Hebrews 12 tells us faith is being sure and certain. It is about more than hoping for the best, but expecting the best from God. We need to abandon wishful thinking, and take hold of certain hope. God is not playing around. God means what he says. There is no truer word than the word of God.
When God tells you that your sins are forgiven. You better believe they are. When God tells you he will prosper you. You better believe he will. When God tells you he will protect, heal, equip, or inspire you - let no doubt remain.
I know that you have been let down many times before. You have experience a few broken promises in your lifetime. I know that I have.
You might ask, "what makes God any different?" "Why should I believe him?"
The simple answer is this - God has never failed to come through on a promise. Sure there are some promises we are still waiting to be fulfilled. Jesus says he will return. That has not happened yet. But we know it will.
So read and study God's Word expectantly. Because it is going to happen!
Our readings for next week (guess what we are almost half way through!):
June 01
2 Samuel 18:1-19:10
John 20:1-31
Psalm 119:153-176
Proverbs 16:14-15
June 02
2 Samuel 19:11-20:13
John 21:1-25
Psalm 120:1-7
Proverbs 16:16-17
June 03
2 Samuel 20:14-21:22
Acts 1:1-26
Psalm 121:1-8
Proverbs 16:18
June 04
2 Samuel 22:1-23:23
Acts 2:1-47
Psalm 122:1-9
Proverbs 16:19-20
June 05
2 Samuel 23:24-24:25
Acts 3:1-26
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 16:21-23
June 06
1 Kings 1:1-53
Acts 4:1-37
Psalm 124:1-8
Proverbs 16:24
June 07
1 Kings 2:1-3:2
Acts 5:1-42
Psalm 125:1-5
Proverbs 16:25
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
My Heart was Broken this Morning
A few months back I painted my daughters bedroom. This was an emotional experience for me, because we were transforming her bedroom from a baby's room to a little girls room. It didn't help matters that K-love was playing a song called "Dancing with Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman. It was a song about a father's love for his daughter and how quickly time passes.
This morning I read that Chapman's 5 year old daughter was killed in a tragic accident. I want to hug my daughter a little tighter tonight.
This morning I read that Chapman's 5 year old daughter was killed in a tragic accident. I want to hug my daughter a little tighter tonight.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Discontentment
Got this as an email the other day. Puts everything in perspective:
In his book Money: A User's Manual, Bob Russell describes a farmer who once grew discontent with his farm. He griped about the lake on his property always needing to be stocked and managed....And those fat cows lumbered through his pasture. All the fencing and feeding--what a headache!...
He called a Realtor and made plans to list the farm. A few days later the agent phoned, wanting approval for the advertisement she intended to place in the local paper. She read the ad to the farmer. It described a lovely farm in an ideal location—quiet and peaceful, contoured with rolling hills, carpeted with soft meadows, nourished by a fresh lake, and blessed with well-bred livestock. The farmer said, "Read that ad to me again."
After hearing it a second time, he decided, "I've changed my mind. I'm not going to sell. I've been looking for a place like that all my life."
In his book Money: A User's Manual, Bob Russell describes a farmer who once grew discontent with his farm. He griped about the lake on his property always needing to be stocked and managed....And those fat cows lumbered through his pasture. All the fencing and feeding--what a headache!...
He called a Realtor and made plans to list the farm. A few days later the agent phoned, wanting approval for the advertisement she intended to place in the local paper. She read the ad to the farmer. It described a lovely farm in an ideal location—quiet and peaceful, contoured with rolling hills, carpeted with soft meadows, nourished by a fresh lake, and blessed with well-bred livestock. The farmer said, "Read that ad to me again."
After hearing it a second time, he decided, "I've changed my mind. I'm not going to sell. I've been looking for a place like that all my life."
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Trustfully Study the Word
Swim lessons have not gone over very well with my daughter Abby. She especially does not like to go underwater. When we get into the water she will cling to me so tight, worried that I will let her go. I calmly try to assure her that I am not going to let her go and that there is nothing to be afraid of, but she does not buy it. She continues to cling more tightly. How I wish she would just trust me more, and the fun that she could have.
It's like that for us with God sometimes. Proverbs 3:5-6 tell us "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." But we have trouble doing this.
We read God's Word with a cautious eye. We are cautious to apply what we learn. We are cautious to believe it so fully without question. We raise questions. We raise doubts. We ask, "God, are you really sure?" We balk when he says to go, or to surrender, or to trust.
We ask God for proof. Or we ask God for a sign. However, the reality is the more we balk, the more we miss out on the blessings God has to offer. Trustfully study the Word, believe the Word, and apply the Word. Don't miss out on all the fun you could have.
Readings for next week:
May 18
1 Samuel 22:1-23:29
John 10:1-21
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 15:18-19
May 19
1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
John 10:22-42
Psalm 116:1-19
Proverbs 15:20-21
May 20
1 Samuel 26:1-28:25
John 11:1-54
Psalm 117:1-2
Proverbs 15:22-23
May 21
1 Samuel 29:1-31:13
John 11:55-12:19
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 15:24-26
May 22
2 Samuel 1:1-2:11
John 12:20-50
Psalm 118:19-29
Proverbs 15:27-28
May 23
2 Samuel 2:12-3:39
John 13:1-30
Psalm 119:1-16
Proverbs 15:29-30
May 24
2 Samuel 4:1-6:23
John 13:31-14:14
Psalm 119:17-32
Proverbs 15:31-32
It's like that for us with God sometimes. Proverbs 3:5-6 tell us "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." But we have trouble doing this.
