesn’t mean that the storm HAD to be in them. It’s just that they allowed the storm to be in them.
Now, which would you rather be like? The disciples who allowed the storm to be in them? Or Jesus, who was in the same storm, but did not allow the storm in Him? Storms cannot be avoided. But you still have the choice to allow the storms to come inside you–or not! I leave you with this song I Will Fear No More. And listen carefully to this line: Even thought I am in the storm, the storm is not in me! So don’t give in or give up. Jesus stayed calm in the storm because the storm wasn’t in Him. And He will help you keep the storm from coming in to you!
Normally The Familiar isn’t a good thing because it keeps us from experiencing the Adventures God has for us. It denies us the wide open spaces where we uncover and discover the greatness and faithfulness of our Heavenly Father. It hides and denies us the truth that we can do anything through Christ who strengthens us. The wide open spaces teaches us how to hold on to God in every situation and throughout all seasons.
But. . .but sometimes we need to go back to The Familiar–the good Familiar. I’m talking about those times and places where are reassured of God’s faithfulness to us–even when–especially when–we have been unfaithful. Or maybe it’s a season of doubt where we struggle to embrace our future. Even David, the mighty King and Warrior, needed to go back from time to time to The Familiar. Psalm 23 places were essential for David. Before he became a mighty warrior and long before he became the Mighty King, David was a shepherd. And when life as a Warrior or as a King became difficult, I can easily imagine David singing this Psalm to himself–maybe even out loud.
As a shepherd in the wide open spaces, David experienced the faithfulness and provisions of His Heavenly Father. Imagines of green pastures and still streams helped him remember the Faithfulness of God. I have my places where I am reminded of God’s faithfulness to me. Sometimes all I can do is go there in my mind. And sometimes I can literally visit those places. Each time I find myself renewed and refreshed, and enabled to go forward into “my” unknown future, but a future that is known to God–and a future where I know He is right there with me. What are The Familiar places for you? Places where God’s amazing love and grace overwhelmed you? The Familiar isn’t a place made to live in–but it is the place to visit where we find the reassurance we need when the Journey becomes difficult.
Love God with all your heart. Love others the way Jesus loves you. And make sure all the glory goes to Him!
This morning is a good morning to share my Journey Journal with you. From Monday evening until yesterday evening I was at Dad’s home to assist him in any way he needs or will allow me to do. Thanks to your prayers, physically and emotionally he is doing better. And on to what I’ve learned in this stay. His home is the one I grew up in from age 6 to 18. There are some memories here–powerful memories that I took the time to take a stroll through.
Dad has never had a computer nor an internet provider. But thanks to my cell, I carry my internet connection wherever I am. Every Tuesday evening at 6:30 CDT I do a Facebook Live Bible Study. Tuesday night I did it from his living room. One of my memories of the living room was that we weren’t allowed to use that room except to practice piano lessons, when we had company, Thanksgiving, and at Christmas. I guess one could call it Sacred Space. What could be more sacred than diving into the Holy Writ! On the wall above the piano were several pictures–each with a powerful memory.
Sleeping arrangements now are different. As a kid the middle bedroom was mine and the back bedroom was my sister’s, Jacque. The middle bedroom is now where Dad has his treadmill. But the bookcase he made me is still there. On one of the shelves is what remains of my Bonanza playset I got one Christmas. I noticed other things that we still there, and powerful memories. So sleeping in my old bedroom was out of the question.
I slept in my sister’s bedroom–kept in her favorite color–pink. Powerful memories reminded me how much I missed her. The bedroom suite belonged to my maternal grandparents. In there were pictures of Mama and Papa. More powerful memories! And at the kitchen table, Dad would sometimes tell stories of growing up–sharing his memories of when Papa Burbank was a blacksmith–which he did up until he died. Papa Burbank was also a sharecropper, so the smithy work brought in a little extra income when it was needed. More powerful memories!
This trip down Memory Lane is a reminder to me–the first is never forget the value of taking a stroll down Memory Lane. Such strolls remind us of where we came from–and in my case–how blessed I am to have such a family heritage. The second is that I need to leave and keep creating good memories with my family. It’s a 2 plus hour drive from our home to Dad’s home–each way. This week’s trip was worth every mile and minute because I experienced powerful memories! Until next time. . .
