Old dogs

"Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don't enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don't be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire." (Mark 14 MSG)

God, we want to be alert - be ready for what you are doing - but we know we fail at this. We want to be ready for whatever you send to us, but when it comes we don't always like it. We want to be always aware, but we find ourselves spiritually asleep, distracted, or even running from you. We admit we are sometimes as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire. Following you and being the Kingdom to those around us can be hard work and we lose our focus.

Create in us clean hearts; focus our energy, minds, and hearts on things that are on your heart. Renew a right spirit within us that our spirits may be in step with yours. Give us the courage so see your world through the eyes of Christ. Pull us deeper in love with you so we pray constantly, trust thoroughly, and love completely. In the name of Christ. Amen

While I'm Waiting

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord*

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Gal. 5 NIV)

^28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Mt. 11 MSG)

^26-28Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. (Mt. 8 MSG)

This day I am in a period of waiting -- sort of like waiting for the other shoe to drop but with some spiritual implications. My waiting also involves surrendering my hopes, dreams, and will to the God of the universe. His ways and thoughts are higher than mine (Isa. 55:9), he gives good gifts to his children (Luke 11:13), he calls us to give him our worries and to take on his "unforced rhythms of grace."

So we pray....

God of the Universe whose ways are perfect, we say "yes" and "amen" to your plan for our lives. Help us to trust you for all things, knowing that you want good for us. Today my husband and I wait to hear whether the offer on our new house is accepted. Grant us patience and peace. Today we wait for the results of voting for a Senate seat from Massachusetts, a race that has implications for the whole nation. Help us remember this country - these people - this race is all in your plan and that all things work together for good for those that love you. Today our church waits to see if a pastor we have called to ministry will say "yes" to our call. In our individual lives we wait - for an interim time to conclude, for a house to sell, for a call to be clarified, for babies to be born, for questions to be answered, for the infirm to be released into heaven. Help us remember as we wait that you are in the waiting. Empower us by your Spirit to grow in our capacity to wait with you. Help us remain hopeful, to serve you, to worship you, to be at peace. In the strong name of Christ I pray. Amen.

* "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb7TSGptd3Y

Favor

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (Gen. 6:8 NIV)

Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned...the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. (Gen. 39:4, 21 NIV)

Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. (Ex. 32:11 NIV)

If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." (Ex. 33:13 NIV)

"O Lord, if I have found favor in your eyes," he said, "then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance." (Ex. 34:9 NIV)

And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men. (1 Sam. 2:26 NIV)

The angel went to [Mary] and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." (Luke 1:28 NIV)

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52)

Recently I was telling a prayer-warrior friend of mine about our family's search for a new home. She prayed that we would be favored by God. I'm not sure I've ever thought to pray for that. But it got me wondering about what that means.

One website explains favor as

...Favor is not always used in a comparative way toward others. It sometimes simply means that the one favored is shown kindness and treated with a generosity and goodwill far beyond what would normally be expected. This is generally the favor that we receive from the Lord. We are treated much better than we could expect...Also, it is important not to think of this favor in material or worldly terms. God's favor most likely will be given in spiritual blessings more than in material blessings. (http://www.learnthebible.org/favor-of-god.html)

So this is my prayer for you, for us, this week: that we would be favored by the Lord.

Mercy, Love, Compassion, Redemption, Grace-giving God,

For each of us there are in life decisions to make, challenges to face, difficulties to overcome. But You, who are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, know all these things and know each of us. For the gift of being held securely in the knowledge of your loving hand, we thank you. And, like Noah, Samuel, Mary, and others, we seek your favor. Show us kindness. Help us grow in wisdom and love. Pour out blessings upon us. And help us remember to rejoice exceedingly when we recognize your grace and favor poured out upon us. We pray boldly in the name of Christ. Amen.

Call of the Kingdom

1 Thessalonians 2:11-13 (NIV)

¹¹For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,¹²encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

Last night I was at a meeting at church where a (negative) comment was made about the city I live in (different from the city this person lives in). At the time I could only sputter that I had never been involved in any crime as this person associated with "my" city. But on the way home I was bothered by my response and realized that a better answer would have been to remind him that each of us need to be Salt & Light to whatever place we are - that we are each called to be ambassadors for Christ's Kingdom, no matter where we are.

There's a part of me that doesn't really understand what "Christ's Kingdom" is - and yet I want to be in it. The parables like the sower or the mustard seed don't completely explain it to me, although maybe I'm just dense. But it seems like being the Kingdom is about sharing God's love, grace, justice, and mercy to the people of our world.

So, in that spirit, I include the lyrics to a song that's been rolling around within me lately:

Copy to Clipboard Print

Hear The Call Of The KingdomHear the call of the Kingdom
Lift your eyes to the King
Let His song rise within you
As a fragrant offering
Of how God rich in mercy
Came in Christ to redeem
All who trust in His unfailing grace

Chorus:

King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name

Hear the call of the Kingdom
To be children of light
With the mercy of heaven
The humility of Christ
Walking justly before Him
Loving all that is right
That the life of Christ may shine through us

Chorus:

King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name

Hear the call of the Kingdom
To reach out to the lost
With the Father's compassion
In the wonder of the cross
Bringing peace and forgiveness
And a hope yet to come
Let the nations put their trust in Him

Chorus:

King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name

So, we pray, Lord Jesus,

King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name...Amen.

