Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Prosper in hope
I have a destiny that is yet awaiting me
My life's not over; a new beginning's just begun
I have a hope, I have this hope
God has a plan; it's not to harm me
But it's to prosper me and to hear me when I call
He intercedes for me working all things for my good
Though trials may come we have this hope
I will yet praise Him, my great Redeemer
I will yet stand up and give Him glory with my life
He takes my darkness and He turns it into light
I will yet praise Him, my Lord my God
My God is for me, He's not against me
So tell me whom then, tell me whom then shall I fear
He has prepared for me great works He'll help me to complete
I have a hope I have this hope
Goodness and mercy, they're gonna follow me
And I'll forever dwell in the house of my great King
No eye has ever seen all He's preparing there for me
Though trials may come I have this hope
I will yet praise Him, my great Redeemer
I will yet stand up and give Him glory with my life
He takes my darkness and He turns it into light
I will yet praise Him, my Lord my God
There's still hope for me today
For the God of Heaven loves me
CCLI Song No. 5087587© 2007 Doulos Publishing (Maranatha! Music [Admin. by Music Services])Tommy Walker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcjhNjO_l5o
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11 NIV)
This Sunday I received news of a friend who had lost a baby at 12 weeks gestation. Because I knew she and her husband were looking forward to this new addition to their family - she and I had talked about it just last week - I also expect she's grieving the loss of this life.
And this week our church interviews the first of our potential new senior pastors. The long process of searching, waiting, preparing, praying has come to this point. We don't know yet whether he's The One, but we are optimistic - or should I say "hopeful."
My friend's hope for this child has been swallowed up by the reality of no heartbeat. Our church's hope for a new pastor is still growing, even if a bit tired around the edges.
But, I think this verse from Jeremiah can speak to both these situations and many more. So, would you join me in praying it over these two situation (and any others you'd like to add)?
God, thank you for knowing us and loving us and caring so much about us that you have plans for our lives. Thank you that you want us to prosper and that your plans are not harmful. Thank you that your plans are for hope and for our futures. God, for my friend who is grieving the loss of this baby, I pray that you would help her to know your comfort and peace. Help her to hear that your plans for her life are for hope, for good, for prosperity, for her future. And for our church we pray the same - prosper us, show us your plans, give us your hope. We pray for clarity in wisdom and discernment as we meet with these potential new pastors. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tired
5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge. (NIV)
Hear again these words of encouragement and hope from Isaiah:
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. (Isa. 40 NIV)
Jesus, you said when we are weary and heavy laden we should come to you. You said that when we cast all our cares upon you that you will lift us up. You promised that we would not succumb to the cares, pressures, or tired-ness of this world, but that when we trust in you we would know your peace. So, we trust in your promises and pray you would be our Rock, that you would strengthen us, that you would ease our weariness and help us to discern what of our "busy-ness" we can release. Be our peace we pray....Amen.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Destroying families
Monday, May 3, 2010
Old friends
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 NIV)
Today I received a phone call from our former church asking if I would be available to play organ for a funeral on Wednesday. I agreed to play the funeral and then realized that I hadn't played organ in over a year; better go practice! So, tonight I went there and spent most of an hour reaquainting my hands and feet (and mind and heart) with classical organ music and hymns. It was a wonderful time of reconnecting with old "friends" in the hymnal and hearing familiar texts and tunes again.
One of the songs I came across I make today's prayer.
God, grant us wisdom and courage for the facing of each hour.
God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.
God, in a time when much looks so dark, please help us be courageous lights.
Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.
God, when we struggle with fears and attack, protect us, free us and help us trust and praise you.
Cure Thy children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.
God, we pray for peace in the world and peace in our souls.
Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving Thee Whom we adore,
Serving Thee Whom we adore.*
God, let us run with endurance the race you have set for us and help us find your glory, your wisdom, your courage. May our lives be a pleasing offering to you. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
* "God of Grace and God of Glory" by Harry E. Fosdick
Lost, part 1
Here's a fascinating report from LifeSiteNews.com, a Web site whose point of view is obvious from the name:
The pro-life movement in America is growing in leaps and bounds, attracting young, zealous women to defend the unborn in droves--a fact that even the president of NARAL has now admitted.
What is behind this shift in sentiment? LSN, not surprisingly, attributes it to the moral power of the antiabortion cause. Newsweek and Naral actually make some concessions to this point of view; the group's ex-head Kate Michelman tells the magazine, for instance that ultrasound technology "has clearly helped to define how people think about a fetus as a full, breathing human being."
There's a question here that nobody is asking: Where don't babies come from? "Young, zealous women," after all, begin their lives as baby girls. For a more detailed exposition of this theory, check out our 2005 article "The Roe Effect." But here's the short summary: If the next generation of abortion proponents is mysteriously missing, it may be because their mothers availed themselves of the right to have an abortion and thus did not become mothers.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704423504575212303032885376.html
It struck me suddenly that there could be a LOT more people of my generation. (I was born in 1971.) Who have we as a society missed?