Prayer Blog
05/13 - Yours Is The Kingdom
Sermon Series: PRAYER May 13, 2012
Yours,O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. (Emphasis mine)
1 Chronicles 29:11-13 (ESV)
In this Scripture David is praying in front of the assembly of people and he breaks out in praise!
David worships God and credits all glory to Him as the God of Israel. Our Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 ends with a hymn of praise (KJV) much like this begins: “For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever.”
I love the focus on who God is in David’s prayer. You will find this same approach in prayer with Moses (Psalm 90), Daniel (Dan. 2:20-23), and Nehemiah (Neh. 1:5-11). These powerful leaders turn their attention off themselves and their circumstances, and turn to the One who all honor and glory belongs; the One who holds all the power, strength and authority in His hand.
Powerful prayer moves us in faith, hope and trust in God against the schemes of the enemy. How powerful are your prayers? Are they centered on the One who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20)? Do we confess and profess the power of the One whom: in His “hand is power and might,” and in whose “hand it is to make great and to give strength to all?” (1 Chron. 29:12)
Prayer: God our Father, Yours is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory for the challenges You are using to grow us closer to You. We exalt You above our circumstances. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
Devotion written by Colleen Magel
Questions? Contact groups@westridge.com
05/06 - Praying For Needs
Sermon Series: PRAYER
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6:11-13 (ESV)
I am a needy person! I am constantly asking for or talking about the things that are important to me. Maybe it’s the only child in me, but praying for MY needs seems to be a recurring theme in my prayer life. In the "Lord's Prayer" in Matthew chapter 6, Jesus tells us the things that we should ask God for in our prayers.
The needs we should pray for are three fold: a) our basic needs b) for God's forgiveness c) for God's spiritual protection. What is revealing about these three needs is that Jesus prays for them in the plural. While we all have individual needs, they are not exclusive to any one person, and when we pray, we should do so with the mindset that we are praying for not MY needs but OUR needs.
There is great power in intercession and when we are presenting our requests to God, remember others who have the same needs. Will you take up the challenge of praying for loved ones as well as yourself? Maybe God is calling you to start a prayer journal where you will focus your prayer life on the requests of family or friends. My hope is that God will help all of us to pray more not only for ourselves, but to also focus on meeting the needs of those around us.
Prayer: Father, help us to develop the habit of bringing our needs to you. We know that nothing is too big or too small for you to handle or help with but we need to learn to let go and trust you more. Help us to remember the needs of others and not be always so focused on ourselves. Thank you for meeting our basic needs and may we never take for granted how you have met our most important need: our salvation. Amen
Devotion written by Brian Brunke
Questions? Contact groups@westridge.com
04/29 - Praying for God’s Will
Sermon Series: Prayer
Praying for God’s Will
“My Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39
My heart, during the confusing times of my life, has often come to rest on this intimate scene between Jesus and His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. Falling on His face, He wrestled out the will of His Father through His agonizing blood sweating honest prayers. Pouring out all of Himself in this life and death situation, fully acknowledging His desire for this cup of suffering to be taken away. God did not remove the cup because there was a greater “Yes” about to unfold. Jesus knew that doing the will of His Father carried huge eternal implications for humankind.
Jesus gives us the perfect example of how to pray and work through the acceptance of God’s will. He wrestled through the pain of what was being asked of Him yet in the end, Jesus aligned His will with that of His Father.
This moment has helped me when I fervently begged God to heal my neighbor’s husband from cancer and heal my son who sustained a head injury in an automobile accident. Both of them died and were healed in Heaven. Admittedly, I was angry, confused and brokenhearted. These were heartfelt, desperately honest prayers said on behalf of people I dearly loved. I had to wrestle through the pain and hurt of His answer. It didn’t feel like goodness.
Yet, as I continually reflect on Jesus’ experience, I have learned that it is important to admit our disappointment and pain at God’s answer. He wants to reveal Himself and help us accept His will. His “No” means there is a greater “Yes.” There is a grander story of glory being written over our lives, one that carries huge eternal value-a story that we will understand someday. Until then, keep trusting in God’s goodness. It helps a troubled heart accept His will.
Prayer: Father, Your ways are higher than our ways. We cannot fully comprehend, we as humans lack Your eternal perspective. We aren’t capable of seeing the whole picture. Empower us to trust You and believe in Your goodness when Your will is painfully different than ours. Thank you for grace. Amen
Devotion written by Maryanne Abbate Questions? Click groups@westridge.com
04/22 - The Intimacy of Prayer
Sermon Series: Prayer
The Intimacy of Prayer
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 (ESV)
I went to a class on prayer at church one morning led by a man named Daniel Henderson. It has been several years but some things that I learned from that class have remained stamped on my heart. One of those was that the Lord’s Prayer, which was given in Matthew chapter 6, is a great structure for prayer.
After the class, I began to search the Psalms for all the ways scripture identifies God so that when I got to the phrase “hallowed be Thy name” I could properly hallow His name. This is the part of prayer where we bow our hearts to a Holy, Righteous and Loving God. I made a list of how God is described in scripture with the scripture reference along side.
Part of honoring the Lord is knowing Him. We can’t begin to know God fully outside of the Bible. Every time we open up God’s Word, we are learning a little more about the One who created us, who has a plan for our life, and who loves us. What better way to honor and reverence (or hallow) His name than to know Him and His character.
An example of putting this into practice for me is as follows: Lord, you are my strength, my rock, my fortress and deliverer (Psalm 18: 1-8). You are creator God who alone stretched out the heavens by your words (Psalm 33:6). Lord, your love is steadfast, never failing (Psalm 89:1)
I have been taught to pray, praise and seek. Sometimes the only way we learn to pray and feel the presence of the Lord is to keep on praying and seeking the Lord for He is Faithful.
Prayer: Lord God, maker of Heaven and Earth, healer of the broken hearted, faithful to those who seek you with all their heart, Savior, Redeemer, Righteous Lord help us to know You, the One True God. Draw us near to You and show us through Your Holy Spirit how to pray and how to know You more. In Jesus Holy name, Amen.
Devotion written by Nikki Beach Questions? Contact us at groups@westridge.com
04/15 - How Not To Pray
Sermon Series: THE PRAYER SERIES
But, when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matt. 6:6
Praying in a group, while necessary and rewarding, can be intimidating – I know it was for me on one particular occasion when a man sounding very eloquent and emotional, and full of tears and passion lifted our requests in prayer. I felt sure this man’s prayers must be heard more than my own. They were so heartfelt and dramatic; they must instantly move the heart of God to deliver what he asks.
If anyone could have impressed others with prayer, it would have been Jesus. Yet, Jesus often slipped away by himself to pray. In the scripture above, Jesus tells us not to be boastful or showy in public prayer, but to be simple and humble in private prayer.
Without company, I can be myself before the Lord. My outward position matches my inward condition. I can weep or laugh. Get angry or say nothing at all. In private prayer, there are no distractions and comparisons - just me before my God – honest and real. The best part - God rewards what is done in secret!
Prayer: Father, thank you for inviting me into the prayer closet with you where I can be myself and you accept me unconditionally. Thank you for rewarding simple and earnest prayer.
04/08 - Reunion
Sermon Series: LAST WORDS Reunion
"For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." 1 Peter 2:25 (ESV)
My sister died twenty years ago. I still miss her and think about her. Through her loss, I became keenly aware that we are not wired to say goodbye. Our hearts continue to ache for those loved ones who beat us to heaven’s gate. I look forward to seeing my sister again when God calls me home too.
I imagine Jesus was overwhelmed with joy to be reunited with the Father. Jesus didn’t arrive home alone, though. When He died, rose again, and then returned to His heavenly dwelling, He redeemed all humankind.