Hopefully, today will be filled with stories of remembering. Stories of where they were when the first heard the news. Stories of being glued to the television news. Stories of crying. Stories about talking with friends, families, even strangers about the day’s events. I, too, have stories of remembering; remembering my son was stationed at Ft. Campbell, home of the Screaming Eagles; remembering my son-in-law a full-time soldier with the Alabama National Guard.
But there’s one story I could tell that stands tall above all other stories. I remember the Kindness people showed to each other. I remember people who realized the importance of family and friends. I remember that politics did not amount to anything. For a season, we acted with Kindness. I remember thinking, “This is a brief glimpse of what the Kingdom of God looks like!”
Alas, we have forgotten the Kindness that followed 9-11. But maybe, call me the eternal optimist, maybe others like myself will recall the Kindness that was so dominant. And perhaps, we will all act with Kindness again. Lord knows we need it in these days. May it be so, Lord, may it be so!
Today is Fat Tuesday. No, I’m not making fun of someone’s weight. Go to New Orleans today, or go to where Mardi Gras really started, Mobile, Alabama and you will see what I mean. It’s the last day for indulgences before the Season of Lent begins. I guess it’s because I’m making preparations for our Ash Wednesday Service that has prompted this edition of Tuesday Thoughts.
Some folks are not familiar with or even know about Lent. The only Lent they know about is the Lint in their belly button or dryer. Yet Lent (spelled with an e and not an i) is the oldest tradition observed in the Church. Long before the Church recognized and celebrated the Incarnation, they recognized this Season of Lent. For the uninformed, Lent is a period of 40 days beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending on EasterMorning when followers of Jesus are challenged to give up something–we call that Fasting. But there’s more than 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, right? Well, you don’t count Sundays because Sunday is to be a day of Feasting not Fasting.
There are those who consider this “too much Roman Catholic” for a good Protestant boy or girl. Others think that it is too formal or too high-church for a real believer. Well, I observe Lent and I’m not considered high-church. Good grief, I have a pony tail, beard and ride a loud motorcycle. The third highest compliment I’ve ever been given is that I don’t look like a preacher. What was the second and the highest compliment? I’ll save those for a later post. Back to Lent.
Lent is taking a journey with Jesus as He draws closer and closer to True Purpose for becoming human. His True Purpose was giving up His Eternal Nature and become one of us–the Creator became a creature. And in that act, taking it all the way to The Cross to die for all of us. So, for the next 40 days, starting tomorrow, we are challenged to walk with Jesus in light of His Sacrifice for us. He Gave Up Everything For Me, so why shouldn’t I give up something for Him?
But if I’m going to give up something for Lent, and then pick it back up AFTEREaster, have I really given up something in order “pick up my cross daily and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23) ? Not really; I’ve just left it on a shelf so that I can resume it after Easter. So I’ve got to go deeper and find those things I need to give up permanently. And today I will be doing just that–looking through all my “indulgences”, those things that prevents the image of Jesus from being clearly seen in me, and give at least one of them up permanently.
Wait, I just heard someone say, “Lent isn’t Biblical. Where does it say I should remember something that happened so long ago?” It does seem, that with the upheaval in the Southern Baptist Convention, that the Bible Thumping Fundamentalists are coming out of the woodwork. So allow me to set the record straight that God DOES WANT us to Remember. In Exodus, God commanded His people to remember their deliverance each year. It’s called Passover. Each of their other 6 Feasts were observed to remember what God had done for them.
I just heard my skeptic say, “Well, that’s the Old Testament! You won’t find that in the New Testament!” Oh, really grasshopper? How about Luke 22:19–And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” And how about Bro. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26–
23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
No, God does’t need the Season of Lent; but we sure do! Lent is our reminder that following Jesus isn’t about Sunday Church. It’s about following the example of Jesus to Surrender and give up everything that we like and want in order to fulfill God’s desires for us. I will be reflecting all day about what I need to give up in order for the fullness of Christ to live in me. How about you?
