"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest--I would flee far away and stay in the desert; (Selah) I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm." Psalm 55:6-8
I fell asleep during the worship music, as I generally do most mornings. This morning I had a dream, hoever. I don't believe that this is some big prophetic dream because I can connect real-world events to it, but it made me think.
In this dream, a storm was coming. It was going to be some combination of hurricane, tornado, and snow storm. Everyone knew it was going to be bad, but no one was really worried. They all underestimated it. But I knew how bad it could be. I sent out messages urging people to find low-lying shelter. I was at my parents house (I had slept over) and as I was sending out these messages I suddenly realized that I didn't have any plans for myself, and I live on the 4th floor of a building. Just then I heard my parents talking upstairs--my step-dad had just come in from shoveling and had news for me. My mom sent him downstairs, and he said "Ok, do you want the gloves to come off, and I'll just tell you how it is?" And I was just about to answer "yes" when I woke up.
Interesting, right? Like I said earlier, I don't feel that this is some prophetic omen of a disastrous storm coming to destroy Chicago. I'm well aware of the clues that this was mainly my mind just processing things. But I was intrigued by the idea of preparing for a storm.
How do we prepare for hard times? Do we save up money, stock up on bread and milk? Do we have escape routes from our homes? Are we prepared for losing our loved ones, our jobs? Getting sick? Getting hurt?
I'll tell you right now I think my answer to all of those is no. I suppose my desire would be to fly away from the storm, like the psalmist. But that's not really an answer to every situation. Sometimes we do need to flee a situation, don't we, like an unhealthy relationship. But other times we are called to stand firm, to withstand the buffeting winds and rain, and when we can do no more, to keep standing.
Are you prepared to do that? If we take the gloves off and really look into the situation, are you prepared to deal with it?
Lord, help me to be prepared. Whether good or ill, the events of life will happen. Help me to be ready for all those things. Amen.
February 9, 2010
February 8, 2010
Sit. Stay. Rest.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. (Psalm 23:1-3a)
Ok, so we all know this psalm, right? Well, something that just struck me literally this morning, is that word "makes." It doesn't say "God stands with us while we choose the wise course of making sure we get enough sleep." No, it says "He makes me lie down."
Dude.
If you take this from a realistic Shepherd/Sheep standpoint, it makes sense, right? Sheep are dumb. They don't even know when or where to rest, apparently. (I rather wonder if they would just eat until they passed out otherwise.)
Good thing we're not like those sheep, right? You know, we're not at all workaholics or anything.
Yeah.
Sometimes I think it's just busy-ness that keeps us going. That and, in my case, the desire to have my own time. I will come home from an evening and most often will go straight to the computer so I can have some "me time." Which would be fine except when it results in massive amounts of under-sleep. Because then when I'm not rested, I'm not good for anything.
But when I listen to God's prompting, I will sometimes come home and actually go straight to bed. Maybe I'll read a book for a while, but I'll actually be asleep before midnight. And that's really an important thing!! God wants us to rest. We were designed to rest. You can generally see when people haven't been getting enough sleep--they look horrible!
But we tend to push and push and push ourselves, and often it is rest that goes by the wayside. So God has to make us lie down, like the dumb sheep that we are.
So I have decided to make rest more of a priority. Not sloth or lazyness, but real rest. Do what needs doing, and do it in a timely manner, so I can go to bed on time, so that I will have the energy I need for the next day. Let it be so, Lord God.
Ok, so we all know this psalm, right? Well, something that just struck me literally this morning, is that word "makes." It doesn't say "God stands with us while we choose the wise course of making sure we get enough sleep." No, it says "He makes me lie down."
Dude.
If you take this from a realistic Shepherd/Sheep standpoint, it makes sense, right? Sheep are dumb. They don't even know when or where to rest, apparently. (I rather wonder if they would just eat until they passed out otherwise.)
Good thing we're not like those sheep, right? You know, we're not at all workaholics or anything.
Yeah.
Sometimes I think it's just busy-ness that keeps us going. That and, in my case, the desire to have my own time. I will come home from an evening and most often will go straight to the computer so I can have some "me time." Which would be fine except when it results in massive amounts of under-sleep. Because then when I'm not rested, I'm not good for anything.
But when I listen to God's prompting, I will sometimes come home and actually go straight to bed. Maybe I'll read a book for a while, but I'll actually be asleep before midnight. And that's really an important thing!! God wants us to rest. We were designed to rest. You can generally see when people haven't been getting enough sleep--they look horrible!
