Worship Wednesday 2/28/07

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." Psalm 19:1, NIV

Today's devotion (2/27/07) Job 5:17-18

"Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal." Job 5:17-18, NIV

Suffering... something our human minds do not grasp the blessing in easily. We are to rejoice in all things-- including suffering-- what a difficult thing that is for us humans to do. When we are in the middle of going through times of suffering, it is indeed for our own good. Through suffering God shows us His love for us. Without suffering and times of discipline, we would be left to ourselves and to our own earthly desires. We might think we are happier without suffering while here on earth, but that would be missing the entire point.

God takes us through times of suffering and correction so that we might see how imperfect this world and our human goals really are. And, while temporarily painful, without suffering, we would miss the healing that only God can give. It is for this reason that God allows us to suffer... so that we might know His grace and healing, and be shaped more into His image through the grace that only He can provide.

Today's devotion (2/26/07): 1 Kings 19:11-12

"The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." 1 Kings 19: 11-12

This scripture is from my reading today in "LET GO"... when we're in the midst of a waiting period, as I have been in myself, we often sit and wait for some monumental sign from God as to what our next step should be. God doesn't always use huge things to speak to us though-- sometimes he speaks in a whisper. It's our job to recognize that and be still. Our lives are so filled with noise and activity-- it can be deafening. Sometimes, when it feels like God is being silent-- when we can't hear His Voice or see His direction, maybe He's just trying to quiet us. As a former school teacher, I learned that sometimes the best way to get the attention of a rowdy group of kids was to begin speaking quietly rather than trying to scream over them. When we can't hear God for all the noise around us, maybe it's just because He is trying to get our attention through speaking in a gentle whisper.

Waiting for Lightning, Steven Curtis Chapman:

Standing on the edge of the truth
Looking out at the view
Of all you used to believe
From where you are
You can see you're far away from home

Echoes of the life you once knew
Call out to you from across the divide
And you know it's time
To step back over the line
But you're...

Waiting for lightning
A sign that it's time for a change
You're listening for thunder
While He quietly whispers your name

Night falls and the curtain goes down
No one's around, it's just you and the truth
As you lie and wait
For a feeling to take you by storm

Somewhere in the depths of your heart
Where it's empty and dark
There's a flicker of light
And the Spirit calls
But do you know notice at all?
Or are you...

Waiting for lightning
A sign that it's time for a change
You're listening for thunder
While He quietly whispers your name 
But the sign and the word
Have already been given
And now it's by faith
That we must look, and we must listen
Instead of...

Waiting for lightning
A sign that it's time for a change
You're listening for thunder
While He quietly whispers your name 
He whispers your name
Don't wait, don't wait

Today's devotion (2/23/07): Romans 1:25

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator..." Romans 1:25, NIV

While we might not do it intentionally, how often do we neglect to give God the praise and glory that is rightly His? We instead give other people, things and ourselves the glory for what is created by our own hands... while every good and perfect gift comes from Him. There is a lie the over-achiever tells him/herself subconsciously after a job well-done... that he/she is the one responsible. It is important to stop and recognize that without Him, nothing is possible-- and with Him, everything is possible. That is the one truth-- and the reason we should give thanks to Him alone.

Today's devotion (2/22/07): 1 Peter 5:5

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5, NIV

We often do things out of pride without even realizing it until we're in the midst of "getting things done". Us "over-doers" can get caught up in the doing and while we might not even be seeking praise from others, sometimes we are still seeking the "feel good" thing we feel when we do things for others-- there is still danger in that kind of giving because it is still tied to our inward pride.

In the middle of tasks that begin to seem difficult, the difficulty might just be in the fact that we have taken God out of the equation without even realizing it. It's at this point, that we should stop and take a good look at our intentions. Are we being proud and seeking that "feel good" feeling through doing a good job... or are we humbling ourselves-- waiting when necessary and seeking to serve God through following His lead?