I remember playground games. Whether it was softball, kick-ball, football
or dodge ball, we would divide into teams.
Sometimes the teacher would select captains, sometimes 2 would just
volunteer. But one thing I remember most,
is that in the process of selecting teams, no one wanted to be the last person
picked. It meant people didn’t see much
in you, that you lacked the skill necessary to be a vital part of the
team. Being picked last was often
humiliating. As we celebrate Communion,
I want you to know that in God’s eyes you are never the last person picked for
God’s team! Let’s look at today’s
passage from Ephesians 1:3-14 found in The
Message
3-6 How blessed is God! And what a blessing He is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ,
and takes us to the high places of blessing in Him. Long before He laid down earth’s foundations,
He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole
and holy by His love. Long, long ago He
decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He
took in planning this!) He wanted us to
enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved
Son.
7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, His
blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of
penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!
He thought of everything, provided for everything we could
possibly need, letting us in on the plans He took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a
long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in Him,
everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
11-12 It’s in Christ that
we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got
our hopes up, He had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part
of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.
13-14 It’s in Christ that you, once you heard
the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves
home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment
on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us,
a praising and glorious life.
Today
is the most important day in your life.
Not yesterday, not tomorrow, not next week or next year. This leads me to the one thing you need to
remember from today’s message: God speaks of his relationship with you in
permanent, irrevocable terms of adoption, ransom and guarantee. God chooses you, and that will never change.
If you’ve ever felt unsure about your usefulness in God’s plans or
if you are acceptable to God, then I want you to pay close attention for the next
few minutes, because these few verses tell you three important things about You
in God’s eyes. Embrace these 3 truths into your life, you will
experience a greater sense of self-worth and more spiritual confidence than you
have ever known.
1. You’ve Been On
God’s Mind From The Beginning.
Go
back to my image of standing on the playground.
At first, you were just part of a crowd, but now selections have been
made and now you are standing alone, and the captain who has the last pick,
says “Oh well, I guess I’ll have to take them.”
I think all of us can relate to this feeling; we all know what it is
like to be the last chosen—the least talented in at least some area—academically,
athletically, musically, and so on. But
there is an area where you never need feel that way: Your Relationship With God.
Probably all of us have wondered, at one time or another, “If they
had it to do all over again, would they choose me? Would they hire me? Would she marry me?” Maybe some of you have even thought, “If Jesus
had to do it over, would He die for me again?”
Some of you may believe that you have been such a disappointment to God
that you would have been better off not to have been born. The message from God is the exact
opposite.
God knew that you would be
where you are today in all areas of your life.
He knew you would be here at this moment and for some, it may have been
a rough ride. There may have been
mistakes and disappointments along the way and you may have wanted to give up
many times. Even though your past may be
littered with failures, it doesn’t change the fact that God Loves You, He Chooses You,
And He Believes In You. You have
been, are now and will always be on His mind and in His heart. This is RANSOM!
2. You Belong To
God, And That Will Never Change.
This passage defines your
relationship with God in permanent terms.
It says, first of all, that we have been adopted. The citizens of Ephesus understood the
significance of adoption,
because it was common in their society. Adoption wasn’t just a case of parents
choosing to provide a home for a parentless child.
Paul said, “You’ve been Adopted
into the family of God. Get comfortable because
He’s not going to give up on you.”
3. Everything You
Need, You Can Have.
Jesus didn’t die on the cross
just to abandon you now. God is
generous. He doesn’t withhold His kindness,
His love, His mercy, His forgiveness, His compassion, or His blessings from you. He showers you with kindness. He will lavish His generosity on you, If
You Are Willing To Receive It.
It’s
not just about your physical needs; he is referring to your spiritual and
emotional needs as well. God will give
you All The Joy You Need—All The Love You
Need, All The Faith You Need, All The Mercy You Need, And
Much More.
The
truth is, He Wants To Shower His Kindness
On You. Everything you need, He
wants to provide.
See your relationship with God
in a new way—in a non-adversarial way.
