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Great Big Rocks or Good Medium Rocks?

Today I was walking with a good friend of mine and we were talking about decisions each of us make, especially with regard to activities to participate in. It seems like our world just keeps getting busier, partly because of external demands placed upon us, but partly because we put things upon ourselves. "I want a new house. The school needs someone to coordinate the volunteer reading program. I want to lose weight. The little league team needs a coach. I want a baby. The band needs a fundraising chairperson. I should eat better. I should do this. I should do that." A lot of these things are good things. It's good to exercise for health and to lose weight. It's good to help kids learn to read. But if we have too many "goods" in our lives, we may not have room for the "greats."

I've head it said that "if the Devil can't make us bad, he'll make us busy" and "the enemy of Great is Good". Several years ago I read Steven Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. One of those habits is "Put First Things First." Know what your priorities are and put them in your plans first.

He used the illustration of the 'Big Rocks': the most important things should be the Big Rocks of your time and energy - the "greats" (time with God, time with spouse, etc.) in your priority list. If you put these things in first, then you still have space for other things. After the 'Big Rocks' you add other medium and smaller things - everything from going to a class to balancing the checkbook. Finally, to your "jar" of priorities you add "sand" and then "water" - for me, things like washing dishes (ugh) and cleaning the bathtub (double ugh). Notice, that if you fill up a "jar" with sand, water, and small rocks first there is not room for any of the Big Rocks - your first priorities. But, if you put the Great Things (GOD things!) first, there's always room left for other things. Those other things may be Good Things, just fewer of them.

Are we too busy? Too busy with "good" things that we can't do the "great" things God may be calling us to?

I don't know about you but I constantly fight with myself to keep my First Things First and put my Big Rocks into my schedule so they get the energy and focus they deserve. On some level I know the dishes will get washed, the bathroom will get cleaned, but I keep having to remind myself that precious moments with my children - a GREAT THING in my life - will never be able to be recovered. I have to remind myself not to get distracted by Good Things, but instead to seek first the Great Things of God.

³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6 NIV)

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4 NIV)

¹³Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. (1 Tim. 3 NIV)

God of Greatness,

As you have created us in your image, teach us to see as you see. Teach us to seek out that which is great in your eyes - that which is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable. Give us courage and self discipline to do what is best for us, not just what feels right or the habits we fall into. Give us wisdom and discernment to know the most important things in our lives so that we may seek after these things. Bless us as we seek first your Kingdom and your righteousness.

Amen

Thorns

Recently I joined the Facebook "community" and since then have reconnected (intentionally) with a few friends from grad school and relatives I haven't seen in awhile. That is one of the nice advantages of having such a place - finding long-lost friends. But, then, sometimes that ability to reconnect is also a liability, as two people from a long time ago (in my life) have contacted me and wanted to be Facebook "friends."

These specific two people are guys I was involved with in one way or another at different times. [Fast forward 15-20 years and we're all married with kids. But that's not this story.] I remember each of these guys in the context of my shame at the choices I made with them. So, while I may be somewhat curious about how their lives have turned out, my larger reaction even after all these years is, "ugh. I thought I'd put that memory, that person behind me. And here he is showing up again, reminding me of things I would rather forget."

And it dawned on me the other day that the Evil One uses his whispers of "shame on you" and "I bet they haven't forgotten" and "you were sure dumb then" to pull me down. When the truth is that repentance is about turning away from sin and turning toward God. I made (and continue to make) my choice to be serious about my relationship with God. As that happens I continue to better understand God's love, grace, forgiveness and - get this - forgetfulness - in a way that I can't concisely put into words.

A guy at church calls all this emotional garbage "skubalon," which is a (real) Greek word meaning "refuge" and "things worthless and detestable." I would imagine that there are more people out there with a conscience, people who have made foolish choices that they now regret, people that would rather forget pieces of their past, especially their own set of skubalon. I keep having to remind myself that it's those things that Jesus came to forgive. Those places in our memories and hearts he came to heal. Those whispers for which he came to say, "Peace, be still." Those lives that he came to redeem from the Pit and point toward the Great Banquet Feast the Father has prepared for us. The Evil One would like to distract us from the reality of our identity, seen through the blood of Christ, as precious children of the King of Kings. When we acknowledge that those whispers are nothing but distraction, we can go on to embrace the Way, the Truth and the Abundant Life we are offered.