Today's devotion (2/21/07): Romans 12:3

"...Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Romans 12:3, NIV

Today's reading (letter #8 in Let Go) brought this scripture to mind for me. It's easy to think highly of ourselves through what we perceive as success in our human endeavors, but our earthly success or failure is not what is important to our salvation or to the desires of our heavenly Father. When we stop looking at success as an outward thing and focus on glorifying God in all that we do, our achievements become unimportant and our purpose here on earth is fulfilled.

We make it impossible for our egos to take charge of our lives when all that we do is done with the intent of bringing Him the glory.

Today's devotion (2/20/07) Ephesians 2:8-9

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by your works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV

It is by grace that we breathe. It is by grace that we are. God's Amazing Grace... not by anything we are ourselves-- not by anything we accomplish. A powerful every day reminder. In the words of Derek Webb, "I'm so thankful that I'm incapable of doing any good on my own".

Today's devotion (2/19/07) Galatians 5:17

"For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want."
Galatians 5:17, NIV

"Why do I do all the things that I do when I want to do what is right?"-- Big Daddy Weave, Fields of Grace

How easy it is to slip into the habit of doing things without praying-- without consulting God. We want to do what is right, but continue to do what is wrong. We are human. Thank God for his Grace and patience with us. Thank God for the Spirit that sticks with us-- even when we are doing what we *want* rather than asking God what is right. Thank God.

Weekend thought (2/17-18/ 2007)

Ever feel like you've just been "playing" at this thing called life? Ever feel like you've been going through the motions, but have just been missing the point the whole time? It often feels like Solomon had it right-- there is nothing new under the sun... it's all been done or is being done. It sometimes feels like it's hard to find the point in what we do-- especially for those of us who tend to get really wrapped up in what it is we do.

But... (you knew that was coming, right?)

The visions-- the projects-- the things that we get ourselves wrapped up in that are actually from God cannot and will not return void. It's all in the timing. Not our timing, but His. The point is to give Him glory in all we do and to do it with a cheerful heart. We have no idea who might be watching and seeing the light of God shine through us as we do. If we go about things in our own strength and power-- if we expect the glory to be ours, there will be no real joy in what we do. It will be unfulfilling... without point or value.

Solomon might have had it right... there is nothing new under the sun, but everything is made new and beautiful under the SON.

Today's devotion (2/16/07) 1 Peter 3:11

"...seek peace and pursue it." 1 Peter 3:11

The letter in my little book today speaks of seeking peace through simplicity-- a very appropriate message for us in the craziness of the present. How often are we actually still? How often did we actually empty our minds of all worldly thought and allow God's voice to resonate within us? Speaking for myself, not often enough!

I have always said that God speaks to me in the shower-- that that is the time when He sends me the clearest messages and best ideas... but, maybe I've been wrong all this time. Maybe it's just my human mind racing with thoughts and I'm not allowing Him to enter at all. The letter written by the Archbishop in this book today speaks about "learning to turn a deaf ear to your own ambitious thoughts" in order to hear what God is trying to tell you. He takes it a bit further by discussing how unhealthy for our bodies and souls it is to allow ourselves to be consumed by "too much inner striving". WOW, does this speak to us type-A, control happy, perfectionist over-achievers!

While I don't think "great ideas" are wrong, they can become so when not planted and allowed to be nurtured by God. If we would open ourselves up in quiet patience, rid ourselves of our own goals toward human achievement, and listen for His guidance, just imagine how much bigger and better God's ideas would be than our own! What exciting possibilities!

Today's devotion (2/15/07) Matthew 16:24-25

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Matthew 16:24-25, NIV

I'm going to go about this one a little differently... I need to share a story with you.

I'm going to be a little transparent here... I've been feeling really alienated from people for the last couple of months. Between a couple of ventures taking different paths for me and health concerns I have been dealing with, I've been pretty "home-bound" and cut-off from people. I've gone from being too busy to eat lunch some days, to having enough time on my hands to ponder my purpose. I've felt stifled, lonely, frustrated, worried and all of that in combination with the health issues. I have not been in a good place-- and that has led to self-pity and worry.