God isn’t mad at you. He isn’t
sorry that He chose you. And if He had
to do it over, He Would Die For You Again. Why? Before
you were born, you were on His mind
and IN His heart. He chooses You
to be His very own. You belong with Him,
and that will never change. And He will
be with you every step of the way, blessing you with what you need each and
every moment.
How do I know
this? Even more important, how can YOU
know this? You and I can know this
without a doubt because the
Holy Spirit is given as our guarantee.“Guarantee” Is A Term That Means The Assurance That
Another’s Obligation Will Be Fulfilled.
It comes from a Hebrew word that means “a pledge”—God has made
a pledge to fully restore you back to His Intended Design—To be the you He
created you to be. Until that work is
finished He gives us the Holy Spirit, as His Personal Pledge.
The presence of the Holy Spirit is the assurance that God’s
commitment to you will not stop until the final result—We become exactly like
our Intended
Design—The Perfect In Every Detail Reflection Of God. We come to the table, the ONLY Table where it
all starts, where we are called to live, and one day where it will be completed—the
Table of Grace…
This
week it’s rather simple: Find where God
is at work and join with Him. After all,
He has chosen you to work with Him! Or, find a place where you
know God wants to work, and get started.
After all, He wants you to work with Him!
Well, the day has arrived. Usually I’m sharing this at the end of the day–but at the end of this day….well, I might be a bit too tired to write. But already this morning I have learned “another” lesson. What is it? Glad you asked!
Sometimes, many times, it’s not that we need God to teach us something new–but to remind us of what He has already taught us.
The lesson I learned Saturday night and Sunday. And it’s this: Jesus helps us, if we will just cry out to Him!That lesson taught me that He has control, even though I don’t have control. So for the rest of this day, and hopefully for the rest of my life, I will remember this lesson: I am in the middle of God’s purposes, so even though it feels like it’s out of control, the reality is it’s out of my control–but never HIS!The Lessons We Learn At The Feet Of Jesus Are Timeless And Timely!
23-26 Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master Himself and passed them on to you.
The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember Me.” After supper, he did the same thing with the cup: “This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me.”
What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.
The definition of familiarity is: “close acquaintance with or knowledge of something or someone; or to a feeling of comfort and closeness with someone or something.” Familiarity can lead to know someone or something so well and in such a way as to cause you to lose your admiration, respect and sense of awe. That is unhealthy familiarity. One of the synonyms of unhealthy familiarity is presumption.
And we end up simply Going Through The Motions. And this is something we need to give up for good. And if you can remember only 1 thing from tonight’s message, this is it:
We Need Healing From The Spirit Of Familiarity With God If We Are To See The Power Of God In Our Lives.
This was what was happening in Corinth. And it can just as easily happen to us as it did the Corinthians. We cannot treat God as nothing and at the same time expect Him to do something for us.
But when we honor His name, honor Him for who He is and reverence His name, He will do greater and mightier things in our lives than ever before. When we honor His name He honor’s us with His presence and power. Honoring God’s name also means to honor the Body of Christ—the Church.
The problem is that we have turned the church into our dwelling place instead of His dwelling place. Our voice, opinion, will and desires are bigger than God’s. We worship self more than we worship Him and yet we desire Him to do something big in our lives.
Tonight we remember the Sacrifice Jesus made for each of us and everyone else. And it’s time to ask ourselves some hard questions:
Do you want to get God’s attention and to have Him look deeply into our lives?
Do you want to walk in the power of The Holy Spirit?
Do you want God to come through in our lives, and nation?
And do you want to see the Real Fire of Revival burning in your life, in your communities and nation?
If your answer is yes, then you must avoid growing too familiar with who God is in our lives. This means we change our attitude towards God and honor His name above everything else. The Church today is not experiencing a tangible presence and power of God simply because of the “spirit of familiarity” that is sweeping through the hearts of men and women in Churches around this nation and especially in our own Tribe.
There are some obvious dangers of going through the motions—of allowing that vile spirit of familiarity control our minds and hearts. There are 5 dangers when we simply go through the motions:
Familiarity Causes Us To Look At What Worked In The Past To Copy And Then Recreate It. This is a deadly way in regard to the Kingdom of God because the Kingdom of God is always advancing into the new thing. {Isaiah 43:18-19} “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Holy Communion is not just about looking backwards—it’s all about looking forward to the future!