I was talking this over with a friend last night and she reminded me that maybe God has let me keep those ("I wish they were gone") memories to help me have more mercy and grace for others who are also making choices that are not of God. Maybe those thorns I carry help me to be more compassionate to others who are still tangled in the thorny bush. Maybe the Crown of Thorns is a symbol of all that skubalon being nailed to the Cross and we bear it no more, praise the Lord!

My prayer for each of us is for forgetfulness...for redemption...for skubalon forgiven...for freedom from thorns carried many years and many miles...for a tender and humble heart to extend grace to others and to ourselves...for the heart to know what is of Evil and what is the voice of God...for joy in the Lord to embrace the Abundant Life as God's Children, enjoying the heavenly feast with Jesus...Maranatha, Lord Jesus, Come.

"...Anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins." (2 Cor. 5:16 MSG)

(P.S. I am so grateful to God for my husband and the life I'm living now. Evil's whispers and thorns come and go, but the bigger and better parts of my life are embracing the Abundance of Christ. I hope that if you are someone struggling with your own thorns, that this prayer will help you.)

Interconnected

Lately I am struck by how interconnected our lives are -- not just our lives as a family, community, or church body, but as citizens of the U.S. and the world.  If a factory closes here and a comparable one opens in a different country, families are affected, for bad and for good, in both locations.  If a tariff on imported sugar beets helps the farmers in one country, it hurts the farmers in another.   If a beautiful work of art is created in one place, it has the potential to help beautify many places....  and the examples go on.    

Through Facebook I recently reconnected with some people from high school and grad school I hadn't talked with in years.  In addition to Facebook, email and phone calls, I even connect with friends through those "old-fashioned" face-to-face conversations!  Technology provides us with avenues to keep connected in ways we didn't have 10-15 (or more) years ago.  And yet, in some ways, our local communities have become less interconnected.  I know one set of neighbors pretty well, one lady more than by name, and two other houses by names.  The rest of my block I don't know their names.  If calamity happened in the middle of the night, would we know each other well enough and trust each other to help each other?  Or, to put it another way, would I be interconnected enough with the people around me to know we would "have each others' backs?"   Tis' a strange, paradox of a world we live in.

But, if we are followers of Jesus Christ, we know we are interconnected.  Paul talks about the parts of the church being like parts of a body:  that all are important and each need each other.   We suffer together, we rejoice together.  And Jesus prayed for unity among the believers in John 17.  Maybe that's because he knew us - knew that we, even with good intentions, find ourselves pushing for things that may cause disunity within the church.  Maybe because there is always some little whisper of chaos the Enemy is trying to stir up within a church.  Even when we don't want to be (for whatever earthly reason), we are interconnected by a God who wants us connected to Him.

So, we pray....

God of Life and Love,

Remind us of the gift of being connected to you.  Help us live a life connected by your Spirit to the Source of the Abundant Life.  Keep us mindful of those in this world whose lives are affected by our actions, and help us to be the hands and feet for your Word to go forth.  Remind us how to love and to continually seek you so we can remain unified as your children and your church.   Show us your most excellent way and give us one heart and mind with each other and with you.  Guide us by your hand into the paths of peace.

Amen.

^20-23I'm praying not only for them 
   But also for those who will believe in me 
   Because of them and their witness about me. 
   The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— 
   Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, 
   So they might be one heart and mind with us. 
   Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. 
   The same glory you gave me, I gave them, 
   So they'll be as unified and together as we are— 
   I in them and you in me. 
   Then they'll be mature in this oneness, 
   And give the godless world evidence 
   That you've sent me and loved them 
   In the same way you've loved me.