God made us in His image in perfect fellowship with Him until sin entered the world. Ever since God cast Adam and Eve from His presence, humanity’s heart has yearned for Him. Jesus paved the way back to God and through faith in Him, we can have a righteous reunion now. When we surrender our life to Jesus, we are returned to the Overseer of our souls and a spiritual family reunion takes place until God calls our spirit heavenward forever.
Prayer: Father, thank you for making a way back into your family through Jesus. Until my spirit resides with you in heaven, help me to stay close to you, hear you, and follow you through prayer and study of your Word.
04/01 - Triumph
Sermon Series: "THE LAST WORDS"
Triumph
A jar of wine vinegar was there so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:29-30
John was the only disciple who saw Jesus bow his head and heard Him say “It is finished.” What was running through Johns’ mind and heart at that time? One of his fellow disciples had hung himself and the other ten abandoned Jesus as the Jews and Romans collaborated to crucify their Messiah, Rabbi, leader, and friend. The disciples had given up everything to follow Christ and now they see their hope being crucified and dying on a cross.
What about your current circumstances? Do you have a challenging situation that doesn’t make sense? Is there a sin in your life that seems too big to be a fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ? Does your pressing situation feel hopeless? What do you think when you hear Jesus say, “It is finished”?
Here is what we know today that possibly John did not fully understand in that moment. “It is finished” is a shout of victory over your life and mine. "It is finished" is Jesus announcing to you and I that all our sins are taken away; all our guilt that should have been charged to us but was imputed to Him was taken care of. Our salvation is won, our sins are forgiven! The death of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment in history of the very mind and plan of God. Jesus finishing the work God gave him to do made reconciliation for our iniquities and brought in everlasting righteousness. The greatest shout of victory ever sounded was on the cross — “It is finished!”-they are the final words in the redemption of the human race.
Payer: Father, thank you for Jesus who washed all our sins away forever! Thank you that we can receive eternal life by faith through Jesus and enjoy fellowship with You not only in heaven but while here on earth. Help us to rest in grace and not strive to earn what Jesus already accomplished. Amen.
03/25 - I THIRST
Sermon Series: “Last Words” I THIRST
My Soul Thirsts for You
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 (ESV)
Isn’t it interesting the beauty of God’s Word as it interweaves the same themes for us, to allow us to understand? Thirst is mentioned often in the Bible in reference to fulfilling a need that we all have as humans. This need is both physical and spiritual in nature.
Part of basic human survival is clean drinking water. A person can survive much longer with no food than with no water. In a survival situation, clean drinking water is a must. Most of us arise from sleep and have a glass of water. And of course a drink of water before bed is a must in our home, especially with little ones.
Spiritual thirst gives us a beautiful picture of the basic needs of our human existence. We are more than skin and bones, we have an eternal Spirit that lives within us. I once heard a pastor say that all people are “bent towards religion”. We see that when people try to answer the big questions. Why are we here? What purpose do I have? So in our exploration we pray that everyone turns to the One true God and our Savior Jesus Christ for those answers, to the Bible and His Word. All others are false.
The woman at the well in John Chapter 4 had many husbands, and was considered unworthy in the eyes of the religious. Yet Christ sat with her and asked her to provide Him with a sip of water. Jesus told her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying this to you, you would ask me to give you the living water”. There is only one place to find the living water, from the living, eternal Savior Jesus Christ. So when you thirst today...... where will you turn?
Prayer: Father God, You are magnificent in all your ways. To think that you would send your Son to walk on the earth, and that we would have His Words recorded in scripture to meet our needs. As we wait upon our Savior’s return for us, we thank you for your Word, your Holy Spirit and we pray our thirst would be fulfilled by nothing else but You.
03/18 - Abandonment
Sermon Series: "THE LAST WORDS"
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NIV
On a dreary cold rainy February afternoon I said goodbye to my fifteen your old son. I carefully cut a lock of his hair, tenderly kissed his colorless cheek, studied his beautiful features for fear of forgetting, touched his lifeless cold hand and then they closed the casket. Never in my life have I felt so utterly broken. Shattered. I had no idea how to put the bleeding splattered pieces of my heart back together. The black blanket of grief threatened to suffocate me. Crushing pain felt like it would literally kill me. The voices of doubt screamed in my head, “Where was God when you kissed your dead child goodbye?” I felt abandoned. He seemed silent and so far away.
Sometimes the agony of human pain can make God feel so absent from us.
Through this journey, I have wrestled with God over my unsettled questions, doubts and feelings of abandonment. In turn, Jesus has taken my hand and tenderly shown my bleeding heart that these kinds of experiences, although excruciatingly painful and never asked for, are invitations for sacred learning. Jesus invites us, through our losses and painful experiences, into the inner sanctuary of His suffering. We are given a glimpse of the enormity and depth of Jesus’ pain as he was violently beaten, placed on a cross to die bearing the weight and guilt of every human sin. In that moment because of our sin, God removed His divine presence and turned His back on His only Son. Jesus felt truly abandoned.
What a profoundly sacrificial moment. Because of that moment, you and I are never forsaken. Jesus, through His own humanity, understands our limited ability to see Him in our suffering. Our Jesus will go to great lengths to reveal Himself to us, comfort us and show us that we are not forsaken.
This spiritual truth has sustained my heart through some of the darkest days of grief. I find when the voices of doubt and despair begin to scream I am learning to silence them with desperate heartfelt prayers, “Jesus, show me - You. Don’t let my pain blind me to your presence. Replace my feelings of abandonment with Your healing presence.”
He has been faithful....
Prayer: Jesus, You know how abandonment feels. You experienced it on the cross. Thank you for the promise to never leave or forsake us. Help us to find You in the midst of our pain. Jesus,You are the Great High Priest who has gone before us and experienced every human emotion. You understand. You alone stand as the only anchor of hope for a hurting broken soul. Amen.
03/11 - Relationships
Sermon Series: "THE LAST WORDS"
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. John 19:26, 27 (ESV)
As Jesus hung on the cross, close to death, he chose to focus on one thing that transcends every other in our lives and we often fail to focus on it until it is too late—relationships. The Bible tells us (John 19:25) that one of the people who stood near the cross to witness Jesus’ crucifixion was his mother. Knowing that his mother Mary would have no support system in place once he was gone, he cements the relationship that is changing right before them as Mary comes under the care of his friend John.
Caring for people is part of our mission as the church. The book of Acts provides an example of how the church in Jerusalem cared for its members in those early days and months at its inception. Feeding people and meeting their needs are tasks that can be met by almost anyone, but the church’s motivating factor in providing care should be relationship and love. Our area has witnessed this first hand after a tornado destroyed homes and the school where one of our churches meet. A spirit of volunteerism and love has risen up both in our church and throughout our county. Once the physical and financial needs are met, the only thing that remains is the relationship.
Let’s make relationships a priority in our life so we don’t miss the care and fellowship that is available when we commit to our local church beyond Sunday morning worship. Becoming involved in a small group is an excellent way to make relationships a priority and place us in close proximity to others who can care for us in our time of greatest need.
God designed us to be in relationship with others. If you are on your journey of faith as a lone traveler, than you are facing a lonely and dangerous road ahead. Taking our cue from Jesus, we need to invite people in our lives who will come alongside and walk this journey with us. As we prepare to leave this world, we can then hand off the responsibility to others who are ready and available.
PRAYER: Jesus thank you for the example that we see in your life of the importance of relationships over material things, titles, and anything else in this world. Encourage and inspire us to look first to the relationship that we have with you and then to the relationship that we build with others to help us walk through the journey of our lives in service to you. Finally Father, help us to seek to meet the needs of others motivated by love and through the medium of relationship so that when the needs are met the relationships that have been established will endure.