Familiarity with God causes us to lose the respect and fear for the Lord. Fear of the Lord isn’t terror—it is living in awe of Him—His Glory, Power and Wisdom. Awe and Reverence is what creates our hunger for God’s Wisdom {Proverbs 1:7} “Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning. When we lose that respect and fear, we close the door to learning from God. Like concrete, we get set in our way. When we get set in our ways, then we do not respect His ways.
Familiarity with God, causes us to lose respect and honor for the Body of Christ. We disrespect and dishonor the Body of Christ when we make it more about us and less about Him. {Mark 11:17}. “And then he taught them, quoting this text: My house was designated a house of prayer for the nations; You’ve turned it into a hangout for thieves.” Jesus rebuked the people who had turned the house of God into a market place because of their familiarity with God. Familiarity reduces the church to an institution and museum rather than a living movement of God’s power.
Familiarity with God prevents the Holy Spirit from working effectively in us and in the church. Inevitably familiarity creates presumption, and presumption leads to assumptions, which is a slippery slope when it comes to the ways of God. It will lead to the most terrible place for anyone who considers themselves a Christian—The Place of Taking For Granted. {2 Timothy 3:5 NLT} “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.” This was what was happening at Corinth. They were using this Sacred Meal as a party for just themselves. And God was left out.
How we can stop going through the motions?
Live each day by the word of God. {Psalm 119:105 NLT} “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Life gets complicated. The world offers the wrong advice. Even our own minds trick us. But God’s Word is dependable. Whatever we face—His Word will guide us.
Spend time with God in prayer. {Psalm 42:1-2 NLT} “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?” Prayer is that glass of cool water for our thirsty heart. Prayer is all about taking in the Holy Presence of God. Too many treat prayer like it’s the Divine Vending Machine—insert money, make your selection of what you want. Receive item. Prayer is intentionally focusing your attention first and foremost on God Himself, not what we want or need. And God will always amaze us with His presence because He is always showing Himself in fresh, new ways.
Come to Church with an expectant heart. {Numbers 14:9} “Just don’t rebel against God! And don’t be afraid of those people. Why, we’ll have them for lunch! They have no protection and God is on our side. Don’t be afraid of them!” This is from that moment after God promised them the Land in front of them. But they wanted to go back to slavery. They didn’t expect God to move. Every Sunday people walk into churches expecting nothing powerful to happen—and it usually doesn’t. When we walk into this place expecting God to show up, He does. And now we can walk out there expecting God to show up and He will.
Give Yourself to the Mission of God. {Matthew 28:19 NLT} “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Our identity and purpose is found only in the Mission of God. God gave Adam and Eve a Mission in the beginning. He gave Noah a Mission. He gave Abraham a Mission. He gave Samuel a Mission. He gave Elijah a Mission. He gave The Prophets a Mission. He gives us the most important mission of all—helping people see Jesus.
Desire God above everything else. {Matthew 6:33 NLT} “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” There is nothing physical in this building that you must have for life. There is absolutely nothing physical out there that you must have to experience real life. What we need cannot be seen with the natural eye. It is only found through the heart.
These symbols of bread and wine, are nothing—mean nothing—until we stop going through the motions of doing. This is our moment to proclaim the greatest event in all of human history—God becoming human—dying for us—so that we can be made right with Him!
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
Psalm 139:13-16 (New Living Translation)
“Well, what are your plans for the New Year?” It’s a question often passed around every late December and early January. It makes for good conversation around the break room at work, or in the foyer at church before or after worship, or while we’re waiting around between Sunday School and “church”. We all like to make plans. Whether it’s about that vacation we will take this year, or that perfect vacation we would like to have; plans for that “perfect” house we would like to build someday; plans about our careers or seeking a new career; plans for retirement. It is good to make plans, to dream for something better. But what about God’s plans? Did you notice some very important phrases from our Scripture this morning? “You made….You watched……You saw…..(clearly implied) YOU recorded….” Sounds to me that our God is a very busy God.