 ^24-26Father, I want those you gave me 
   To be with me, right where I am, 
   So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me, 
   Having loved me 
   Long before there ever was a world. 
   Righteous Father, the world has never known you, 
   But I have known you, and these disciples know 
   That you sent me on this mission. 
   I have made your very being known to them— 
   Who you are and what you do— 
   And continue to make it known, 
   So that your love for me 
   Might be in them 
   Exactly as I am in them.  (John 17 MSG)

 ¹⁴Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ¹⁵If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

 ²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" ²²On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

 ²⁷Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But eagerly desire the greater gifts. 
      And now I will show you the most excellent way.  (1 Cor. 12 NIV)

"Sheeple" and Leadership

In the last few days I've been thinking a lot about leadership.  Our church is in the process of searching for our next pastoral leader and Sunday we had a conversation with the district leader about that position.  The church is at a point in her history and growth where good leadership continues to be critical.  There are currently incredibly talented people in lay and staff leadership positions, and our next pastor will need to be a compliment to and crucial element of that leadership. 

(Painting a picture with a wide brush and a grain of salt now:)  Our nation seems to have a lot of "leaders" who are strictly out to further their own or party's agenda.  Our society seems to discourage godly leadership within the home.  People in our culture seem to be led like sheep ("sheeple") by entertainment, sports, or political celebrities.  Thoughtful people pine for times when thoughtful, careful, leaders looked at the best thinking around them and how to apply it to current situations.  And while I recognize that in every generation there are leaders and "sheeple," somehow it seems there are a lot more sheeple than quality leaders right now.  

This weekend I read Peggy Noonan's column in the Wall Street Journal.  Most of it was a response to the criticisms of Sarah Palin.  But the last few paragraphs I believe are profound and important for thinking citizens and church folk to consider. (You can read the whole article at: 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124716984620819351.html)  

I won't reprint the whole thing here, but the last paragraphs I believe apply both to the Church and to our nation.

The era we face, that is soon upon us, will require a great deal from our leaders. They had better be sturdy. They will have to be gifted. There will be many who cannot, and should not, make the cut. Now is the time to look for those who can. And so the Republican Party [or any church following Jesus!] should get serious, as serious as the age, because that is what a grown-up, responsible party [church/pastor] —a party [church/pastor] that deserves to lead—would do.

It's not a time to be frivolous, or to feel the temptation of resentment, or the temptation of thinking next year will be more or less like last year, and the assumptions of our childhoods will more or less reign in our future. It won't be that way.

We are going to need the best.

We are going to need the best -- both for our nation and our church.  So we pray...

God, 

 We love you, O LORD, our strength.

 The LORD is our rock, our fortress and our deliverer; 

our God is our rock, in whom we take refuge.   (Ps.181:2a NIV, alt.)

 Turn your ear to us, come quickly to our rescue; 
       be our rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save us.

Since you are our rock and our fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide us.  (Ps.31:2-3 NIV, alt.)

O LORD, hear our prayer, listen to our cry for mercy; 
       in your faithfulness and righteousness come to our relief.

Let the morning bring us word of your unfailing love, 
       for we have put our trust in you. 
       Show us the way we should go, 
       for to you we lift up our souls.

Rescue us from our enemies, O LORD, 
       for we hide ourselves in you.

Teach us to do your will, 
       for you are our God; 
       may your good Spirit 
       lead us on level ground.  (Ps. 143:1, 8-10 NIV alt.)

We need leaders who are tuned in to you, 

both for our church and for our nation.  

We need men and women who seek first your kingdom and righteousness 

and want to serve you in their roles.  

Prepare our next pastor and upcoming/future civic leaders 

for the leadership roles you have for them.

Show your church and your people the ones you 

have anointed for leadership.

Give your leaders the fortitude and patience of David 

as he waited for your timing to become the leader 

God had anointed him to be. 

Give your leaders the courage and faith 

of Joshua and Caleb, to see Your Promised Land and 

speak your truth to the people.

Give your leaders the joy of Abraham and Sarah 

as they watched Isaac grow, knowing your promises are "yes and amen."

Give your leaders the focus and vision for ministry 

the apostles and early church had so we are effective in our mission and ministry.