03/04 - Salvation
Sermon Series: “THE LAST WORDS”
Today is the Day of Your Salvation
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
2 Cor. 6:2b (NIV)
My brother called me with news that my father was in hospice and not doing well. He said I should come home as soon as possible. My dad and I had never discussed spiritual matters and I didn’t know the condition of his soul. While praying for him, God gave me the verse above, “…now is the day of salvation.” Armed with this scripture, I planned to nail down my dad’s eternal fate. I packed my suitcase and my two-year-old son and got on the road for an 8-hour trip home. I didn’t make it in time. Dad passed away during my drive.
A friend of the family didn’t receive the lung and heart transplant she needed. Pam was in ICU without any hope of recovery. During prayer for her, I inadvertently opened my Bible to the same scripture again, “…now is the day of salvation.” I knew Pam wasn’t a Christian, so I made a hospital visit to share the gospel but she was unconscious. She died the next day.
In most cases, we have ample time and opportunity to offer the gift of salvation found through Jesus Christ. So, why wait for a deathbed conversion? I’m not ashamed of the gospel, yet I often shrink from inviting others to become a part of God’s family. In this scripture, the urgency is apparent - there is no time to waste when a person’s salvation is in question. Have you been avoiding a spiritual conversation with a loved one, or have you delayed inviting someone to church? Now is the time, do it today!
Prayer: Father, thank you for the gift of salvation found through your beloved son Jesus. Give us courage to share His saving grace with others. Orchestrate the time and opportunity to share our faith and let us not shrink back from fear of rejection.
02/27 - Forgiveness
Sermon series: The Last Words
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God
forgave you. Eph. 4:32 (NIV)
My youngest daughter came home from preschool one day so mad she was in tears. She had taken her Bible to school for “show and tell” and one of her friends had ripped it. This was no ordinary Bible to her. It was new and pink with a princess crown on the front. I wondered, as a mom, what kind of kid rips someone’s Bible. Expecting the worst, I pulled it out of the school bag to inspect the damage, but I had to get my daughter to show me the ripped pages. She turned directly to the damaged page and said, “Right there! That’s what she did!” I looked and sure enough, there was a tiny corner of a page torn off at the bottom. I was relieved to know that was all that had been done to her new Bible, but now I had a bigger problem to deal with. How do I get my child to forgive her friend and move past her hurt feelings? This was a big deal and a big hurt for a preschooler. She had trusted her friend to treat the Bible with great care and that trust had been broken. We as adults hold grudges that in God’s eyes are just as small. I had to help my daughter learn to forgive (which she did and they remain friends to this day).
Years later, I remembered this lesson when helping my oldest daughter get through a hurtful situation. A friend spoke words that were meant to sting and cause damage. The friends’ mom encouraged it by letting her child express her true feelings and saw nothing wrong with the way it was done. Everything in me wanted to lash out with my own choice words of expression, but I knew my daughter was watching and listening. I tried to talk with the mother to no avail. I knew I had to find the way God would want me to deal with this situation. I told my daughter we needed to pray about how to respond and we needed to forgive because that’s what Jesus did for us. I reminded her (and myself) that he had gone through so much more hurt and betrayal than we would ever know. An amazing thing happened as we brought this to the Lord over several weeks. It seemed the more we prayed for them, the more compassion and grace God gave us towards them. My daughter was a true example of forgiveness and compassion to me and to those around her. She was more guarded around this person because the trust had been broken, but she treated her with the grace and extension of friendship that could only be given by God. We were able to restore both of our friendships even though it had changed things between the friends’ mother and I. We didn’t remain as close, but I have no doubt that my daughter handled things the way God wanted her to and helped me to do the same…..with true forgiveness and grace.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to remember what you went through on the cross for each and every one of us when we are so quick to pass judgment and hold on to our hurts. Help us to remember that “forgiveness is an act of faith where we choose to relinquish control to God and respond with spiritual compassion toward those who hurt us.” Help us to see past our hurts to let you work in our lives and find the freedom that comes when we can truly forgive even when we can’t forget. Give us mercy for the memories and victory over bitterness. Thank you for loving us with an unfailing love even when we did nothing to deserve it.
02/19 - Preparing Your Kids to Leave
I DO, WE DID, NOW WHAT?
The Legacy of Roots and Wings
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may, have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)
Two years in a row we delivered a son to college. The emotional drive home was always tearful and our hearts already missed their presence yet we knew they were born to leave. These sons, precious gifts entrusted to us for a short season. Reflecting back on this time I felt God’s prompting in my heart that kids need roots grounded in His love and wings woven together with His grace. They will prevail and bear the fruits of a legacy of faith.
A parent is the first image bearer and vessel of God’s extravagant unconditional love. Parents who love well provide a home that is a refuge. These children have a better chance of knowing God’s heart toward them. They know they are deeply loved, cherished and completely safe. This heart has a better chance of remaining tender and surrendering it to Jesus. In return, as they grow they too are more likely to love well and become true image bearers and vessels of God’s love to others.
Living life takes practice. When kids leave, they will make mistakes as they begin to spread their wings towards independence. Grace gives kids the courage to pick themselves up and try again. Grace empowers them to walk their unique life path and fulfill the purposes God has set before them. They also know how to extend God’s grace to others because it has been generously given to them through the example set by their parents.
Lastly, parents are flawed humans and God in His great mercy extends grace for their mistakes. When we humbly ask, the door of hope, healing and redemption is opened wide and freely given.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for trusting us to raise Your children and prepare them for life. Please grant us the wisdom to give them solid roots that are grounded in Your love and wings that are woven with Your grace. Help us to pass on a legacy of faith; a legacy that matters for all eternity. Grant us mercy and grace for our mistakes. Thank you for loving us - flawed people. Thank you for Jesus. Amen.
02/12 - Creating Biblical Guidelines and Boundaries
Sermon Series: I DO, WE DID, NOW WHAT?
Where’s the Manual?
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, and for training in righteousness...”2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
How do I train up my child as scripture has told me when situations arise? A child struggles with a friendship or is being bullied. Sometimes we lose authority and they don’t listen and refuse to do what they are told. Eventually we need to make decisions about dating and establish boundaries with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Daily we ask ourselves, “Where is the manual and to what page do I turn?”
Through the study of God’s Word, we find answers for our parenting challenges. The verse above brings me back to principles found in Deuteronomy 6: 4-7:
1. The Lord is one. We have one place to go for truth - God and His Word.
2. Love the Lord with your heart, soul and all your might. Putting God first, reading His Word and communicating with Him thru prayer.
3. These words I command shall be on your heart. This may take time, but as we read and study, His word shall be on our heart.
4. Teach them diligently to your children. You and me; we are responsible for teaching our children and for being diligent. Diligence defined is constant effort done with persevering attention.
Through being a student of His Word and through prayer, there is no subject manner on this earth that the Lord has not covered for us. Have you looked for it? We are equipped as believers in Jesus, with the Holy Spirit for counsel, strength, and wisdom.
As much as we want all the answers now, isn’t it amazing that our great God, who desires relationship with us, would set up a system to draw us near to Him and in doing so direct us to guide and train our children up!
Prayer:Father God, I pray your guidance over my life as I teach and train my children up. Lord, may your Holy Spirit direct me in Truth and show me how to make Your Word applicable to every area of parenting and raising my children up in this world.
02/12 - Spiritually Leading Your Children
Sermon Series: I DO, WE DID, NOW WHAT?