But we tend to push and push and push ourselves, and often it is rest that goes by the wayside. So God has to make us lie down, like the dumb sheep that we are.
So I have decided to make rest more of a priority. Not sloth or lazyness, but real rest. Do what needs doing, and do it in a timely manner, so I can go to bed on time, so that I will have the energy I need for the next day. Let it be so, Lord God.
February 5, 2010
Hosanna
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9)
As I sat down to the computer I was listening a song called Hosanna, one of the myriad "Hosanna" songs that exist. How surprising, then, it was to find out that the word is only in the Bible 6 times, two of which are in the above verse.
Not that it's a bad thing, I was just surprised. But then if Hosanna is a praise to Jesus, there is only the one time (the triumphal entry) that the Bible really talks about what the people did/said when he showed up. Perhaps there were hosannas all over the place back then.
Hosanna n. a shout of praise or adoration; an acclamation.
I wonder, do we "hosanna" all over the place today?
And think about it this way... we already know that God wins.
Hmmm.
I don't hosanna all the time.
Perhaps we need to change that.
I praise you Lord God, I lift up your holy name. I sing Hosanna, I cry out in adoration. You are the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, there is nothing you do not know and nothing that you cannot do. You are Love and you love us despite ourselves. You are the cause of our existance and the avenue for our salvation. Holy, holy are you God. Hosanna to you Lord God. Amen.
As I sat down to the computer I was listening a song called Hosanna, one of the myriad "Hosanna" songs that exist. How surprising, then, it was to find out that the word is only in the Bible 6 times, two of which are in the above verse.
Not that it's a bad thing, I was just surprised. But then if Hosanna is a praise to Jesus, there is only the one time (the triumphal entry) that the Bible really talks about what the people did/said when he showed up. Perhaps there were hosannas all over the place back then.
Hosanna n. a shout of praise or adoration; an acclamation.
I wonder, do we "hosanna" all over the place today?
And think about it this way... we already know that God wins.
Hmmm.
I don't hosanna all the time.
Perhaps we need to change that.
I praise you Lord God, I lift up your holy name. I sing Hosanna, I cry out in adoration. You are the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, there is nothing you do not know and nothing that you cannot do. You are Love and you love us despite ourselves. You are the cause of our existance and the avenue for our salvation. Holy, holy are you God. Hosanna to you Lord God. Amen.
February 4, 2010
There is No One Like You
But my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. (Song of Solomon 6:9)
I was just now listening to a song called There is No One Like You. The woman was singing to God, praising Him and saying that there is truly no one like him, on the earth or the sky. "Teach me your ways, oh God, that I might walk in your truth..." For God is the one we should look to for an example. There is no one like Him (and yet our endeavor is to become more Christlike every day. We will never be perfect on earth, but we should do our best).
But the focus of this isn't on having to set aside ourselves and taking on the mantle of Christ. For just a moment, read that scripture up top again. The Bible is God's love song to his people, and it is more evident in Song of Solomon if you imagine God as the bridegroom and His people as the bride.
What is He saying about us then? That we are all of us unique. We were all created differently from each other. Why? Because there is no one like God, so should there be no one like you or me. We are made in His image, after all.
God delights in us, the way that Solomon delighted in his bride. When he looked at her, he saw no one else. Because she was unique, and she was his beloved.
We are unique, and we are God's beloved.
There is no one like you, and that's just the way God designed it to be.
I was just now listening to a song called There is No One Like You. The woman was singing to God, praising Him and saying that there is truly no one like him, on the earth or the sky. "Teach me your ways, oh God, that I might walk in your truth..." For God is the one we should look to for an example. There is no one like Him (and yet our endeavor is to become more Christlike every day. We will never be perfect on earth, but we should do our best).
But the focus of this isn't on having to set aside ourselves and taking on the mantle of Christ. For just a moment, read that scripture up top again. The Bible is God's love song to his people, and it is more evident in Song of Solomon if you imagine God as the bridegroom and His people as the bride.
What is He saying about us then? That we are all of us unique. We were all created differently from each other. Why? Because there is no one like God, so should there be no one like you or me. We are made in His image, after all.
God delights in us, the way that Solomon delighted in his bride. When he looked at her, he saw no one else. Because she was unique, and she was his beloved.
We are unique, and we are God's beloved.
There is no one like you, and that's just the way God designed it to be.