Give your leaders a desire to be genuinely humble 

and allow you to raise us up to exalted places.

Guide our feet into the paths of peace 

for your righteousness and for the glory of your name.

Amen

Peace be with you,

JV

Called by name

What's in a name?

Abram --- Abraham
Sarai --- Sarah
Simon --- Peter
Saul --- Paul

Why does God change peoples' names? Sometimes it's because He gives us a new ministry - as wife, then mother, in my case. For Simon, it was because he was planning to build a Church upon the foundation of the eleven disciples, including Peter ("Rock"). Summer in ministry is often a time busy with praying, planning, and preparing for the next program year. What is the ministry God is calling us to in the next 12 months? Is it basically what we are doing or are there new avenues to explore? Should we stay on the path we have been and just hone our traveling, or is God calling us to step onto a new, unexplored path for a time?

I don't know what questions each of you may have for God in this arena, but I know that God hears your questions. Tommy Walker's "He Knows My Name" is a gentle reminder of that:

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in His hand

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
He hears me when I call "He Knows My Name" by Tommy Walker -- 1996 Doulos Publishing (Maranatha! Music [Admin. by Music Services])

If you are asking questions - either personally or in your ministry area -- know that the God who created you, who redeemed you, who calls you by name...who knows you by name...hears you.

^1-4 But now, God's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Beloved,
the One who got you started, Israel:
"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
I've called your name. You're mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That's how much you mean to me!
That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you. (Isa. 43 MSG)

Thank you, God, for knowing us, loving us, redeeming us. Thank you for hearing each word we say, each tear that falls, each question that explodes. Thank you for calling our names and making us yours. We pray you would pour out your wisdom and guidance upon this staff, upon this church, upon each of us as precious Beloved. We need to know Your will and Your ways for our ministries and our lives. Help us to know that you have called each of us and will never let us go. In Christ's name, Amen.

Fearfully and wonderfully made

 ^1-6 God, investigate our lives; get all the facts firsthand. 

   We're an open book to you; 
      even from a distance, you know what we're thinking. 
   You know when we leave and when we get back; 
      We're never out of your sight. 
   You know everything we're going to say 
      before we start the first sentence. 
   We look behind us and you're there, 
      then up ahead and you're there, too— 
      your reassuring presence, coming and going. 
   This is too much, too wonderful— 
      We can't take it all in! 

 ^7-12 Is there anyplace we can go to avoid your Spirit? 
      to be out of your sight? 
   If we climb to the sky, you're there! 
      If we go underground, you're there! 
   If we flew on morning's wings 
      to the far western horizon, 
   You'd find us in a minute— 
      you're already there waiting! 
   Then we said, "Oh, he even sees us in the dark! 
      At night we're immersed in the light!" 
   It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you; 
      night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you. 

 ^13-16 Oh yes, you shaped us first inside, then out; 
      you formed us in our mothers' wombs. 
   We thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! 
      Body and soul, we are marvelously made! 
      We worship in adoration—what a creation! 
   You know us inside and out, 
      you know every bone in our bodies; 
   You know exactly how we were made, bit by bit, 
      how we were sculpted from nothing into something. 
   Like an open book, you watched us grow from conception to birth; 
      all the stages of our lives were spread out before you, 
   The days of our lives all prepared 
      before we'd even lived one day. 

 ^17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful! 
      God, we'll never comprehend them! 
   We couldn't even begin to count them— 
      any more than we could count the sand of the sea. 
   Oh, let us rise in the morning and live always with you! 
      And please, God, do away with wickedness for good! 
   And you murderers—out of here!— 
      all the men and women who belittle you, God, 
      infatuated with cheap god-imitations. 
   See how we hate those who hate you, God, 
      see how we loathe all this godless arrogance; 
   We hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred. 
      Your enemies are our enemies! 

 ^23-24 Investigate our lives, O God, 
      find out everything about us; 
   Cross-examine and test us, 
      get a clear picture of what we're about; 
   See for yourself whether we've done anything wrong— 
      then guide us on the road to eternal life.  (Ps. 139, MSG, alt.)

