Thursday, January 10, 2008
Things Have Been a Little Noisy, Time to Get Some Ear Plugs
This week (January 6, 2008) began our sermon series entitled 
. This series is designed to look at the various distractions in our lives that are , the subtle, and sometimes, not so subtle noise, keeping us, first and foremost from experiencing God as He wants to be experienced. Static also keeps us from really hearing our family and our friends as well as the needs of the world. These simple themes to be explored over the next few Sundays, also happen to be the core values of 
, my home church.Andy, and the media staff, did an outstanding job laying the groundwork Sunday for the next few weeks in a series. The presentations and sermon challenged our hearts, minds, and senses (except smell, I was a little disappointed that they left that one out).
Throughout scripture, we are called to be SILENT and seek the Lord. Elijah did not find God in the howling wind, earthquake, or fire. No, he found God in the quiet whisper that spoke louder than anything Elijah had ever heard. (1 Kings 19:11-18) Jesus, himself, understood the importance of silence and reflective time alone with His Father and practiced it regularly. (Luke 5:15-16)
Below are a few passages used in the sermon on Sunday to illustrate God's call to silence.
"But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him." Habakkuk 2:20 (NKJV)
"But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the LORD will hear when I call to Him. Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD." Psalm 4:2-5 (NKJV)
"At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.'" Matthew 11:25-30 (NKJV)
"Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:16b-17 (NKJV)
"Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. Better a handful with quietness than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind." Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 (NKJV)
As you go forward this year, take a close look at your life and see what sort of things, what sort of 
is keeping you from fully experiencing God, your family and friends, and the world around you. What is it in your life that is keeping you from doing God's work? Pray, in silence. Talk to God and ask Him to help minimize the in your life, to a point, where you begin to make the differences for others in a way God has called you to.
is keeping you from fully experiencing God, your family and friends, and the world around you. What is it in your life that is keeping you from doing God's work? Pray, in silence. Talk to God and ask Him to help minimize the in your life, to a point, where you begin to make the differences for others in a way God has called you to. Labels: faith journey
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Letting Go and Letting God
The other day my wife told me of a situation at work that was really getting her down. As a nurse, she has a great many challenges each and every day at work. The last thing that she needs to experience is one of those "female clique[s]" things that Angela was recently concerned about. She had been experiencing some issues with a few of her co-workers that was really starting to weigh on her. She was frustrated, angry, and really wanted to do something about it...in her own power. The funny thing was, that small still voice in her kept saying, "Now V, if you don't let it go, how can I ever deal with it?"After some quiet time and prayer, she relinquished her struggles to God. The next day, the individual that had been causing her so much grief, apologized to her.
As we sat on the back patio this evening discussing this incident, the ongoing discussion in my life with God became the focus of the conversation. V asked, "Why is it that we all struggle so much with God and not surrender more readily? Why do we go through the pain we do just to try to prove that we can do it without Him, when we know better? It just doesn't make sense!" She's absolutely correct...Why do we continue to grasp for that little bit of control that we think we have when in reality, complete surrender brings more comfort, joy, and real control than we could ever experience under our own power?
*Artwork by Jonathan Rogers.
Labels: faith journey
Friday, July 27, 2007
Commitment - Complete Surrender, You Say Tomato, I Say ....
My hero, Jason, over at post-methodist, posted the following quote by John Maxwell:
In reading a recent Oswald Chambers reflection, I noticed similar sentiments echoed:Commitment is the Key“Until I am committed there is a hesitancy, the chance to draw back. But the moment I definitely commit myself then God moves also and a whole stream of events begin to erupt. All manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, persons and material assistance that I could have never dreamed would come my way begin to flow toward me… the moment I make a commitment.”
THE ACCOUNT WITH PURITY-July 26th
"Out of the heart proceed . . ." Matthew 15:18-20
We begin by trusting our ignorance and calling it innocence, by trusting our innocence and calling it purity; and when we hear these rugged statements of Our Lord's, we shrink and say - But I never felt any of those awful things in my heart. We resent what Jesus Christ reveals. Either Jesus Christ is the supreme Authority on the human heart, or He is not worth paying any attention to. Am I prepared to trust His penetration, or do I prefer to trust my innocent ignorance? If I make conscious innocence the test, I am likely to come to a place where I find with a shuddering awakening that what Jesus Christ said is true, and I shall be appalled at the possibility of evil and wrong in me. As long as I remain under the refuge of innocence I am living in a fool's paradise. If I have never been a blackguard, the reason is a mixture of cowardice and the protection of civilized life; but when I am undressed before God, I find that Jesus Christ is right in His diagnosis.
The only thing that safeguards is the Redemption of Jesus Christ. If I will hand myself over to Him, I need never experience the terrible possibilities that are in my heart. Purity is too deep down for me to get to naturally: but when the Holy Spirit comes in, He brings into the centre of my personal life the very Spirit that was manifested in the life of Jesus Christ, viz., Holy Spirit, which is unsullied purity.
Recent sermons have also spoken of complete surrender to Christ. With all these "signs," you would think God was trying to tell me something. I pray every day that I can walk completely in His way and stop holding back the little control that I think I have. I posted about this back in April of this year here.
We all have our weaknesses, but the one common stumbling block for most Christians, at one time or another, is the control issue. With the help of Christ, and my loving wife, I strive each day, to wake up and surrender to Him. What will you do?
We all have our weaknesses, but the one common stumbling block for most Christians, at one time or another, is the control issue. With the help of Christ, and my loving wife, I strive each day, to wake up and surrender to Him. What will you do?
Labels: faith journey
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Are We Are Made For Worship or Is Worship Made For Us?
I was having a discussion the other day with a friend about personal experiences at church. She made the comment that she has to go to a church where the pastor/minister/priest speak to her, convict her and move her. I believe that if you go to church for the main reason we go to church, to praise and worship the Lord, that no matter the church, all falls into place because God will convict me as He sees fit and move me through the sermon, etc. That is the wondrous gift we receive from Christ.
This discussion wasn't really about right or wrong, just differences.
The big question to the readers: How do you approach your Sunday service of choice? Do you church hop until you find what you are looking for; or do you work through the church you're attending, letting Christ work on, through, and despite you?
This discussion wasn't really about right or wrong, just differences.
The big question to the readers: How do you approach your Sunday service of choice? Do you church hop until you find what you are looking for; or do you work through the church you're attending, letting Christ work on, through, and despite you?
Labels: faith journey