"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you
sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down,
and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:7 (ESV)
As a parent of a two-year-old daughter, it amazes me how much she learns from watching my wife and me. She will grow into the woman God wants her to be and she will learn what that is from us. The challenging part of our role as parents is to model being a follower of Jesus and spiritually lead her to also be a follower of Jesus. This responsibility entrusted to me can be intimidating but I’m thankful God provides guidance from his Word. In Deuteronomy, God tells us four ways to take advantage of occasions in our daily routine to impact spiritual teaching to our children.
* when you sit - in moments throughout the day we can "be with our children"; tell them we love them and that God created them and loves them very much. The dinner meal can be an opportunity to sit together as a family, pray, and reflect on God.
* when you walk by the way - not many of us walk as they did in ancient times, but when we ride in the car with our children, we have an opportunity for spiritual conversations. It’s a great time to introduce Christian music. My daughter loves to sing with the David Crowder Band and Chris Tomlin in the car!
* when you lie down – we can reflect on the day during a child's bedtime and give thanks to God for his work in our lives. Praying with your children and reading to them are also excellent ways to familiarize your children with speaking to God in prayer.
* when you rise - mornings can be a hectic time for families but developing simple and quick habits like saying a prayer together teaches our children the importance of beginning your day with God.
It doesn’t have to be formal to take everyday moments and lead your child spiritually. Andrew Peterson, my classmate from Bible College who is now a Christian recording artist, sings a song called "All the Way Home" and in one verse he writes,
"When they sat in their home,
When they walked along the road,
When they slept and when they rose,
The words of the Lord were impressed on their minds,
And after all this time,
I'm carried along like a leaf on a river of faith..."
This song celebrates the legacy of faith that Andrew is a part of because his grandparents and parents decided it was important to lead their family to know and follow Jesus. What legacy are you leaving for your children? How are you spirituality leading them? It’s not too late to start but we must make the commitment to begin, and commit to continue.
Prayer: Father, as I look to spiritually lead my children to know and serve you I ask you to help me identify moments in my day when I can invest in my children’s spiritual development. I would also ask that you help me to grow and develop as a follower of you so that I can in turn help my children to grow. In closing Father, I ask that you would place within me a vision for my children which will motivate and sustain me to make their spiritual development a priority in my life and strengthen me in those times when I am tired or discouraged because I can see what lies on the other side of this commitment. Amen.
01/28 - Expectations/Needs/Boundaries
Sermon Series: I Do, We Did, Now What?
“For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.” 1 Corinthians 11:12 (NIV)
“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)
No matter how long you have known someone, you will find out something new once you are married. Sleeping habits are one example. When my husband and I were first married, I never thought about his sleeping habits being vastly different from my own.
I like to sleep like a bat in a cave with total darkness and quiet. My husband likes to sleep with three huge pillows and some kind of noise all night long. I found this out during our first week of marriage. We are ready to go to sleep and he pulls out a big box fan (the kind your parents warned you to keep your fingers away from the blades). I asked him if he was hot, but then noticed he turned the fan away from the bed instead of blowing on us. He answered, “No, I just like to have some noise while I sleep. I’ve done it my whole life.” Well, I had slept like a bat my whole life, so I didn’t get much sleep for the first few weeks of our marriage.
This is one example of how our marriage expectations can be totally different. This small incident would not warrant divorce or marital counseling, but it did require some discussion and compromise on both our parts. We are now the proud owners of a much smaller and quieter white noise machine. No matter how well I know my husband after all these years, we will disappoint each other and will never be able to meet all of each other’s needs or expectations. I love my husband dearly, and he is the love of my life, but the only one who can meet all our needs is God.
I think our society has this idea that marriage and finding the right person to marry will fulfill us and make all that is wrong with our lives right. That is too much pressure for any human being. I found a new freedom once I relied on Christ to be my “everything” instead of my husband. It also lets our spouses off the hook and gives them the freedom to be who God made them to be. This is not to say that we don’t set boundaries for ourselves against being mistreated or abused. That is another story. What it does mean is that we learn to put our hopes and expectations in the only One who can truly meet all our needs—Jesus Christ. Let Him be your “everything.”
Prayer: Dear God, help me to remember that only You can meet all of my needs and expectations. You are the only One who can truly satisfy my heart. When I am hurt or disappointed by my spouse, help me to give them the grace that I would want them to give to me if the tables were turned. Help me to look to You for help in resolving conflicts and differences instead of doing it alone. I pray that you would always be my first love in my life and that I would choose first and foremost to be in love with You. Amen.
01/21 - The Role of the Woman
Sermon series: I Do, We Did, Now What?
January 22, 2012
God’s Door of Opportunity
…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Eph 5:20b-22 ESV
I once worked for a man who every time there was a door to walk through, he held the doors open and allowed everyone he was walking with to go through first. It did not matter if he was walking with the lowest ranked person in the company, the highest ranked, a man, or a woman; he held the doors open. He was our Vice President and he was committed to that habit—a habit I noted and never forgot.
In Christ you and I are to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” The Greek word for submission, hupotasso refers to willing to rank oneself under, or a voluntary yielding. I like to think when we voluntarily and willingly submit, we hold the spiritual door open for others.
As a wife, we do life, walk side by side with our spouse, and make countless decisions every day in unity. When there isn’t agreement, God is opening a door of opportunity to yield. A wife, out of reverence to Christ, can willingly hold open the spiritual doors that will allow a husband to lead the family through a decision. God is honored and a sweet fragrant offering is made. Those doors of opportunity open in our workplace, in ministry, on the sports field, and with family relationships.
When was the last time God gave you an opportunity to hold open the door for someone? How did you do?
Prayer: God, as wives we ask You to help us make yielding a holy habit out of respect for our spouse and Your Word. May it be a sweet and fragrant offering to You each time we choose to voluntarily and willingly submit to others out of reverence for Christ.
01/16 - HE DID
SERMON SERIES: I DO, WE DID, NOW WHAT?
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27
Men and women have equal value and dignity but different roles in marriage as part of the created order. The Apostle Paul speaks of this equality of men and women in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
“For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” Ephesians 5:23-24. The biblical ideal for men is to provide loving, humble leadership and avoid errors of passivity and aggressiveness. “At the heart of mature masculinity is a sense of benevolent responsibility to lead, provide for and protect women in ways appropriate to a man’s differing relationships.” (Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood by Wayne Grudem and John Piper).
Prayer: Father, thank you for creating all people with equal value and dignity. Every time I look and talk to another person, help me to remember the person I am talking with is an image bearer of God. Strengthen the men and women in my family, our church, and our nation to fulfill their God given role in their marriage and in our churches.
01/07 - January 8, 2012
WHAT IS IT GOD WANTS FROM YOU?
“Whoever hears my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” John 14:21
He wants the same thing you want. He wants to be loved. He wants intimacy with you. Yes, he wants your obedience but only when it flows out of a heart filled with love for him. Following hard after Jesus is the hearts natural response when it has been captured and has fallen deeply in love with him.
You’ve probably heard that there is in every human heart a place that only God alone can fill. Author George MacDonald said, “There is also a chamber in the heart of God where none can enter but the one, the individual”. You. You were meant to fill a place in the heart of God no one and nothing else can fill. He longs for you.
God wants to live this life together with you, to share in your days and decisions, your desires and disappointments. He wants intimacy with you in the midst of the madness and mundane, the meetings and memos, the laundry and lists,and your projects and pain. He wants to pour his love into your heart and he longs to have you pour yours into his. He wants your deep heart; that center place within that is the truest you. He is not interested in intimacy with the man or woman you think you are supposed to be. He wants intimacy with the real you.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for being my father and desiring to have a deep relationship with me. I invite you to walk with me - daily, hourly, breath by breath, because I need you. I choose you. In Jesus name, Amen.