All Knowing God,

We thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! 
Body and soul, we are marvelously made! 
We worship in adoration—what a creation! 
You know us inside and out, 
you know every bone in our bodies; 
You know exactly how we were made, bit by bit, 
how we were sculpted from nothing into something.

Let us rise in the morning and live always with you! 
And please, God, do away with wickedness for good! 

 Investigate our lives, O God, find out everything about us; 
Cross-examine and test us, get a clear picture of what we're about; 
See for yourself whether we've done anything wrong— 
      then guide us on the road to eternal life.

Prepare your Church worldwide for our next chapter of ministry.

Embolden its leaders to search for and serve you even more passionately and with even more humility.

Prepare pastors for the paths to which they are called

Stir up a hunger within your Church worldwide to seek you and follow you.

Stir up a hunger within your Church to see all the lost invited into relationship with you.

Pour out your Spirit on men and women, old and young alike; give us wisdom to know your road to eternal life.

Amen

Going to the place God will show us

"This world has nothing for me...I will follow you..."  *

God told Abram to pack up his household and go to the place "I will show you." 

Jesus called to the disciples, "Come follow me."  And they left their nets and followed. 

Tonight I talked with friends who are preparing to move out of state because his factory has been closed here and they are hoping to have a job in Virginia.  They have both been a lifelong residents of this area.  Yet, they are prepared to uproot their lives, move away from families and friends, resettle four children (including one in high school and one in middle school), and start over in a brand new place.  But she's told me they have great peace about moving out there.  In fact, both their teenagers are excited (and THAT has to be a work of God, right??!!)  It's like God is saying "pack and go to the place I will show you.  The economy certainly isn't "calling" them to Virginia, like God was calling Abram, but this may be a time when God is calling them to a new field of ministry.  And they are willing to go.

We've probably each been through times in our lives where God has called us to GO but not told us where we are going.  Or we may be discerning now what God's call is or how to follow him.   Our church is searching for a new pastor...what if this isn't a "simple" pastor hire?  What if God's call is more involved to us -- maybe to "pack up" the way we've been doing ministry and "go" to a place God will show us?  I don't know that for sure, but sometimes the simplest invitation - "Come, follow me" - can have the most profound impact on our lives.  

So my prayer for this week...

God of Provision, Wisdom, and Perfect Timing,

Help us seek first your Kingdom

Help us listen to your Wisdom and put it into practice

Help us know the plans you have for our future, a future with hope

Help us trust you when we are walking through the chaos of decision making

Help us to be patient and recognize that your strength will hold us up when we are waiting for direction

Help us be willing to quit what we are doing and then follow you when you call us to a new place

We need you, Jesus, to come to our rescue; where else can we go?

Capture us with grace; we will follow you...

Maranatha, Lord Jesus, come guide our feet into your paths of righteousness

Holy Spirit, come, refresh, revive, restore, comfort, and whisper peace into our storm-tossed souls.

May our words, thoughts, and deeds be pleasing and acceptable to you, our Rock and Redeemer.

Amen.

Genesis 12 (NIV)

The Call of Abram

 ¹ The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

 ² "I will make you into a great nation 
       and I will bless you; 
       I will make your name great, 
       and you will be a blessing.

 ³ I will bless those who bless you, 
       and whoever curses you I will curse; 
       and all peoples on earth 
       will be blessed through you."

 ⁴ So Abram left, as the LORD had told him...

Matthew 4:18-20 (New International Version)

The Calling of the First Disciples

 ¹⁸As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰At once they left their nets and followed him.

* "Rescue"

You are the source of life

And I can't be left behind

No one else will do

And I will take hold of You

My heart is Yours for life

I need Your hand in mine

No one else will do

I put my trust in You

'Cause I need You Jesus

To come to my rescue

Where else can I go

There's no other name

By which I am saved

Capture me with grace

I will follow You

I will follow You

This world has nothing for me

I will follow You

This world has nothing for me

CCLI Song No. 4084763

© 2003 Vertical Worship Songs (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.)