February 3, 2010
Verse of the Day
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. (Psalm 59:16)
So usually every morning when I do this blog, I go to biblegateway.com and do a search for a particular word or phrase. The website has a verse of the day function, but I rarely even look at it, particularly because it seems like all the cliche, evangelistic verses are put there. Which makes sense but doesn't always speak to what I'm looking for.
But today I didn't really know what to look for, and I looked at the verse of the day and thought "you know, I don't sing of God's strength enough, and I certainly don't walk around my apartment every morning singing of God's love." Ironically this is part of the reason I started the whole blog in the first place--to spend time worshipping God. I think I have not quite figured that part out yet and have focused on the Bible study part.
So I'm going to try something fairly radical--I will just praise God for a few minutes:
God you are good. Your mercies endure forever. No matter how often we turn from you, you are always waiting for us to turn back. You help me to see the path before me and you give me comfort when the path is hidden. You have prepared a place in heaven for me that is mine, and you just want me to live out your will for the rest of my years, so I may expand your kingdom here on earth first. You know the cries of my heart and even when I cannot put them into words you answer my prayers. You provide for me and you protect me. You send angels to guard my steps and protect my house. You speak words of wisdom into my heart for myself and for others. You give me inspiration and you gave me the gift of creativity. All that I have done of note comes from you. You are the reason that I breathe, that I exist, and you chose me specifically for your kingdom. You sent your only son to die for the sins I haven't yet committed. You gave us free will, knowing the pain you would endure. You are bigger, better and more beautiful than I can even imagine. You ARE.
Thank you God, for being You. Amen.
So usually every morning when I do this blog, I go to biblegateway.com and do a search for a particular word or phrase. The website has a verse of the day function, but I rarely even look at it, particularly because it seems like all the cliche, evangelistic verses are put there. Which makes sense but doesn't always speak to what I'm looking for.
But today I didn't really know what to look for, and I looked at the verse of the day and thought "you know, I don't sing of God's strength enough, and I certainly don't walk around my apartment every morning singing of God's love." Ironically this is part of the reason I started the whole blog in the first place--to spend time worshipping God. I think I have not quite figured that part out yet and have focused on the Bible study part.
So I'm going to try something fairly radical--I will just praise God for a few minutes:
God you are good. Your mercies endure forever. No matter how often we turn from you, you are always waiting for us to turn back. You help me to see the path before me and you give me comfort when the path is hidden. You have prepared a place in heaven for me that is mine, and you just want me to live out your will for the rest of my years, so I may expand your kingdom here on earth first. You know the cries of my heart and even when I cannot put them into words you answer my prayers. You provide for me and you protect me. You send angels to guard my steps and protect my house. You speak words of wisdom into my heart for myself and for others. You give me inspiration and you gave me the gift of creativity. All that I have done of note comes from you. You are the reason that I breathe, that I exist, and you chose me specifically for your kingdom. You sent your only son to die for the sins I haven't yet committed. You gave us free will, knowing the pain you would endure. You are bigger, better and more beautiful than I can even imagine. You ARE.
Thank you God, for being You. Amen.
February 2, 2010
Show Me Your Faith
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. (James 2:18)
Did you know that the most proliferate philanthropists on earth can still go to Hell?
ooooooohhh, that's a charged sentence.
But it's true. It's not what we do, it's what we believe that matters when it comes to heaven. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, believe that He is your salvation and welcome him into your heart, and voila... you've got the golden ticket.
Then what?
Then you sit on the couch and wait for Jesus.
No?
Ok, how about singing in the choir at church every week and organizing bake sales?
Well, that's closer.
There's a reason that God doesn't take us away the moment we accept Him.
What about the other 6 billion people on the planet? Who will speak of God's truth to them if we are not here?
So, while the Golden Ticket is purchased through our belief, we must put that belief to work for the rest of our lives. If you believe that Jesus came to heal the sick and save the lost, then you must continue His works. He gave us the authority to cast out demons. He said that we would do greater things than he did. But it means that we have to step up and actually do things. Because if we continue to live for ourselves alone, what type of faith do we really have in the One who died on a cross and was separated from his heavenly Father, all for things he himself did not do?
And, oh yes, it might hurt.
But can you imagine, when you reach the footstool of God's throne, how insanely cool it will be for him to look at all the things you did that survived the fire of judgement and say "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
I certainly hope that I can build myself a bigger pile in the years I have left.
Lord, help me to work out my faith, not for riches or glory but because it is what you did while you were on earth. Amen.
Did you know that the most proliferate philanthropists on earth can still go to Hell?
ooooooohhh, that's a charged sentence.