We read God's Word with a cautious eye. We are cautious to apply what we learn. We are cautious to believe it so fully without question. We raise questions. We raise doubts. We ask, "God, are you really sure?" We balk when he says to go, or to surrender, or to trust.
We ask God for proof. Or we ask God for a sign. However, the reality is the more we balk, the more we miss out on the blessings God has to offer. Trustfully study the Word, believe the Word, and apply the Word. Don't miss out on all the fun you could have.
Readings for next week:
May 18
1 Samuel 22:1-23:29
John 10:1-21
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 15:18-19
May 19
1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
John 10:22-42
Psalm 116:1-19
Proverbs 15:20-21
May 20
1 Samuel 26:1-28:25
John 11:1-54
Psalm 117:1-2
Proverbs 15:22-23
May 21
1 Samuel 29:1-31:13
John 11:55-12:19
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 15:24-26
May 22
2 Samuel 1:1-2:11
John 12:20-50
Psalm 118:19-29
Proverbs 15:27-28
May 23
2 Samuel 2:12-3:39
John 13:1-30
Psalm 119:1-16
Proverbs 15:29-30
May 24
2 Samuel 4:1-6:23
John 13:31-14:14
Psalm 119:17-32
Proverbs 15:31-32
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
I'm Back
Had a great weekend in St. Louis. I guess it could have been better if the Cubs had won the series. But nevertheless, we had a good time. It was good to get away.I come back home renewed, refreshed, reinvigorated. God has now given me a new calling at Lord of Life. I assume the role of leadership as the sole called pastor. It is a calling that I reluctantly receive, but I know that the Lord provides everything his children need. "He does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called." I think I heard that somewhere!
I know this will not be me. It will be all him. I look forward to what God will accomplish.
Ask the Lord of the Harvest
I have been reading an excellent book. It is called "Comeback Churches." It has given me some good insights. It has reinforced a number of things.
One thing in this book that caught my attention is a bit of Scripture that we often overlook. It is Matthew 9:37-38. Here Jesus says, "the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
We sometimes so focus on what Jesus tells us to pray for in the Lord's Prayer, we forget what Jesus teaches us to pray in this verse. He teaches us to pray for God to send laborers into the harvest. This is a prayer from Jesus we ought to pray regularly and passionately. Maybe we could add another petition to the Lord's prayer. It might go something like this ". . . Give us our daily bread. Send laborers into the harvest. Forgive us our trespasses . . . "
I read that only 17% of Americans attend church on Sunday morning. Many statistics will tell you that there are more than this, but the larger number can be attributed to people who will mark on surveys that they attend church but really don't. They mark that they attend because they feel guilty they don't. What this means is that if every church going American brought another friend with them to church we would still only be at 34%.
Now with all that said, it is not really about church attendance but a relationship with Jesus. While church attendance is a strong indicator of a relationship with Jesus, it is not the end all be all. I am sure there are many people in church that do not have that relationship and there are some who are not in church that do. But the point is there is a lot of work to be done.
For all the beauty of God's creation, there is a lot of ugliness. A death toll of over 15,000 from a tropical cyclone, the ongoing tragedy of hunger, malaria, and AIDS. There are addictions, divorces, and violent assults. So many people are living less than meaningful lives without much joy or hope. A good friend of mine once told me to treat every persons heart as if it were breaking because it probably is. The older I get, the more I am learning the truth in this.
There is much work to be done. A message to proclaim! I want to invite you to join me in regularly, consistently, and passionately praying every day that the Lord would send laborers into the harvest. I can't do it alone. You can't do it alone. God will do it. And he will use his people.
If you are at LOL this weekend, I will be handing out postcards to serve as a reminder to pray this prayer. I encourage you to put it in a place where it is readily visible and you will be reminded to pray.
Lord send your laborers into the harvest!!!! Multiply the good work of your church.
One thing in this book that caught my attention is a bit of Scripture that we often overlook. It is Matthew 9:37-38. Here Jesus says, "the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
We sometimes so focus on what Jesus tells us to pray for in the Lord's Prayer, we forget what Jesus teaches us to pray in this verse. He teaches us to pray for God to send laborers into the harvest. This is a prayer from Jesus we ought to pray regularly and passionately. Maybe we could add another petition to the Lord's prayer. It might go something like this ". . . Give us our daily bread. Send laborers into the harvest. Forgive us our trespasses . . . "
I read that only 17% of Americans attend church on Sunday morning. Many statistics will tell you that there are more than this, but the larger number can be attributed to people who will mark on surveys that they attend church but really don't. They mark that they attend because they feel guilty they don't. What this means is that if every church going American brought another friend with them to church we would still only be at 34%.