Jared Anderson

Praying for the children of the world

^1-2 All you who fear God, how blessed you are! how happily you walk on his smooth straight road! 
   You worked hard and deserve all you've got coming. 
      Enjoy the blessing! Revel in the goodness! 

 ^3-4 Your wife will bear children as a vine bears grapes, 
      your household lush as a vineyard, 
   The children around your table 
      as fresh and promising as young olive shoots. 
   Stand in awe of God's Yes. 
      Oh, how he blesses the one who fears God! 

 ^5-6 Enjoy the good life in Jerusalem 
      every day of your life. 
   And enjoy your grandchildren. 
      Peace to Israel!  (Psalm 128 Message)

Last night I came upon this passage and got a chuckle out of verse 3, which in the NLT says, "Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table."  I was laughing as I was fast-forwarding a few years to have four vigorous and hungry teenage boys sitting around our table and how much food they will consume!   

And it reminded me of the children of this world who are in need of physical, emotional, or spiritual nourishment.   So, we remember and pray...

- for children who do not have enough food to eat

- for children who spend their lives in orphanages or foster care

- for children who never are held, or laughed with, or smiled at, or hugged, or who never know what it means to be loved

- for the child of the journalist convicted and sentenced to hard labor in North Korea

- for children growing up and learning to hate other people

- for the millions who have been aborted over the last thirty plus years

- for the octuplets born in California and for the children of Jon & Kate 

- for other children in unstable or ungodly family situations

- for Sasha and Melia, growing up in the artificial bubble of the White House

- for children whose circumstances force them to grow up long before they should

- for children pressed into military or terrorist organizations

- for children used or sold in the world sex trades

- for children whose parents are ill, divorcing, or otherwise going through trauma 

- for children whose differences or disabilities are seen as liabilities by others

- for children who are being uprooted when parents have to relocate to support the family 

- for children who have never heard of the love, grace, hope and peace offered through Jesus Christ

God, we pray that your protection would be on all the children you create.  We pray you would help us to help these children be fresh, promising, and vigorous.  We pray your Word would be known to them and they would have their needs met.   And we pray for hope and peace through Jesus Christ.

God in heaven, I make my prayer 

For all the people everywhere 

Who live in fear or pain or doubt; 

Whose homes are gone, and hopes run out. 

God in heaven, I make my prayer 

For all the children everywhere 

Who live in terrible, warring places; 

Who live with hunger and strange, sad faces. 

God in heaven, I make my prayer 

For all good people everywhere 

Who live in comfort, love and peace,

And pray sincerely for strife to cease; 

But who do not always hear the call 

Of those who live with nothing at all. 

God in heaven, hear my prayer! 

Help all people everywhere 

To come closer together in plenty and need, 

And to make our world your home, indeed. *

AMEN

*("Prayer for Today"By Margaret Tucker, text by Mary M. Coulson)

To seek and save the lost

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”  Luke 19:10 NIV

You're the Word of God the Father

From before the world began

Ev'ry star and ev'ry planet

Has been fashioned by Your hand

All creation holds together

By the power of Your voice

Let the skies declare Your glory

Let the land and seas rejoice

With the multitude in heaven, we cry out:

   "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." 
   "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"  (Rev. 7:10, 12 NIV)

Yet You left the gaze of angels

Came to seek and save the lost

And exchanged the joy of heaven

For the anguish of a cross

With a prayer You fed the hungry

With a word You stilled the sea

Yet how silently You suffered

That the guilty may go free

Thank you that you came to seek and save us, the Lost.  Thank you for enduring the cross for us.  Thank you for freeing us from guilt, shame, skubalon, and sin that we may live the abundant life you call us to. 

With a shout You rose victorious

Wresting victory from the grave

And ascended into heaven

Leading captives in Your wake

Now You stand before the Father

Interceding for Your own

From each tribe and tongue and nation

You are leading sinners home*

God, we cry out today for those who are lost and captive. 

We pray, loving Spirit, for you to call out to those who do not yet know you as Lord; may they soon trust fully in your promises.  