Taken from the book Captivating by Staci Eldredge
01/07 - What is it God Wants From You?
“Whoever hears my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” John 14:21
He wants the same thing you want. He wants to be loved. He wants intimacy with you. Yes, he wants your obedience but only when it flows out of a heart filled with love for him. Following hard after Jesus is the hearts natural response when it has been captured and has fallen deeply in love with him.
You’ve probably heard that there is in every human heart a place that only God alone can fill. Author George MacDonald said, “There is also a chamber in the heart of God where none can enter but the one, the individual”. You. You were meant to fill a place in the heart of God no one and nothing else can fill. He longs for you.
God wants to live this life together with you, to share in your days and decisions, your desires and disappointments. He wants intimacy with you in the midst of the madness and mundane, the meetings and memos, the laundry and lists,and your projects and pain. He wants to pour his love into your heart and he longs to have you pour yours into his. He wants your deep heart; that center place within that is the truest you. He is not interested in intimacy with the man or woman you think you are supposed to be. He wants intimacy with the real you.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me. I need you. I desire a more intimate walk with you. I invite you into every part of my day, every thought, every action. I want to become the real deal-no more hiding. In Jesus name, Amen.
Taken from the book Captivating by Staci Eldredge
01/01 - NEW YEAR-NEW LIFE
“And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” Revelation 21:5
I bought a butterfly in a jar yesterday. Now mind you, it’s not a real butterfly but one that’s battery powered. As I watched it, God showed up and said to me, not audibly (it was much louder than that), but from a place deep within my heart - “That’s who you are, like the butterfly, you are beautiful. You are alive, you are free. You are no longer like the caterpiller-unattractive, worthless, crawling through life, feeling like you have nothing to offer”. Do you believe that statement for yourself? Are you able to see yourself as Christ see’s you?
In his book, Soul Cravings, Erwin McManus recounts when you come to God and allow him to change you, from that moment the old is past, and all things are made new. The word describing this is metamorphosis, the image of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly- same species, completely different. This describes a change that literally moves us from crawling to flying. It is a necessary change if we are going to journey to the life we were created to live, to experience, to enjoy. Sometimes I choose just to be a worm; at other times my preference is to hide in the cocoon, but every now and again I choose the difficult struggle of breaking out. It’s painful; it’s frustrating; it’s hard work. Sometimes I wonder why God would make the cocoon so hard to escape from, never realizing it is the process itself that strengthens my wings and prepares me for flight.
Jesus said in the book of Revelation, “Behold, I make all things new”, notice that he doesn’t say he will make all new things but make all things new. He doesn’t just cast us aside and throw us away only to begin again – he takes what we have and through a sort of spiritual metamorphosis, an invasion of his life, pouring into ours, he re-creates us into becoming what we were always meant to be.
Oh, and did I mention? . . . Today I am flying!
Father, I invite you to continue your work of restoration as you make me more into your image. I need you, because in my own strength I can do nothing but with you I can become who you saw when you created me. Thank you for showing me who I am in you. In Jesus name, amen.
12/24 - PRINCE OF PEACE
Sermon Series: Stressmas
Is Peace Possible?
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
Is peace possible? Undoubtedly, a question many battered hearts have honestly asked.
The world is at war. Chaos ensues; sin and death have marred the landscape of life. The casualties are too great to count. We have all been touched by something. The world is not as it should be. The fanfare and high expectations of Christmas seem to highlight painful places in our lives. Many families are broken and dysfunctional, some face daunting financial and health crises, other families face the rawness of grief and will celebrate Christmas without a cherished love one. There is no perfect Christmas.
Yet, when we look closely at the Christmas story we see our Saviour—The Prince of Peace, born at what still remains a war torn tension filled region of the world. He was received in a filthy smelly stable, placed in a dirty manger, and wrapped in rags. What was God thinking? Maybe, it begs the point that peace is not found in circumstances. Rarely, do we get to tie a pretty, red bow neatly around our problems. Life is messy.
True lasting peace is a state of the heart and mind that focuses on The Prince of Peace and what He did for each of us. A peaceful heart remembers that Christmas is the beginning of our redemption story. Jesus was born to die. He made peace with God on our behalf, restoring us to Our Father through His sacrificial death. His dying, resurrection and promise to return is our only source of lasting peace and hope.
Our pain, losses and messes are not the end of the story. The Prince of Peace is redeeming and rewriting our lives and that of the world. We must never put a period on our circumstances where Jesus has placed a comma. He has the first and last say of our lives and that of the world. The Christmas story is still unfolding. Jesus has promised to return and restore peace, and the world will be as it should - healed and whole. May our hearts rest in that knowledge even when chaos and pain swirl around us. He will come again and all will be right, good and well. Hold on dear weary soul to His parting words, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
Dear sweet Jesus-Prince of Peace, we thank you for your great sacrificial love for us. It is hard to fathom that You would humble yourself and come as a baby to save the world. Thank you for making peace with God on our behalf through your death. May we remember that you will return and restore peace and wholeness to this earth. May the reality of your peace be real and true this Christmas and everyday of our lives. Amen.
12/18 - EVERLASTING FATHER
Stressmas - Everlasting Father
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government
will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
In describing the characteristics of the coming Messiah, the prophet Isaiah used four names or titles, which would not only speak about him but would hold special meaning to the people of God throughout the ages. In using "Everlasting Father,” Isaiah highlights two important aspects of the person of Jesus.
1) He is Eternal or Timeless: We live in a world of constant change, which is getting faster and faster before our eyes. In highlighting that Jesus is eternal, Isaiah echoes the book of James that says of Jesus, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17). Jesus was the same yesterday as he is today (Hebrews 13:8), and we can have confidence in who he is because his character will never change. We can place our entire lives into the hands of Jesus knowing that, unlike many of the other things that we place our trust in only to see them fail or change, our Lord Jesus will remain eternal and timeless.
2) He is God our Father: Unlike our earthly father who will someday leave this world, Jesus will never die but will continue to be our Father "in the age which is to come" (Vulgate). When we transition from life here on earth to the life waiting for us in heaven, the care and provision that we received from our earthly father is continued and perfected in the person of Jesus. Whereas an earthly father is limited by his humanity and is apt to disappoint and fail, Jesus is a perfect father whose love is unconditional and complete and will never disappoint. Many people experience their father through pain and disappointment, but Jesus is the father that many of those people wish they had. When they come into a relationship with him, they will know love and acceptance.
Is Jesus your everlasting father? As we draw closer to celebrating his birth, consider the relationship that you have with your earthly father. Will it exist for eternity? If your answer is no then I urge you to look to Jesus, our Eternal Father who is willing and able to love, accept, and comfort you in this life and in the one to come.
Prayer: Heavenly Father we ask that you would continue to make yourself known to be our eternal father in the person of your Son Jesus Christ. We pray that as we continue to look to you during this season of celebrating the birth of Jesus you would hear the cries of the people who are living without an earthly father and that you would be the substitute that many have been seeking throughout their lives. Finally, we praise and thank you for the fact that you are eternal and that you have always and will always exist and we need only to reach out to you for you have promised to hear our prayers and meet our needs. We love you and praise you! Amen
12/25 - PRINCE OF PEACE
Sermon Series: STRESSMAS
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
Is Peace Possible? Undoubtedly, a question many battered hearts have honestly asked.
The world is at war. Chaos ensues; sin and death have marred the landscape of life. The casualties are too great to count. We have all been touched by something. The world is not as it should be. The fanfare and high expectations of Christmas seem to highlight painful places in our lives. Many families are broken and dysfunctional, some face daunting financial and health crises, other families face the rawness of grief and will celebrate Christmas without a cherished love one. There is no perfect Christmas.
