As Christians, we have a tendency to pray without much emotion, following a rather mechanical “praise/ask” formula: “God thanks for this; please do that. Amen.” Rarely do we show God how we feel. We pray unemotively, approaching God as if He were an accountant, processing lists of requests with a check mark or “X” on his heavenly ledger.
My Lent meditation today prompted me to recognize that it was not Jesus’ deep emotion that caught God’s attention; it was His reverence —His deep respect for the Father’s person and submission to His will. And, interestingly, in that reverence, Jesus held nothing back. He laughed and cried with his Father. To Jesus, reverence was expressed by the act of submission, not by lack of emotion or expressions of solemnity. The season of Lent reminds us of Jesus' passionate interaction with His Father.
"Lord, I want to grow beyond cool, calm, and collected prayers. I want to dare to enter into union with God, where the full range of my emotions are freely expressed."
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered...
(Hebrews 5:7-8 NIV)
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Certain Faith
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise and watch over you. ...unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. (Psalm 32:7-10 NLT)
Meditating today on these verses from Psalm 32, I was reminded again that faith in Christ provides us with a certainty of hope that God will prove His faithfulness to us, providing that we are committed to do the trusting.
Here's an assuring thought ~
The Lord of all creation who died on the cross and miraculously rose from the dead loves me beyond comprehension and is more than able to guide and watch over me— even when the circumstances of life seem overwhelming and unbearable. (CRM Lent Devotional, 9 Feb)
Recently, a Christian friends challenged me with her personal testimony of having a certain faith. God is more than able...so why should we pray using words such as 'might', 'perhaps' or 'may'? God longs to work His will in and through us, so our faith in Him needs to reflect the certainty that He can, will and is sure to be all we need Him to be for us and through us.
Why? Because of His unfailing love!
Meditating today on these verses from Psalm 32, I was reminded again that faith in Christ provides us with a certainty of hope that God will prove His faithfulness to us, providing that we are committed to do the trusting.
Here's an assuring thought ~
The Lord of all creation who died on the cross and miraculously rose from the dead loves me beyond comprehension and is more than able to guide and watch over me— even when the circumstances of life seem overwhelming and unbearable. (CRM Lent Devotional, 9 Feb)
Recently, a Christian friends challenged me with her personal testimony of having a certain faith. God is more than able...so why should we pray using words such as 'might', 'perhaps' or 'may'? God longs to work His will in and through us, so our faith in Him needs to reflect the certainty that He can, will and is sure to be all we need Him to be for us and through us.
Why? Because of His unfailing love!
Friday, 8 February 2008
Bishop Brent
Charles Brent (1862-1929) was an Episcopal missionary to the Philippines for 16 years prior to becoming Bishop of Western New York in 1918. He authored the reflective thought, "What is dying?", that I shared at the graveside service I conducted today.A ship sails and I stand watching ‘til she fades on the horizon
and someone at my side says, She is gone.
Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all.
She is just as large now as when I last saw her.
Her diminished size and total loss from my sight is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at my side says, She is gone,
There are others who are watching her coming over their horizon
and their voices take up a glad shout, Here she comes!
and someone at my side says, She is gone.
Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all.
She is just as large now as when I last saw her.
Her diminished size and total loss from my sight is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at my side says, She is gone,
There are others who are watching her coming over their horizon
and their voices take up a glad shout, Here she comes!
And that is dying.
Bishop Brent's experiences in the Philippines had aroused in him a strong concern for the cause of visible Christian unity leading him to write this challenging thought.
The unity of Christendom is not a luxury, but a necessity. The world will go limping until Christ's prayer that all may be one is answered. We must have unity, not at all costs, but at all risks. A unified Church is the only offering we dare present to the coming Christ, for in it alone will He find room to dwell.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Lent
Today is the commencement of the forty-day period of self-reflection called Lent.
The main purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer—through prayer, penitence and almsgiving — for the annual commemoration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, as celebrated during Holy Week, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in the celebration of Easter.
Amy Galloway summed it up well in her meditation in the CRM Lent Devotional.
Lent is “sitting with our sinfulness much longer than we may be comfortable.” Without taking a hard look at the extent of our need, we may be unable to taste the goodness of the Lord. That’s why Jesus said to the Pharisee, “He who has been forgiven little loves little…” (Luke 7:47, NIV). How much more meaningful Easter becomes when I’ve contemplated anew my great need for atonement and his willingness to sacrifice on my behalf!
The main purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer—through prayer, penitence and almsgiving — for the annual commemoration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, as celebrated during Holy Week, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in the celebration of Easter.
Amy Galloway summed it up well in her meditation in the CRM Lent Devotional.
Lent is “sitting with our sinfulness much longer than we may be comfortable.” Without taking a hard look at the extent of our need, we may be unable to taste the goodness of the Lord. That’s why Jesus said to the Pharisee, “He who has been forgiven little loves little…” (Luke 7:47, NIV). How much more meaningful Easter becomes when I’ve contemplated anew my great need for atonement and his willingness to sacrifice on my behalf!
Monday, 4 February 2008
FreeRice
I was recently introduced me to the FreeRice initative of the United Nations World Food Programme.
FreeRice has two goals:
FreeRice has two goals:
- Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
- Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.
This is made possible by the sponsors who advertise on this site.
Whether you are CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your vocabulary can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself. Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive.
Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide.
Visit the FreeRice website ~ http://www.freerice.com/ ~and take the social justice vocab challenge today!
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Courage To Trust
Meaningful worship is always personally inspiring, corporately edifying and, most of all, God-glorifying. Such was our time spent in the house of God this morning.
The comforting words of Jesus spoken to His disciples ~ "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" ~ were reinforced in our hearts and minds, increasing our faith with a timely word of challenge and hope. Dabak's new music composition entitled "Take Courage!" was an inspirational highlight.
When the day is dark and stormy
And the night is long and hard
Then I hear Him gently saying,
“Peace be still! Trust with your heart.”
Take courage! Do not be afraid.
Take courage! Put your trust in Me.
I will hold your hand
I will help you stand
So take courage, be not afraid!
When I feel all weak and helpless
And my faith begins to wane
Then I hear Him gently saying,
“Peace be still! Trust with your heart.”
When you feel real lost and lonely
And uncertainty prevails
He is gently saying to you
“Peace be still! Trust with your heart.”
~ words by Timothy Lynn; music by Dabak Lynn (composed 31 January 2008)
Matthew 14:27 (NIV) ~ "Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
Saturday, 2 February 2008
Fellowship Meals
The last couple of days have presented valuable opportunities to share with family and friends over fellowship meals. On Friday evening it was to quietly celebrate a 37th birthday [Happy Birthday to me!], while last night it was a vibrant and entertaining 70th birthday celebration. Both events were enjoyable, though to compare them would be like comparing apples and oranges!
A common link between the two fellowship meals was the company that gathered. The very different guest lists were each reflective of two factors ~ influence and faith. There is great reward in gathering together with people of influence and faith. For when we do inspiration abounds.
It's interesting to note, too, that people of faith are most effective when they open themselves up to God's leading to be influential encouragers in the lives of others.
Acts 2:42 (MSG) ~ "They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers."
A common link between the two fellowship meals was the company that gathered. The very different guest lists were each reflective of two factors ~ influence and faith. There is great reward in gathering together with people of influence and faith. For when we do inspiration abounds.
It's interesting to note, too, that people of faith are most effective when they open themselves up to God's leading to be influential encouragers in the lives of others.
Acts 2:42 (MSG) ~ "They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers."
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