More from Oswald Chambers:
"Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer; He had the boundless certainty that prayer is always answered.... God answers prayer in the best way, not sometimes, but every time, although the immediate manifestation of the answer in the domain in which we want it may not always follow. Do we expect God to answer prayer?
The danger with us is that we want to water down the things that Jesus says and make them mean something in accordance with common sense; if it were only common sense, it was not worthwhile for Him to say it. The things Jesus says about prayer are supernatural revelations."
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Joyful Abandon
"Do not worry
about your life, what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more important than food, and
the body more important than clothes?"
(Matthew 6:25)
about your life, what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more important than food, and
the body more important than clothes?"
(Matthew 6:25)
A mostly-paraphrased section from Oswald Chambers:
"Do not worry..." Basic provision isn't your problem to worry about. In fact, to take on such worries shows that you don't trust God to take care of the practical details of your life. Do you remember what Jesus said would choke the word he puts in? Not the devil, but the cares of this world, the little worries. [See Matthew 13.] Faithlessness begins by deciding I will not trust where I cannot see, and the only cure is obedience to the Spirit.
Jesus invites us into a life of joyful abandonment.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
For This Reason
"For this reason... I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers" (Ephesians 1:15-16). For what reason? The verses prior paint a wonderful picture: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ... chose us... to be adopted... glorious grace, which he has freely given us... in accordance with the richness of God's grace that he lavished on us.... And you also were included..." That whole section is a powerful proclamation of God's love and grace in the lives of all who choose to follow Him. It is indeed reason to celebrate.
And what is Paul's prayer? "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." We are called, first and foremost, to relationship with God. We are invited to know God.
And what is Paul's prayer? "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." We are called, first and foremost, to relationship with God. We are invited to know God.
Labels:
context,
grace,
lectionary
Monday, May 25, 2009
Why Do You Do This?
Acts 1:1-8 contains an incredibly speedy review -- Jesus came, taught, died, resurrected, and taught some more -- which sets the scene for the next three verses. He promised again the coming of the Holy Spirit, who would empower the disciples to tackle their God-given mission. Then "he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight."
"They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going..." Makes sense, doesn't it? This Jesus, their Savior and Teacher and Lord, was not just leaving, but leaving in a pretty spectacular manner. I wonder how long the disciples would have stood there watching if not interrupted by the "two men dressed in white" who prompted them with this question: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?"
It reminds me of the question asked of the women by two similar figures at Jesus' empty tomb: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5), and it reminds me that God does not meet my expectations of how the world works.
"They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going..." Makes sense, doesn't it? This Jesus, their Savior and Teacher and Lord, was not just leaving, but leaving in a pretty spectacular manner. I wonder how long the disciples would have stood there watching if not interrupted by the "two men dressed in white" who prompted them with this question: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?"
It reminds me of the question asked of the women by two similar figures at Jesus' empty tomb: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5), and it reminds me that God does not meet my expectations of how the world works.
Labels:
lectionary,
resurrection
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Everything Changed
Jesus spent three years in ministry on earth, and it changed everything in the lives of those who followed him. He healed sick people, liberated spiritually oppressed people, welcomed rejected people, taught seeking people, challenged wrong people, and loved all people. His disciples would never be the same after encountering the Messiah...
Labels:
change
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Getting Ready
The worship team gathers for about an hour on Sunday mornings to finalize preparations for worship. They rehearse the music, clarify the order of service, adjust the sound system. Like the Levites of the Old Testament, they do not just sing; they lead the way into the presence of God.
They are getting ready right now. I have joined them occasionally over the years, and know more or less what they're probaly doing. Dave makes sure things are ready for the team, Phil adjusts the sound system, Deanna and Jen set up the computer. Then, before anything else, they come together for prayer. It is a significant time in the life of this group, and therefore in the life of our church.
I am thankful for this group of committed people who do not take themselves too seriously, but do not take worship lightly. I look forward to joining them soon for a great morning focused on our great God.
They are getting ready right now. I have joined them occasionally over the years, and know more or less what they're probaly doing. Dave makes sure things are ready for the team, Phil adjusts the sound system, Deanna and Jen set up the computer. Then, before anything else, they come together for prayer. It is a significant time in the life of this group, and therefore in the life of our church.