Yet, when we look closely at the Christmas story we see our Saviour—The Prince of Peace, born at what still remains a war torn tension filled region of the world. He was received in a filthy smelly stable, placed in a dirty manger, and wrapped in rags. What was God thinking? Maybe, it begs the point that peace is not found in circumstances. Rarely, do we get to tie a pretty, red bow neatly around our problems. Life is messy.
True lasting peace is a state of the heart and mind that focuses on The Prince of Peace and what He did for each of us. A peaceful heart remembers that Christmas is the beginning of our redemption story. Jesus was born to die. He made peace with God on our behalf, restoring us to Our Father through His sacrificial death. His dying, resurrection and promise to return is our only source of lasting peace and hope.
Our pain, losses and messes are not the end of the story. The Prince of Peace is redeeming and rewriting our lives and that of the world. We must never put a period on our circumstances where Jesus has placed a comma. He has the first and last say of our lives and that of the world. The Christmas story is still unfolding. Jesus has promised to return and restore peace, and the world will be as it should - healed and whole. May our hearts rest in that knowledge even when chaos and pain swirl around us. He will come again and all will be right, good and well. Hold on dear weary soul to His parting words, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
Dear sweet Jesus-Prince of Peace, we thank you for your great sacrificial love for us. It is hard to fathom that You would humble yourself and come as a baby to save the world. Thank you for making peace with God on our behalf through your death. May we remember that you will return and restore peace and wholeness to this earth. May the reality of your peace be real and true this Christmas and everyday of our lives. Amen.
12/18 - EVERLASTING FATHER
Sermon Series: Stressmas
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
In describing the characteristics of the coming Messiah, the prophet Isaiah used four names or titles, which would not only speak about him but would hold special meaning to the people of God throughout the ages. In using "Everlasting Father,” Isaiah highlights two important aspects of the person of Jesus.
1) He is Eternal or Timeless: We live in a world of constant change, which is getting faster and faster before our eyes. In highlighting that Jesus is eternal, Isaiah echoes the book of James that says of Jesus, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17). Jesus was the same yesterday as he is today (Hebrews 13:8), and we can have confidence in who he is because his character will never change. We can place our entire lives into the hands of Jesus knowing that, unlike many of the other things that we place our trust in only to see them fail or change, our Lord Jesus will remain eternal and timeless.
2) He is God our Father: Unlike our earthly father who will someday leave this world, Jesus will never die but will continue to be our Father "in the age which is to come" (Vulgate). When we transition from life here on earth to the life waiting for us in heaven, the care and provision that we received from our earthly father is continued and perfected in the person of Jesus. Whereas an earthly father is limited by his humanity and is apt to disappoint and fail, Jesus is a perfect father whose love is unconditional and complete and will never disappoint. Many people experience their father through pain and disappointment, but Jesus is the father that many of those people wish they had. When they come into a relationship with him, they will know love and acceptance.
Is Jesus your everlasting father? As we draw closer to celebrating his birth, consider the relationship that you have with your earthly father. Will it exist for eternity? If your answer is no then I urge you to look to Jesus, our Eternal Father who is willing and able to love, accept, and comfort you in this life and in the one to come.
Prayer: Heavenly Father we ask that you would continue to make yourself known to be our eternal father in the person of your Son Jesus Christ. We pray that as we continue to look to you during this season of celebrating the birth of Jesus you would hear the cries of the people who are living without an earthly father and that you would be the substitute that many have been seeking throughout their lives. Finally, we praise and thank you for the fact that you are eternal and that you have always and will always exist and we need only to reach out to you for you have promised to hear our prayers and meet our needs. We love you and praise you! Amen.
12/11 - Mighty God
Stressmas Series: MIGHTY GOD
My God is Mighty To Save
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Is. 9:6 (KJV)
With a blank page in front of me, I found myself speechless on the subject of our Mighty God. I gave up hope that I could form an intelligible sentence on such an enormous topic. Rather than write, I turned on Pandora and instantly heard, Mighty to Save. God provided a moment of needed inspiration.
While looking at the Christ child in a dirty manger, could the shepherds have fathomed Jesus would grow to rescue and deliver humankind from the shackles of sin? The angels declared to them a Savior had been born, but how might the shepherds have imagined the Jesus story would play out?
The disciples wanted to see Jesus rise up and overtake their oppressors by force, and they knew He could have. But, that was not God’s plan. Jesus left this world in even greater humility than He arrived.
Jesus was born not to conquer the earthly powers, but to destroy the works of Satan. Our Mighty God – the valiant warrior battled hell on our behalf and “disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col. 2:15). The perfect newborn grew to be the perfect sacrifice in His final earthly act of heroism. As the lyrics sing: Savior, he can move the mountains/My God is mighty to save/He rose and conquered the grave.
Our living Christ continues his valiant fight on our behalf. My Hero not only rescued me from the spiritual death I deserved, but He champions my behalf moment by moment. Paul tells us to “be strong in the Lord and his mighty power” (Eph. 6:10). As children of a mighty God, true to our birthright, let us put on the full armor of God and walk through this life and all its struggles as champions and overcomers through Jesus.
Father, I am grateful for Jesus who was born for me and all humankind. Thank you that you are a Mighty God, all-powerful, and you rule with wisdom and justice. Help me to remember to be strong in you even when obstacles and troubles of this life tempt me to worry or stray from faith. With you I can overcome. Amen.
12/03 - Wonderful Counselor
Sermon Series - Stressmas
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
In the Bible, names were often chosen for their meaning. That holds true for more than 250 names given to Jesus. Let's unwrap some truth behind the name WONDERFUL COUNSELOR!
The word for Wonderful is the same word used in Judges 13:18. He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding." The words "beyond understanding" are from the same word that translates to "wonderful" in Isaiah. This tells us that Jesus' counsel is too great and wonderful to comprehend. When we ask Jesus for His counsel, He never speaks from a lack of understanding or an inability to relate. Hebrews 4:15 tells us, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet did not sin.”
This is why we have Christmas-so that God could become man and go through all that we go through. To be tempted, poor, despised, and rejected so that He could relate to us in every way. Through this common relation, He can give us counsel for every hurt, habit, or hang-up because He knows how to overcome! He did overcome - and without sin!
Allow Jesus to be your WONDERFUL COUNSELOR this Christmas season and forever more. He knows what you need. He knows how to heal your heart. He knows what is best for you. He knows where to lead and guide you!
Prayer: Dear God, I come to you because of your great and wonderful counsel. I ask that you lead, guide, heal, and direct my life that it might please you! Thank you for everything that You do for me! Thank you for being born a babe in a lowly manger with no pomp and circumstance to be able to better relate to me. You did that just for me! What an amazing gift. May I never take it for granted. I love you, Amen
11/13 - Love and Mercy to Others
Sermon Series - Life Without Walls
Luke 7:11-17
Luke 7:13 - And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
How easy it is to quickly read over the verse above and lose sight of the depth and width of its words. “he had compassion on her”. At first glance it seems to fall into the category of normality as we understand it in the Christian context. Of course He had compassion on her, she is distraught, she is a widow who has lost her son, she is grieving and of course; He is Jesus - compassion makes perfect sense here.
However in reality this kind of compassion is very different than what we are used to. This kind of compassion is wrapped in rescue and redemption and restoration.
Our human compassion is often times rooted in the emotions of empathy and sympathy. It is our ability to walk a mile in another's shoes. To see things from their perspective and feel for their circumstance. Our modern dictionary definition is “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.”