We pray for places in this world where those who live the Gospel are persecuted; may your strength and power encourage your children. 

We pray for those who are lost in a sea of fear, upheaval, grief, ignorance, directionless-ness, busyness, and distraction; may your sweet voice speak peace and focus into their lives.

We pray for those who do not have the basic necessities of life - clean water, nutritious food, basic medical care, a safe home, and especially love. 

We pray for all the lost in this world, in whatever kind of "lost" they may be, and pray that you would not only intercede for them, Jesus, but lead them - lead us - home.  May Lakeshore be a place where Lost people come home to.  May we join the company in heave proclaiming the salvation of our God!  Amen, praise, honor and glory be to you!

Amen.

*"Across The Lands"

CCLI Song No. 3709898

© 2002 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Keith Getty | Stuart Townend

A God who comes to save

When darkness falls and sorrow finds me

This joy I know comes in the morning

When all seems lost and strength is fading

This hope I've found is everlasting, everlasting

Now faith is here and strength is rising

This grace You've shown is so amazing, so amazing

Our God has come to save

He holds us in His hands

His promise will remain

His Kingdom has no end

God has come God has come*

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  (Romans 12:12 NIV)

Messiah, the God who saves, thank you for the gift of life which you pour into us.  Thank you for our blessings, both known and unknown.  Thank you for your presence and promise in the midst of darkness, trials, and lost-ness. God of hope who fills us with all joy in our believing, we pray that you will encourage us with hope today -- hope for life, for our families, friends, and neighbors, for marriages, and for those lost and far from you.  We pray you would give us patience to endure the trials we face.   May our faith in you be strengthened and our prayers be heard and answered.  In the strong name of Christ.  Amen

*"God Has Come"

CCLI Song No. 5198098

¬© 2008 Integrity's Hosanna! Music 

by Glenn Packiam

Between the paws of the true Aslan

Recently I reread "The Last Battle" from the Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis.  It is a child's eye view of the End of the World, but filled with hope and God's protection over his beloved.  In the middle of the book the AntiChrist character and his lackeys (Calormenes) have set up camp around a shed in the woods.  The last, true King of Narnia, Tirian, and his followers are hiding around the camp, preparing for battle.  The bad guys have called down their god "Tash" who they say is equal to Aslan [Christ] but who they really don't believe in.  In preparation for the battle to come, we read this:

Tirian bent his head to hear something that Jill was trying to whisper in his ear. "What do you think is really inside the stable?" she said. "Who knows?" said Tirian. "Two Calormenes with drawn swords, as likely as not, one on each side of the door." "You don't think," said Jill, "it might be . . . you know . . . that horrid thing we saw?" "Tash himself?" whispered Tirian. "There's no knowing. But courage, child: we are all between the paws of the true Aslan."   (http://www.mylibrarybook.com/books/673/C.S-Lewis/The-Last-Battle-6.html)

I don't know about you, but it seems like there is plenty of uncertainty, pain, and angst swirling around us right now.  Each of us probably has different definitions of what our own "angst" may be, but whatever that is, hear again these words:  "Child, we are all between the paws of the true Christ."  We are each held in the palms of God's hands.  We are each sheltered under God's wings.  We are each known securely by a loving Father.

"You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, 
   Say this: "God, you're my refuge. 
      I trust in you and I'm safe!" 
   That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, 
      shields you from deadly hazards. 
   His huge outstretched arms protect you— 
      under them you're perfectly safe; 
      his arms fend off all harm. 

"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says God, 
      "I'll get you out of any trouble. 
   I'll give you the best of care 
      if you'll only get to know and trust me. 
   Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; 
      I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. 
   I'll give you a long life, 
      give you a long drink of salvation!"  (From Ps. 91 MSG)

God, you are our refuge and we trust in you for our safety.   Thank you for rescuing us from traps, shielding us from hazards, fending off harm.  Thank you for protection against all the angst of this life. Help us call out to you and hear your answer.  Help us hold on to you for life - spiritual, emotional, professional, financial, relational, etc. - and know your loving care.  Give us the gift of long life lived with you and the abundance of peace in our salvation and friendship with you.  Thank you for holding us in your arms, protecting us under your wings, and loving us so much you go to the cross for us.  In Christ's name we pray, amen.