I am thankful for this group of committed people who do not take themselves too seriously, but do not take worship lightly. I look forward to joining them soon for a great morning focused on our great God.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Fear and Courage
Gideon was hiding in a winepress, trying to thresh his wheat without being noticed by the enemy troops, when he was called by God to lead His people into war. He gathered 32,000 men to fight, though this was still a small force compared to the many swordsmen of the Midianites. That's when God told Gideon that the already-outnumbered Israelite army was still too big, so he told "anyone who trembles with fear" to go home, and 2 out of every 3 men left. Even then God judged the army was too large and sorted them again, leaving only three hundred remaining.
And how did they prepare themselves? Following God's instructions, Gideon mustered his little army during the night's middle watch and issued each person a trumpet, a big empty jar, and a torch. He divided them into three groups and directed them to places around the enemy camp. And so they went -- in the dark, in the presence of their enemies, thinly spread, greatly outnumbered and poorly armed.
Those three hundred men were to follow the lead of Gideon, the one who had just recently been called out of hiding and into war. On his signal, each person in that tiny little army was to blow his trumpet, smash a jar, yell, and hold up a bright torch. Can you imagine a more foolhardy battle plan? There was no way, based on human understanding, they could possibly survive this encounter. Yet those three hundred men followed, trusting God's direction. Such courage!
I don't think those men entered that battle situation without fear, but their fear was tempered by trust in God and by their recognition that something else -- obedience to God -- trumped fear. That is the kind of courage I want to cultivate in my life, and to help others cultivate as well.
There are plenty of God-given commands which would fit here, but the one that comes to mind today is we are to take the initiative to restore right relationship after offending -- or being offended by -- another person. Too often fear keeps us from taking that step. What if they won't forgive me? What if they won't acknowledge they've done something wrong? What if they say something bad about me to another person?
Those fears are often very real, but still quite irrelevant. Our fears need to be tempered by trust in God, and by recognition that something else -- obedience to God -- trumps fear.
(This story of Gideon is found in Judges 6-7.)
And how did they prepare themselves? Following God's instructions, Gideon mustered his little army during the night's middle watch and issued each person a trumpet, a big empty jar, and a torch. He divided them into three groups and directed them to places around the enemy camp. And so they went -- in the dark, in the presence of their enemies, thinly spread, greatly outnumbered and poorly armed.
Those three hundred men were to follow the lead of Gideon, the one who had just recently been called out of hiding and into war. On his signal, each person in that tiny little army was to blow his trumpet, smash a jar, yell, and hold up a bright torch. Can you imagine a more foolhardy battle plan? There was no way, based on human understanding, they could possibly survive this encounter. Yet those three hundred men followed, trusting God's direction. Such courage!
I don't think those men entered that battle situation without fear, but their fear was tempered by trust in God and by their recognition that something else -- obedience to God -- trumped fear. That is the kind of courage I want to cultivate in my life, and to help others cultivate as well.
There are plenty of God-given commands which would fit here, but the one that comes to mind today is we are to take the initiative to restore right relationship after offending -- or being offended by -- another person. Too often fear keeps us from taking that step. What if they won't forgive me? What if they won't acknowledge they've done something wrong? What if they say something bad about me to another person?
Those fears are often very real, but still quite irrelevant. Our fears need to be tempered by trust in God, and by recognition that something else -- obedience to God -- trumps fear.
(This story of Gideon is found in Judges 6-7.)
Labels:
character,
conflict,
decision,
faith,
leadership,
relationships
Monday, April 13, 2009
Protected by Time
Time is a gift.
It doesn't always seem that way. When there is so much going on, so much busyness, it seems like a barrier. "If only I had more time..." I feel stuck in time, limited by it. But time is a moment-by-moment reminder that I don't need to do everything, that I am not created to do everything. It prompts me to discover what is most important and to prioritize. This is a lifelong process, and it is a spiritual discipline.
The confines of time seem to bind sometimes, but this is the platform from which we can begin to see clearly.
It doesn't always seem that way. When there is so much going on, so much busyness, it seems like a barrier. "If only I had more time..." I feel stuck in time, limited by it. But time is a moment-by-moment reminder that I don't need to do everything, that I am not created to do everything. It prompts me to discover what is most important and to prioritize. This is a lifelong process, and it is a spiritual discipline.
The confines of time seem to bind sometimes, but this is the platform from which we can begin to see clearly.
Labels:
disciplines,
planning,
purpose,
time
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)