However we clearly see the kind of compassion that Jesus had for her was completely rooted in action. It was motivated by solution, by resolution. His compassion compelled Him forward into a proactive response. He not only had a desire to alleviate the grief of the widow, He also had the motivation matched with the power of the Holy Spirit to go beyond alleviating suffering - but to go as far as removing it all together. Even beyond that to the point of transforming grief into celebration and lives changed and God glorified!
Are we willing to stop short in our compassion and be merely well-wishers as we look across the landscape of our world at the current state of suffering? Or, are we willing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and allow His Holy Spirit to compel us forward into action? Compassion stands ready to be redefined in our lives today. It can no longer be simply an emotion, but it must be an ongoing action. Compassion felt only in the heart of the onlooker but never imprinted in the life of the suffering is of no use to the Kingdom of God or the world for that matter.
How will you redefine compassion through action today?
Praise: Thank you Lord for your Holy Spirit that brings clarity to truth and compels us to allow your compassion to equal true impact in the lives of others.
Confess: Father, I have held back and resisted at times when you have filled my heart with true compassion. I have declined action and chosen emotion only, preferring comfort over obedience.
Request: This kind of compassion scares me Lord. I can only achieve it with the power of your Holy Spirit. Please fill me with your Spirit and strengthen me unto compassion defined by action.
11/06 - Good News for the Poor
Sermon Series - Life Without Walls
Luke 4:16-30
Luke 4:18 - "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me; because of this He has anointed Me to proclaim the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and new sight to the blind, to set at liberty those having been crushed.
In this passage of Scripture we are reminded of the role Jesus plays in our lives as Rescuer and Redeemer. It is a great comfort to me to hear this mission statement spoken by Jesus. The purposes He had determined He would accomplish. His ultimate motivation for enduring the cross. I am sure you are comforted too as you think about the great love that Jesus has showered on you in your own life.
We all have been poor, brokenhearted, captive and blind in a variety of different ways in our experiences. So we relate easily to the caring and comforting nature of our Savior and so it should be that we feel and receive that warm embrace of His presence as we walk this journey with Him.
However, this Scripture is not only intended to speak to us, but also about us. As the modern day dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, isn’t this also our mission statement as followers of Christ? It was not the Father’s intention to only bring this mission to us in the physical presence of Jesus over 2000 years ago. As if it were a task only He himself alone could fulfill. True, only Jesus could fulfill the role of Messiah, but we can partner with Him to fulfill the mission of the Messiah. Each of us can fulfill the mission of loving others. By following the example and mission of Jesus. The poor, the brokenhearted, the blind and the crushed can be reached. We are now called and sent to introduce our Rescuer and Redeemer to others in need.
Let us not ever forget that all of Christianity is centered around the pursuit of care and ministry to others. It is not at all about the experience that you or I have. It is about reaching the broken, the captive, the wounded, the afflicted. It is about bringing them to the feet of Jesus so that He can radically change their experience. It is about bringing relief to a world that is in need of great relief. That answer is Jesus and Jesus alone.
Praise:Thank you Jesus for fulfilling the role of the Messiah so that I could experience and engage the mission of the Messiah.
Confess:Lord I need your help to take my eyes off my own needs and live out the mission you have assigned to me to reach others.
Request:Show me what I can do next to more effectively fulfill your mission of reaching the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, the blind and the crushed around me.
10/30 - Believing We are Beyond God’s Grace
Stupid Human Tricks series
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. — Eph. 2:8-10
The Christmas season is soon upon us and with it comes the spirit of gift giving. Most of us readily receive presents at any time of the year, not just Christmas. When a loved one hands us a gift, we don’t offer to pay for it or work for it. Likewise, when we give a gift, we don’t expect them to work off its value. In both cases, we freely accept with gratitude, and freely give a gift out of the kindness of our heart. Why then do we strive to repay through good works our blessed Savior for his gift of salvation?
If anyone could have earned salvation, it is the Apostle Paul – a Hebrew of Hebrews who followed the Law without fault. Yet, he tells us it is by faith that we are saved and cannot be earned through anything we do or don’t do. We read about Samson’s missteps and notice that despite his human weaknesses; still God’s purposes are fulfilled.
On the flipside, if anyone deserved eternal damnation, it is the Apostle Paul – a sinner of all sinners who persecuted and murdered Christians. God shows us that no one and no sin is beyond the gift of Grace.
Father, forgive us our sins and help us to forgive ourselves. I accept my human weaknesses and trust you to work through them. I freely receive your Grace and will not strive to pay for it, but will allow Jesus to work through me.
10/23 - Never Saying No To Sexual Urges
Stupid Human Tricks series
Samson when brave, strangled a lion; but he could not strangle his own love.
He burst the fetters of his foes; but not the cords of his own lusts. He burned
the crops of others, and lost the fruit of his own virtue when burning with the
flames enkindled by a single woman.” ~ Ambrose- An early Christian writer
Unbridled lust for women proved to be the downfall of Samson. Despite his supernatural human strength, his sacred calling, and the power of God’s Spirit upon his life, he never dealt with or surrendered his weakness for beautiful women to God. He never gained spiritual clarity and wisdom, which caused him to continually disobey the commands of God. This proved to have a disastrous effect upon his life and eventually led to his tragic death.
His lust drove him to marry a Philistine woman because she was “pleasing to his eye.” He never considered how this directly disobeyed God’s command that His chosen people were not to marry foreigners. They were to remain separate, set apart. He also slept with a prostitute and later fell in love with the infamous Delilah, a woman who used him for financial gain. Her impure intentions were apparent from the start, but Samson driven by his sexual passion, was blinded to her faults. He missed God’s warnings and His divine wisdom. Her schemes and his lack of self-control destroyed his life.
What a sobering story for all of us. No one is immune to or strong enough to continually face sexual temptation and resist. It is too strong. It will overtake even the most disciplined of souls. How many families, churches, ministers of the gospel, servants of God, and political figures have been destroyed by sexual indiscretion? Many of us have been or have seen the casualties of this type of sin.
God created a naturally strong sexual chemistry between men and women. In the context of marriage, acting lovingly and respectfully on sexual urges is a holy and beautiful act. God made us to love and receive love. God is no prude. He placed passion in our hearts. When this passion is not covered by God, it can be a very dangerous force in our lives and the lives of others. God knows this about us. He warns us in 1 Corinthians 6:18, “Flee from sexual immorality.” God didn’t tell us to merely walk away. He said, “Flee.” In other words run for your life!!!
Father, thank You for the gift of sex. We ask You to forgive us when we have misused this gift and have hurt You, ourselves and others. The world and the enemy have cheapened this gift. So many broken hearts, broken marriages, and broken people have come from this sin. We ask that Your Spirit would guide our culture back to wholeness and purity. Thank you that grace will always cover the sin of a contrite heart. Thank you for never sugarcoating the truth. Your warnings and commands are always for our good.
10/16 - Handle Finances Wisely
Stupid Human Tricks series
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. –Prov. 22:7
One late night a few years ago, my spouse and I devised a strategy to juggle our bills so everyone could be paid. We had many creditors. We both attended college and earned post-graduate degrees. Then we started a business. While establishing our livelihood and building a future, we didn’t give much thought to the debt we accrued.
We met with a financial planner to build our portfolio. There was only one problem. We didn’t have any money! Sitting across the desk from us, he said, “I have never seen two people in so much debt.” This was an eye-opener. We were supposed to be living the American dream – college, self-employed, and starting a family. Yet, in the process we dug a hole of debt so big, it has taken us years to climb out and we are still not completely free.