But it's true. It's not what we do, it's what we believe that matters when it comes to heaven. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, believe that He is your salvation and welcome him into your heart, and voila... you've got the golden ticket.
Then what?
Then you sit on the couch and wait for Jesus.
No?
Ok, how about singing in the choir at church every week and organizing bake sales?
Well, that's closer.
There's a reason that God doesn't take us away the moment we accept Him.
What about the other 6 billion people on the planet? Who will speak of God's truth to them if we are not here?
So, while the Golden Ticket is purchased through our belief, we must put that belief to work for the rest of our lives. If you believe that Jesus came to heal the sick and save the lost, then you must continue His works. He gave us the authority to cast out demons. He said that we would do greater things than he did. But it means that we have to step up and actually do things. Because if we continue to live for ourselves alone, what type of faith do we really have in the One who died on a cross and was separated from his heavenly Father, all for things he himself did not do?
And, oh yes, it might hurt.
But can you imagine, when you reach the footstool of God's throne, how insanely cool it will be for him to look at all the things you did that survived the fire of judgement and say "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
I certainly hope that I can build myself a bigger pile in the years I have left.
Lord, help me to work out my faith, not for riches or glory but because it is what you did while you were on earth. Amen.
February 1, 2010
God Wants You to be Healed
Woe to me because of my injury! My wound is incurable! Yet I said to myself, "This is my sickness, and I must endure it." (Jeremiah 10:19)
He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. (Matthew 10:1)
I have had a headache and sinus drainage for about a day, so of course this morning I did a search on the word "sickness." I'm also taking a class on healing, so this makes for good homework as well. :)
I found it really interesting, what verses came up. On the one hand God says he will heal his people from sickness if they follow him (likewise they will get sick if they don't). And then there are first-hand accounts of healing, but also a few verses which could support the theory that God still sends us sickness today, to recompense for something we have done. And, as Jeremiah states above, we must endure it.
I think a large number of people could take that verse to think that yes, God has meted out punishment for some wrong-doing, and so we must accept it. But I don't think that's what he's saying. I believe that "endure" means "withstand," not "accept willingly." Besides, if you take it in context, Jeremiah is speaking a prophesy, which allows for metaphor. We must not always take literally the words in the Bible.
Continue on to Matthew, and I believe you will see God's preferred position on sickness--healing it. Jesus gave his disciples the authority to heal every kind of sickness. EVERY kind. Cancer, heart conditions, blindness, headaches, cramps, jaundice... and he did not say "you can cure anything except where God has punished someone with sickness." No, Jesus said go and do.
So if you are sick, inquire of the Lord. Perhaps a sickness is a direct result of something we have done (lung cancer from smoking, a headcold from not sleeping enough and allowing the immune system to weaken), but God does not say that we must suck it up and live (or die) with it.
Likewise pray for healing from the people you know. It can happen, no matter how impossible the situation may seem. Remember that God wants us to be pure and whole. Be healed, in the name of Jesus.
He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. (Matthew 10:1)
I have had a headache and sinus drainage for about a day, so of course this morning I did a search on the word "sickness." I'm also taking a class on healing, so this makes for good homework as well. :)
I found it really interesting, what verses came up. On the one hand God says he will heal his people from sickness if they follow him (likewise they will get sick if they don't). And then there are first-hand accounts of healing, but also a few verses which could support the theory that God still sends us sickness today, to recompense for something we have done. And, as Jeremiah states above, we must endure it.
I think a large number of people could take that verse to think that yes, God has meted out punishment for some wrong-doing, and so we must accept it. But I don't think that's what he's saying. I believe that "endure" means "withstand," not "accept willingly." Besides, if you take it in context, Jeremiah is speaking a prophesy, which allows for metaphor. We must not always take literally the words in the Bible.
Continue on to Matthew, and I believe you will see God's preferred position on sickness--healing it. Jesus gave his disciples the authority to heal every kind of sickness. EVERY kind. Cancer, heart conditions, blindness, headaches, cramps, jaundice... and he did not say "you can cure anything except where God has punished someone with sickness." No, Jesus said go and do.
So if you are sick, inquire of the Lord. Perhaps a sickness is a direct result of something we have done (lung cancer from smoking, a headcold from not sleeping enough and allowing the immune system to weaken), but God does not say that we must suck it up and live (or die) with it.
Likewise pray for healing from the people you know. It can happen, no matter how impossible the situation may seem. Remember that God wants us to be pure and whole. Be healed, in the name of Jesus.
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