Now with all that said, it is not really about church attendance but a relationship with Jesus. While church attendance is a strong indicator of a relationship with Jesus, it is not the end all be all. I am sure there are many people in church that do not have that relationship and there are some who are not in church that do. But the point is there is a lot of work to be done.
For all the beauty of God's creation, there is a lot of ugliness. A death toll of over 15,000 from a tropical cyclone, the ongoing tragedy of hunger, malaria, and AIDS. There are addictions, divorces, and violent assults. So many people are living less than meaningful lives without much joy or hope. A good friend of mine once told me to treat every persons heart as if it were breaking because it probably is. The older I get, the more I am learning the truth in this.
There is much work to be done. A message to proclaim! I want to invite you to join me in regularly, consistently, and passionately praying every day that the Lord would send laborers into the harvest. I can't do it alone. You can't do it alone. God will do it. And he will use his people.
If you are at LOL this weekend, I will be handing out postcards to serve as a reminder to pray this prayer. I encourage you to put it in a place where it is readily visible and you will be reminded to pray.
Lord send your laborers into the harvest!!!! Multiply the good work of your church.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Sabbath
It was on the seventh day that God rested and created rest for us. We have a need to sometimes recharge our batteries.
I am excited to take a few days and get away to relax. It has been a busy few weeks. Barbara and I will be going to St. Louis for the Cubs vs Cardinals series this weekend. I lived in St. Louis for three years when I went to seminary. Went to many games at old Busch Stadium. I have been looking forward to seeing the new Busch Stadium.
Let's go Cubs! Eamus Catuli
Attentively Study the Word
Do you get distracted? Have you ever been reading through the Bible and you come to the end of the page and you have no idea what you just read?
I know this has happened to me. I look to read or study the Word and my mind will begin to wander. My thoughts will turn to items I need to accomplish or circumstances I am facing. I will be reading the words, but they just don't register.
So how do we read and study God's Word more attentively?
For me personally, it is important that I be in the Word very early in the day. As the day progresses along, my mind is less clear and more easily wanders. I just find that it is easier for me to focus before I get involved in too much.
Another important way for me to maintain focus is to eliminate the distractions. Get away from people, from noises, and from anything that might potentially draw you away from the Word.
I find that taking notes helps me to be more attentive to the Word. It is much easier to stay focused while looking to mine the Word for its treasures. The more involved and engrossed you are in the Word, the more difficult it will be to be distracted.
Finally, use God's gift of prayer. When you have difficulty focusing. Take it to the Lord in prayer. Share with him your burdens. His Word instructs us to cast all our burdens on him.
Readings for this week:
May 04
Judges 19:1-20:48
John 3:22-4:3
Psalm 104:24-35
Proverbs 14:22-23
May 05
Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22
John 4:4-42
Psalm 105:1-15
Proverbs 14:25
May 06
Ruth 2:1-4:22
John 4:43-54
Psalm 105:16-36
Proverbs 14:26-27
May 07
1 Samuel 1:1-2:21
John 5:1-23
Psalm 105:37-45
Proverbs 14:28-29
May 08
1 Samuel 2:22-4:22
John 5:24-47
Psalm 106:1-12
Proverbs 14:30-31
May 09
1 Samuel 5:1-7:17
John 6:1-21
Psalm 106:13-31
Proverbs 14:32-33
May 10
1 Samuel 8:1-9:27
John 6:22-42
Psalm 106:32-48
Proverbs 14:34-35
I know this has happened to me. I look to read or study the Word and my mind will begin to wander. My thoughts will turn to items I need to accomplish or circumstances I am facing. I will be reading the words, but they just don't register.
So how do we read and study God's Word more attentively?
For me personally, it is important that I be in the Word very early in the day. As the day progresses along, my mind is less clear and more easily wanders. I just find that it is easier for me to focus before I get involved in too much.
Another important way for me to maintain focus is to eliminate the distractions. Get away from people, from noises, and from anything that might potentially draw you away from the Word.
I find that taking notes helps me to be more attentive to the Word. It is much easier to stay focused while looking to mine the Word for its treasures. The more involved and engrossed you are in the Word, the more difficult it will be to be distracted.
Finally, use God's gift of prayer. When you have difficulty focusing. Take it to the Lord in prayer. Share with him your burdens. His Word instructs us to cast all our burdens on him.
Readings for this week:
May 04
Judges 19:1-20:48
John 3:22-4:3
Psalm 104:24-35
Proverbs 14:22-23
May 05
Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22
John 4:4-42
Psalm 105:1-15
Proverbs 14:25
May 06
Ruth 2:1-4:22
John 4:43-54
Psalm 105:16-36
Proverbs 14:26-27
May 07
1 Samuel 1:1-2:21
John 5:1-23
Psalm 105:37-45
Proverbs 14:28-29
May 08
1 Samuel 2:22-4:22
John 5:24-47
Psalm 106:1-12
Proverbs 14:30-31
May 09
1 Samuel 5:1-7:17
John 6:1-21
Psalm 106:13-31
Proverbs 14:32-33
May 10
1 Samuel 8:1-9:27
John 6:22-42
Psalm 106:32-48
Proverbs 14:34-35
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