"Hear the Call of the Kingdom"

CCLI Song No. 4930752
© 2006 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Keith Getty | Kristyn Getty | Stuart Townend

(If you want to watch this song in performance see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZCPsuCMUfY ).

A new look at Christmas

A friend send me this as her Christmas greeting today. I think it's really good - so appropriate for where we are. I share it and pray, too, for a new, real, Holy Spirit-led unity, mercy, and grace to fall upon us.

Something happened this year, I am not sure what. The economy crashed. We were daily deluged with news of wars, rumors of wars, global warming and pending environmental catastrophe. We watched politicians battle in ways that cause children to be sent to their rooms, or students to be kept after school in detention halls. My job became overwhelmingly stressful. It rained much of the summer... I don't know, something.... Suddenly it is Christmas Eve, and I have not made cards or baked, have not put on Christmas music, have not felt that "Christmas Spirit" that usually comes to my heart this time of year.

So this morning I am pausing for an attitude adjustment. I step back and consider this beautiful planet, all the peoples on her, and all the sources of hope they are. It is my faith that God is, that God is watching, and that everywhere a human soul looks up and opens their heart, right there the Spirit can enter the fray of all our troubles - with kindness, compassion, giving, innovation, creativity, solution. I am sure the answers for all the woes that plague us exist in God. They just need to be found, discovered, implemented by those who will stop the rushing about and hear/heed the Spirit's whisper.

It is my prayer for you all this Christmas Eve that you will join me in stopping for a minute to just listen, listen for the Voice of Spirit, the Voice that is always there trying to give us our answers. As Christ said, "Let those who have ears, listen."

Depression

¹ Save me, O God,

for the waters have come up to my neck.

² I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold.

I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.

³ I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.
My eyes fail, looking for my God. (Psalm 69 NIV)

"My spouse died yesterday after a long battle with illness. I know it's best the suffering is over, but it makes Christmas tomorrow so different...."

"My husband's been out of work for 18 months, we can't sell our house, we have two daughters in college; we don't know what to do...."

"My mom died this year. She loved Christmas - decorated her house like no one I've ever seen. Loved the music, loved the gifts, loved the grandkids...She was gone so suddenly last spring. How will my dad and the rest of the family ever make it through this first Christmas?"

"A year ago she was fine, living on her own. Now she's in an assisted living facility and can't remember who I am day to day. I miss my mom. I miss our conversations, her humor, her fullness of life. She's just not the same."

"My mom died on Christmas and my sister committed suicide because of depression. Now I'm seeing the same signs in my wife...What do I do?"

And so I pray in the words of the psalmist:

¹ My God, my God, why do you seem to abandon us?
Why are you so far away when we groan for help?
² Every day we call to you, God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear our voices, but we find no relief.

³ Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
⁴ Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
⁵ They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

¹¹ Do not stay so far from us, for trouble is near, and no one else can help us.

¹⁵ Our strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
Our tongues stick to the roof of our mouths.
You have laid us in the dust and left us for dead.

¹⁹ O Lord, do not stay far away!
You are our strength; come quickly to our aid!
²⁰ Save us from the sword;
spare our precious lives from these dogs.

²² We will proclaim your name to our brothers and sisters.
We will praise you among your assembled people.
²³ Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!

²⁴ For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.

²⁶ The poor will eat and be satisfied.
All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.

²⁷ The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
²⁸ For royal power belongs to the Lord.
He rules all the nations. (Psalm 22 NLT, alt.)

God, for those hurting right now, facing the depths of the abyss, I pray that you will reveal yourself to them, deliver and protect them, encourage and uplift them, be their strength and their joy. May they know your love and grace in a profound way. Amen.

Waiting - a musing

Tonight I know two families who are waiting for loved ones to die. Both have been ill a long time, so being released from the physical problems of this world will be a blessing. Both have spouses that will grieve deeply. Both are believers. But Christmas is a strange time of year to face a death.

Christmas comes at the end of fall - the end of long, lighted days. In a way, the time from the summer solstice to the winter solstice is a time of dying. Gradually the days cool, the daylight becomes shorter, and before we know many things like leaves and flowers have died for the season. Even Advent can be a time of dying to ourselves, getting honest with God (again), and surrendering a little more of our will to Jesus. A different type of death.

And yet death is not the end.

Much as on Easter we ask, "Death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory?" this Christmas these two families can know that the other side of the dying process is LIFE - life lived in heaven with Jesus. And on the other side of the "dying" months, come the "rising" months from the winter solstice to the summer one - and the light gets longer, the temperatures (eventually) rise.

Most importantly, at Christmas we celebrate the end of waiting for the Messiah. The Jews had waited hundreds of years for the coming of the King. They didn't expect a baby in a manger, but God's ways are definitely different than ours. If Advent involves dying to ourselves, Christmas involves CELEBRATING all that GOD is and has done through Jesus for us. In him we have life and have it abundantly. In him we live and move and have our being. In him we can see the way, the truth and the life.

Sometimes we must wait for death. But we know it is never the final end. God is a God of life.

Thank you God for life!

Amen