With the help of wise counsel like Dave Ramsey and Joe Sangl who teach godly financial stewardship principles, we make debt-free strides that honor God. Our attitudes about money have changed, and now we surrender to God any decisions about how and when to spend money. We are living proof that no financial problem is too big for God. Surrender and see his faithfulness!
Father, forgive us for being poor stewards of money and material possessions. All things belong to you. Teach us through your Word, through prayer, and through others how to be responsible managers of your stuff. Help us to pay off debt and to stay free of debt.
10/09 - Not Growing Spiritually
Stupid Human Tricks series
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
That one simple question stirs so many more questions that insist on answers. Questions like: How am I growing spiritually; is it important to me; who is responsible for my spiritual growth? How much time do I spend and when do I invest in my spiritual growth?
Proverbs 3:5-6 says to trust the Lord, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. Going to church every Sunday, being in a small group, serving in ministry, even being in a bible study doesn’t necessarily mean you and I are growing spiritually. Doing those things and acknowledging God in all things, making Him Lord over our life does. Church, small group, ministry, and bible study will keep you and me in fellowship with other believers, and in God’s Word, which directs our path and keeps it straight. When we walk through life challenges and keep our eyes on the Lord and His Word, not on our circumstances, and we are obedient to truth, we are propelled into spiritual growth.
As we review the story of Samuel’s life in Judges chapters 13- 15, we see that the Lord was serving Samson in times of need throughout his life, but Samson did not ever acknowledge God and ask God to direct His path. Samson knew he was doing things that were beyond him, so it could only be the power of God on Him. Yet Samson did not trust the Lord in his circumstances; he never gave thanks, and he never asked for God’s direction that we can see in Scripture. As we reflect this week, let’s ask God how we are doing? Stop and give thanks, and pray for God to use our present challenges in life to grow us spiritually and draw us closer to Him.
Father we thank you that You have been by our side during all our trials. Forgive me for the times I take my eyes off You and focus on the challenges instead of what You are trying to show me about myself or spiritually challenge and grow me. I am going to trust You to define the victory. My desire is to know You more and bring glory to Your name by letting Your truth direct my path.
10/02 - Out of Control Anger
Stupid Human Tricks series
For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife. - Proverbs 30:33
I saw my dog cower in fear when I stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind me. Something had upset me and I was determined to let the whole household know. This scene repeated many times during the early years of my marriage and motherhood when circumstances didn’t go my way.
I also threw hairbrushes, and flung keys. If it wasn’t bolted down and it could take flight, it was fair game. My history of outbursts is a source of humor now, but at the time was destructive. Fortunately, I didn’t physically harm any living thing in the process, only inanimate objects. But, my adult temper tantrums created strain in my marriage and hindered God from working on my behalf. Insecurity and pride caused me to react to situations out of my control by throwing a fit. This created a vicious cycle of self-inflicted strife.
Samson’s angry tirades resulted in murder. Losing a riddle, losing a wife, and losing his long hair fueled his temper and he reacted in a rage. How things might have been different for Samson and his legacy, had he learned to react differently when circumstances were not in his favor? Rather than leaving behind death and destruction, this strong man set apart could have lived a long life advancing God’s kingdom.
Let that not be said of us when we have left this earth. When we feel our temper start to flair, ask God for wisdom and self-control. If we need to hold our tongue in an argument or restrain ourselves physically, God will deliver us from the vicious cycle of anger and strife.
Father: Thank you for never leaving our side, even in our human weakness and imperfections. Forgive me for the times I have reacted in anger. Help me to respond with wisdom and self-control. Lord, if I need help or counsel, please put the right people in my path.
09/25 - Keeping A Secret Life
Stupid Human Tricks series
Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.
-Jer. 23:24
Someone I knew committed suicide. She endured mental illness for decades until she decided to forfeit the fight. I only became aware of her dark side and secret life after her death. Her family and best friend knew of her struggles, but to others, she wore a vivacious smile and showed a zest for life.
As a committed Christian, she wrote words that beautifully declared God’s hope and love. Now that she is gone, those she left behind grapple with why. How did this happen? How did she lead others to the cross one day, and the next day take her own life?
She made a series of sinful choices that altered the course of her life. Regret eventually led to despair. None of us are immune to crumbling under temptation and making ungodly choices. But, the longer we hide it, the more damage it does.
At any point, we can turn from secrecy and ask God for His help and strength to get us back on the right track. Nothing is ever truly secret. God fills heaven and earth, knows our hearts, and sees our every move. Through Jesus, we find forgiveness and healing.
Father, thank you that you are faithful to forgive because Jesus
died on the cross for our sins. Thank you for noticing me and caring
about my every move. Give me the courage to confess any secret sin.
Surround me with a loving group of people who accept me
and help me rise above my sins and experience freedom in You.
09/18 - God Always Has A Plan
Stupid Human Tricks series
Judges 13-16
Several years ago there was a tract that almost every evangelical church taught their people to use as a witnessing tool. It was called the 4 Spritual Laws. The first law of God and salvation according to the 4 Spritual Laws was, "God has a plan for your life."
From even before the birth of Samsom, God had a plan that He was revealing though first Samson's mother, then his father, and ultimately through the world. you may know Samson's story but if not, here is a short history. Samson was set apart as a Nazarite. a Nazarite took three vows: no wine/strong drink, no cutting of your hair, and no contact with the dead. Samson was so powerful that he didn't need armies and chariots to fight his battles. He won all the victories and suffered great pain because of it. In the end Samson sacrificed his own life to finally defeat his enemies.
I wonder sometimes if because of our own deisres, pride, even our own gifts and talents if we don't sacrifice God's plan for our own. The good news is that we are assured that "God works all things for the good of those that love God and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) We must not take God's will ightly. this is especially true once we have said "yes." My encouragement for you today is to follow his plan and avoid the heartache that comes with not being obedient.
Praise and Thanksgiving: Offer thanks to God that He has a plan for YOUR life.
Confess: Confess those times when you thought you had a better plan and ignored God's word for you.
Ask: God may we know and understand "your good and perfect will" for our lives.
09/11 - REMEMBER!
Psalm 22:27 (Psalm 22)
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
REMEMBER! This is a theme you will hear about throughout this week. Some will remember the fear they felt on 9/11. Some will remember the confusion of 9/11. Some will be bitter. Some still ask “why?”
It is interesting how fast we can forget God and how fast we will run to God in time of crisis. It is said that the Sunday following 9/11 saw the highest attendance in church in generations. It seems that it is easy to forget God in the good times, when everything is going our way. Then we want God to rescue us in the midst of our trials. This is much like what Moses must have felt like when he was leading Israel out of Egypt. When the manna fell and the water flowed everything was great. Then they even started to complain about the manna. How about you? Do you complain about the manna? The other day on facebook someone posted, “what if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?” Guilty. I am guilty of forgetting often that God provided it ALL.
As you REMEMBER this week remember not only the confusion, fear, and doubt. REMEMBER we have a Savior that is with us in the storm and is ready to calm your fears. Don’t forget to worship him.
09/04 - Labor Day
Proverbs 21:22
“The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.”
As we celebrate Labor Day this week we want to celebrate the freedom to work and provide for ourselves and our families. We are called to work. There is a misconception that Adam did not work in the Garden of Eden. That simply is not true. He was given several tasks by God. Tending the Garden and naming the animals were just a couple. What changed was that the work would become a chore.
It is good to be productive. Being productive builds self-esteem and makes you feel good about yourself and your situation. You and I both know people who have struggled with their own value when they have become unable to produce and make a positive contribution to their families and their community.
Let’s pray this week for those families who have sought work and been unable to find work. Let’s pray together that the economy will improve and that God provides wisdom for leadership to pull us out of this recession. Thank God if you have a job and pray for those that don’t.