Last week at church, we sat a couple of rows up from our normal spot-- the sanctuary was pretty full and I almost sat in one row, but then moved up to the next at the last second for some reason. As our pastor gave the sermon, I found my mind wondering and the worries and pity made me restless sitting there. I looked at the pocket in the chair in front of me, which usually holds pens, tissues, etc, and there were two small books tucked into the pocket. One was this little book:
It is a small book of 40 letters written by an Archbishop under Louis the Fourteenth-- he wrote them to a group of Christians who served in the court of the king and needed encouragement. I know-- that doesn't sound very exciting, but bear with me.

What spoke to me was the title-- in bold, big letters, "LET GO". When I turned the book over, in bold red letters, "ARE YOU STRUGGLING?"... um, yeah... I am! So, I felt like maybe the book was planted for me-- and then, I noticed the small words at the bottom, "To get peace and real joy"... two things that have definitely been lacking in my life. The book ended up being a book from the library of books available to be borrowed from the church, so I brought it home to use as my devotional, having high hopes it would speak to me... and maybe it will to you, too...

And this is where this devotional writing picks up...

Today's "letter" is on "the death of self"... and this is what I feel I need to share with you... first, he writes about the pain involved with God removing the parts of us that are still in the way-- the parts we cling to. For me, this is work-- my accomplishments, and being busy with them. I have been in pain over the loss of that and so I know God is working to help me release that tight grip I hold on my earthly accomplishments. It's not that we are to not enjoy what we do or even strive for excellence in our endeavors, but when it gets in the way of what God has planned for us, it needs to be removed. And, according to this book, it is a painful process that we should be thankful for because God seeks to reach us-- and that is a blessing. This is what I have been going through and I see that now. Secondly, in this letter, he says that he realizes how confined the reader is, but "I am convinced that God means to accomplish His work in you by cutting off every human resource". WOW-- how many times have I felt alone and like I had no one to lean on over the past several months-- and now I am learning I have been seeking the wrong thing. It's not that God wants me to feel alone or to feel cut off from others, but He knows me and He knows that I depend on people more than Him sometimes, and He wants me to hear Him and seek to lean on Him. I am not alone, He wants to spend time with me. WOW, how humbling is that! The author goes on to say that God has great plans for me and He wants me to understand what will be accomplished is through Him and no one else. Wow, again! How many times have I gotten that one wrong?!

So, all of that to share with you... if you, too feel alone or like you're just floating, waiting for what is to come... if you feel like there have been losses, struggles or pain that you just cannot seem to come through, maybe God has something greater in store. Maybe He just wants to spend some time with you with no distractions-- to prepare you-- to get you to the place He wants you to be. Before that can happen, you have to be willing to suffer losing some of the things you cling to-- even accept it as a blessing-- and in the process of losing your life, you will find it.

Today's devotion (2/14/07): 1 Corinthians 13:7

"It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres", 1 Cor. 13:7, NIV

The "it" in this verse is love... a perfect scripture for Valentine's Day. Oh, if we could only stop in the midst of things and repeat this verse to ourselves quietly, really getting its meaning... "...always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres"...

We had this verse read at our wedding as many others have and after the years, you start forget the depth of its meaning. If everything we did was done with this level of love-- remembering to trust God to be in control of our marriage and family, always hoping for the best outcome, always persevering-- even when it gets tough... that is the true meaning of love... imagine how strong our homes would be.

Today's devotion (2/13/07): James 1:19-20

"...Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger." James 1:19-20, The Message

WOW! A great scripture to begin these devotions-- and one that speaks to us all in the busy and often chaotic days we live. In the middle of chaos, we don't often feel that we have the time to stop and listen-- we simply have time to manage the situation and move on. Regrettably, that is often not led by our ears, but by the frustration we feel in having to manage so much all day-- a juggling act that often plugs our ears and fuels our anger.

Recently, I have noticed the lack of patience my eldest son has been showing to my youngest son... and stepping back, I am realizing that the example is probably being given through the frustration I allow to control chaotic situations in our home. My desire is to have a God-centered home, not a home run by frustration and anger, but in the middle of the craziness of life, I know I all too often fail to allow God's righteousness to grow.

Dear Lord, help me to be quick to listen and slow to anger. Direct my words and the way I say them in the chaotic times. Amen