Now, don’t misinterpret that last statement to mean that God is too busy for you. The spiritual reality is that God’s “busyness” has to do with us and our daily lives. God desires to be involved with our lives; every day and every moment of that day. So, this week’s word is PREVENIENT GRACE. Now, there’s a word that sounds really big and important—prevenient. Let me tell you a story about this word.
It was in late March of 2004 when I received a call from another pastor, Lyle Holland. Now, Lyle and I did not travel in the same circles; in fact, our only connection was that many years ago we were both in the former Florence District. Other that time, I can’t remember that we served in the same district. Now, we would see each other at Conference events and speak to each other, but that was the extent of our friendship, until March of 2004. Lyle was the Spiritual Director for Alabama Walk 269 that would be held May 13-16. He had been praying and seeking for one more Assistant Spiritual Director and he thought about me. Allow me to give you a backdrop to that phone call.
I had just been informed that I would be moving to another appointment in June against my wishes and most of the congregation I was serving. To say the least, it was a time of great anxiety. The second fact that stands out in my memory was that it was less than a year since I had been on my walk. As we conversed on the phone, I told Kyle that the date really didn’t look good to me since I would be in the middle of packing up for the move that would happen less than a month after the Walk. I was concerned about my inexperience and the fact I was in the middle of a tough season in my life. And just about the time I was going to tell Kyle no, in the middle of my sentence, I lost all common sense and told him I would be glad and honored to serve. (What in the world have I just done????) Then Kyle told me all the clergy talks had been assigned but one, Prevenient Grace; and that would be my talk.
Prevenient Grace? I remember something about that from my studies, it was a Wesleyan term, so I should know something about it, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember what I was suppose to remember about prevenient grace. So, I did what most people do when they find themselves in over their head—-I prayed! I prayed about what to say and how to say it, and for God to help me remember where I heard that word before—prevenient.
I was so relieved to find I had a basic outline to go by. So I sat down at my computer and began my research and started to write. The first word I typed was, of course, Prevenient! My word processor immediately flagged that word as being incorrectly spelled and offered many suggestions, none of which was the word “prevenient”. I looked at my outline again—this is the way the Upper Room folks said it was spelled, so it must be right. But the computer failed to recognize it as a correctly spelled word. And then it hit me (actually the Holy Spirit hit me, real hard); many times we fail to recognize the activity of God’s grace we call prevenient grace.
I pulled out my notebook from my own walk (Alabama 253) and there it was—the perfect definition of prevenient grace: Prevenient Grace is the grace that goes before us, calling us and leading us into a relationship of love with our Heavenly Father. And more than that, it is the nature of God’s grace that is always going before—calling to us by name, leading us, guiding us and helping us through the tough times of life and faith. I have come to understand that as God’s grace goes before me, He is leading me and preparing me for whatever may lie ahead. Grace doesn’t stop being prevenient just because we have finally said our own “Yes!” to Christ.
He is still going before us. But, I wonder, like my computer’s word processor would not recognize the word “prevenient”, how many times are we guilty of not recognizing God’s grace that is always before us? I found a way to stop my computer from telling me that the word “prevenient” was a misspelled word—I added the word to the dictionary. From that point forward, it always recognizes the word prevenient as a real word, not a misspelled word.
When we add the word “prevenient” to our vocabulary—when we make the intentional and conscious decision to recognize the many ways God’s grace is at work in us and around us—it changes everything in us and for us. The Psalm for this week reminds us that God is busy—busy showing us that He cares about us, and best of all, He takes care of us. After working Walk 269, to be completely honest, I still didn’t want to move, I still didn’t like my Superintendent, and there were still of couple of folks at church I didn’t like. But I didn’t blame them any more and I was able to accept these changes because I KNEW that God’s grace was going before me and that with His grace, I could and would face any challenge.
When we live with sense that God’s grace is always going before us, then we will be able to say: “Good, Lord! It’s Monday! What shall we do together this week?”