Love, just love?

 

I've been doing some musing (as usual) about living life in our times and in the midst of the huge geo-social-political changes going on.  I've heard it said in the US there is a strong "culture war" between the more conservative (and often Judeo-Christian) elements and the not-conservative (including secular humanist) elements.  And, of course if Job taught us anything, we know we do not see the spiritual war that is constantly going on. 

 

I have come to wonder, though, even if we are living in the last, Last Days,even if the Evil is just going to strengthen and the AntiChrists gain power,even if the secular humanists largely have their way with our society, even if the radical Islamisists continue to push for violence and bloodshed, even if.... you get the idea....  if we still have one weapon in our spiritual arsenal that they don't have.  We have empowerment by the Holy Spirit.  We have a God who is our Provider and Protector.  We have a firm foundation for eternity with Christ.  

But the weapon I'm referring to when waging these spritual wars is one I don't think other religions (including secular humanism) have.  Love.

 

Sounds too simple?  Maybe.  Maybe not.

 

What if we Christians really were known for loving each other and the people around us?  What if we loved the unlovable?  What if we loved our enemies enough to pray for them?  What if we loved people enough that they made good choices for their lives?  What if we Christians weren't known for fighting gays and abortion, but were known for loving gays and people affected by abortion?  What if, in the words of an old song, they really did know we are Christians by our love?

 

One of the new songs at our church is Michael W. Smith's "New Hallelujah."  The second verse especially caught me, and fits in well with our coming celebration of Pentecost:

 

Let us sing love to the nations                       [our nation!]
Bringing hope of the grace that has freed us
Make it known and make Him famous
Sing it out, sing a new hallelujah

 

Arise, let the church arise
Let love reach to the other side
Alive, come alive
Let the song arise*

Somehow, this whole LOVE - thing is wrapped up in our empowerment as the chosen, saved, loved, children & friends of God. 

 ¹⁵"If you love me, you will obey what I command. ¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— ¹⁷the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."   (John 14: NIV)

 

 

I know this is a topic that we who have been around the Church awhile have heard plenty of times.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, we should love each other, blah blah blah.  Or, yes, I'm guilty of failing at that too.  Or we find the word or action of "love" weighed down from baggage the world or our lives have attached to it.  Not to dismiss any of these things, but maybe, just maybe (and me included) we need to hear this call again:  Jesus loves us, this we know.... Maybe, just maybe, it's that simple.  Go out and tell people God loved them so much, he died for them and wants to show them his love.

 

So, since you may be wondering when I'm going to get to "that praying part" of "prayer for this week," here goes:

 

 

Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. 

 

We're leaping and singing in the circle of your love; 
      you see our pain, 
      you disarm our tormentors, 

Hour by hour we place our days in your hand, 
      safe from the hands out to get us. 
   Warm us, your servants, with a smile; 
      save us because you love us. 

What a stack of blessing you have piled up 
      for those who worship you, 
   Ready and waiting for all who run to you 
      to escape an unkind world. 
   You hide them safely away 
      from the opposition. 
   As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, 
      you silence the poisonous gossip. 
   Blessed God! 
      His love is the wonder of the world. 

Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation. 

 

Holy Spirit, empower us to love.  Free us from guilt, pain, shame, or anything else that sidelines us from acting with love in this world. For your honor and glory and for the sake of your Name.  Amen.

 

And a final thought from Psalm 31:

 

 ²⁴ Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up. Expect God to get here soon.

Maranatha; Lord Jesus Come....

Amen and amen.

 

 

[from Ps. 85:7 NIV, Ps. 17:7 NIV, from Ps. 31 MSG - adapted]

 

 

"New Hallelujah" 

*By Debbie Smith Michael W. Smith Paul Baloche
Copyright	2008 Smittyfly Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) This Is Your Time Music  Leadworship Songs (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.) Integrity's Hosanna! Music