Let us pray: Lord, I have to confess, many times I’m like that computer—I simply cannot recognize that your grace is going before me. But Lord, I know I need that grace. I need that grace to help me to continue to live in this wonderful relationship based on love, not rules. Remind me that you are very busy showing me your love and offering me your power. Help me to add to my mental vocabulary and to my spiritual vocabulary this strange word, Prevenient! Then, may I remember that you really are going before me, and like those disciples on the way back to the village of Emmaus, open my eyes to the ways your grace is working in my life! Amen and Amen!
A stressed bald businessman with his forehead resting on the laptop computer keyboard.
For decades now, in my teaching and preaching I advocate that we should go to worship God even if we don’t feel like it. “It is in the times we don’t feel like worshiping that we need to worship the most.” Yep, that’s what this preacher said. Well, to be honest, this morning I did not want to worship God in my private time of worship because, well, I just didn’t feel like it. And to be even brutally honest, I don’t know that I feel like it right now.
I could blame this feeling right now on the fact I had just stacked 2 large stacks of firewood that had fallen over. But the reasons go much deeper, and I am not going to bore you with all the details of what is going on inside me in this time. If I did, I would sound like a whiner, and whiners are a pitiful and pathetic lot. So I’m just not going there and be like “them”. (I think I just heard some of you readers breathe a sigh of relief!)
To give you a view of my early morning disciplined habit, go back to a previous blog called Assumptions. This morning I filled up my coffee cup (Praise God who inspired that native so long ago who roasted, grounded, and poured hot water through those beans!), put in my earbuds, looked at my Spotify app, and honestly, I just didn’t want to start it. But then I remembered that crazy preacher who said, “It is in the times we don’t feel like worshiping that we need to worship the most.” Oh, well; time to practice what I preach. If I don’t, I am just another Churchian or Tenured Pew Sitter. If I ever become one of them, I hope someone still loves me enough to give me a good ol’ Leroy Jethro Gibbs slap on the back of the head.
Now, did my mind and attitude change instantly? Absolutely. NOT! But I pushed through it, keeping my focus on God. Now, was this the best way to worship God? Absolutely NOT! Jesus said it’s about worshiping in Spirit and in Truth. I was worshiping truthfully. I just didn’t feel like it, but I did it anyway. Somehow I think that God is pleased with my worship this morning, though it wasn’t by any stretch of the imagination, my best offering. But, it reflects where I am, much like David reflected in Psalm 13:1-2 (NLT)
O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Had God forgotten David? Had God been looking the other way, His face turned away from David? Has God forgotten Randy? Is God looking the other way, His face turned away from Randy? The answer to all 4 questions is…..NO! NO! NO! NO! But it sure does feel like it, and David must have felt it to. Otherwise, why did he write such a worship song? And for you who may also be struggling with mine and David’s feelings, the answer for you is EMPHATICALLY, NO! He hasn’t forgotten us and He hasn’t turned away from us.
Somehow this morning, a morning I am really struggling, that perhaps God is more pleased with this act of reluctant worship than any other act of worship I have offered since I began this spiritual discipline. HE certainly deserves better, but I now believe that God is pleased with my “It’s the best I can do right now” worship. What? Oh, I just heard some Churchians and Tenured Pew Sitters say, “You’re wrong, wrong, wrong! Give me a Bible verse to back up your blasphemous claim.” OK Churchians and Tenured Pew Sitters, remember that you asked for it.
In Luke 18:9-14 you will find the story Jesus told of a Pharisee and a Tax Collector who went to encounter God in the Temple. The Pharisee was full of himself and his perceived goodness and made the point he wasn’t like that Tax Collector. The Pharisee was NOT honest. On the other hand, the Tax Collector was brutally honest. He presented himself to God in worship as he really was–a sinner! Gee whiz, he didn’t even worship in the right position. His head was down when it should have been up. And in response to these 2 acts of worship (one correct in form but not in substance; the other wrong in form but correct in substance), Jesus says this: “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Verse 14)
And in this act painfully honest worship, this is what The Holy Spirit taught me and said to me: “Sing it until you believe it!” Here is the song that was coming through my earbuds in this epiphany: 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman. So, I am going to keep on singing it until I believe it!
Love God with all your heart. Love others the way God loves you. And make sure all the glory goes to HIM!
I’m taking a break from this Radical series because I have some issues. Not the ones those who know me may think I have, but I have a real issue with a phrase that is most inappropriate to me. And if you want to think, “Well that’s your problem”, go right ahead, if it makes you feel better about yourself. I am not changing my feelings right now. It’s about the phrase “Happy Memorial Day”!
When I looked up that word on dictionary.com it only adds to my issues about this phrase. According to the website it means: “delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing”. Can you now feel a sense of my righteous indignation? I mean, businesses have flood the advertising world with big banners over their sale prices, “Happy Memorial Day”! Happy New Year, Happy Birthday, Happy Mothers Day, Happy Fathers Day, Happy Fourth of July, Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Christmas (I won’t say the word ‘holidays) are all appropriate. Not so with this day, Memorial Day.
Instead of using the word “Happy”, use the definition and it sounds like this: “Delighted, Pleased, or Glad You Lost A Family Member, Friend Or Fellow Soldier In Combat.” Someone reading this just thought, “Wait a minute Radical Kingdom Pastor, that’s not what I mean when I say Happy Memorial Day!” BUT, if words having meanings, and they do, then this is exactly what you are saying. Because words DO have meaning, this is why I refuse to say, I can’t even write it down any more. It makes me nauseated.
Part of my nausea from hearing that phrase comes from some of my life experiences. I am the very proud Father and Father-In-Law of 2 combat veterans. Each time they were deployed (one time they were both deployed in Iraq at the same time) I lived with the fear that a car would pull up in my driveway and a fine dressed soldier would step out of it and walk to our front door. I still remember to this day that Saturday morning when my phone rang. It was my son calling from Iraq and his first words were “Dad, I’m OK.” I immediately knew something was wrong. His Humvee had been hit by an IED, but he was OK. But for many other families, friends, and fellow soldiers, everything was NOT OK. What was my fear, is now their daily reality.
And if someone who is reading these words has lost a family member, friend or fellow soldier-in-arms, please know that even though I do not know your pain, my heart does ache for you. And on this MEMORIAL DAY, and every day, I live with gratitude for the freedoms I enjoy because of their sacrifice. And even more so on this day, I pray for your comfort and for God to continue to give you the strength to get through another day. You will never get over your loss, but with God’s grace, you will get through those tough moments when you miss them so very much.
I do have a wish, I call it a High Hope, that Democrats and Republicans would take this day to remember that this nation is much more than your egos and personal ideologies. Remember that your comfort has been made possible only, I said ONLY because of the sacrifices of those we are called to remember this day. And to all the news media people, YOU are not the protectors of liberty, but are protected by the blood of those who gave it all, and to all who gave some. News people, just get over yourselves and know your place in all this we call the U.S. of A.
And to all you Churchians, Tenured Pew Sitters and Protectors Of Religion–YOU need to remember that your spiritual freedom also came with a price and that price included blood. Not just any blood, but the blood of Jesus, who became human just like us. Remember that for HIM to become one of us, He freely GAVE UP His divine nature. And you want to complain about YOUR stuff? Wanting things YOUR way? You really want to whine that things are not like they were in 1960 or 1970 when there are so many who need what only the Good News of the Kingdom can deliver? Shame on you, shame on you, SHAME ON YOU!
This day should remind us that to live a life that is both meaningful and worthwhile we need to live the way these heroes died and the way Jesus died! Stop being so selfish and petty. For heaven’s sake get over yourselves. Today is Memorial Day–remember and live with deeper purpose and gratitude. I invite to you view this link to a video titled “Signs And Numbers”. It’s a few years old and the numbers are even larger, but the message remains the same.
Love God with all your heart. Love others the way Jesus loves you. And make sure all the glory goes to Him.
But it sure does feel like it, and David must have felt it to. Otherwise, why did he write such a worship song? And for you who may also be struggling with mine and David’s feelings, the answer for you is EMPHATICALLY, NO! He hasn’t forgotten us and He hasn’t turned away from us.
Kingdom Pastor 