January 23, 2021 - Pray for Us, Lord Jesus

Praying Christ, 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for praying for those who are your children. Thank you for making intercession for us, especially in light of the crazy changes, violence, evil, and very real threats in this world. In this day and place there are many fierce enemies of your children; guard our lives, rescue us, and protect us from shame and despair as we take refuge in you. Thank you for protecting us from the evil one and for guarding our children and grandchildren in the faith. Strengthen our faith like Daniel's so it cannot fail.  Remind us of our authority like Paul's to overcome all the powers of the enemy.  Give us the discernment you had in the wilderness of temptation, Jesus, to know what is of you and what is not.  And give us strength like Peter to overcome the temptations that try to test us.  Be for us like a mama grizzly bear that is lovingly and fiercely watching over her cubs - snuggling them to care for them, but rising up to protect them from dangers and enemies.  Continue to intercede for us because we believe that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from your love. Thank you that you are our refuge, our strength, and our ever-present help in time of need because you are praying for us.  In your name we ask these things, Amen. 

“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours." (John 17:9)

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)

'I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one." (John 17:15)

“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:32)

"Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you." (Luke 10:19 AMP)

"Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, 'In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of [the girl]!' At that moment the spirit left her." (Acts 16:18 NIV)

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38)

"Look on my affliction and my distress

    and take away all my sins.

See how numerous are my enemies

    and how fiercely they hate me!

Guard my life and rescue me;

    do not let me be put to shame

for I take refuge in you." (Psalm 25:18-20 NIV)

"From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. 'Get out of here, baldy!' they said. 'Get out of here, baldy!'  He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys." (2 Kings 2:23-24 NIV)

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Tim. 2:5)

"God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam

    and the mountains quake with their surging." (Psalm 46:1-3 NIV)

"God of grace and God of glory,

From your people hear your praise

For the evil hosts surround us

Wicked plots and traps are laid

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days,
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

for the living of these days."

(Adapted from “God of Grace, God of Glory” by Harry Emerson Fosdick)

(h/t https://mariomurilloministries.wordpress.com, January 21, 2021) 

What if I am a fool?

Last week in a conversation on a blog about valuing human life, this comment was made about Jesus and the Golden Rule:

"Him who coined the phrase, as well as thousands of other philosophers across time, societies, continents and history…."

My understanding of Jesus is that he's not just another philosopher across time, but is the unique Son of God, fully human and fully divine, unique in human history and unique for eternity.

But this comment brought to the forefront the reality of Christian apologetics (defending the faith) in today's society. And led me to a couple of Nicole Nordeman songs. [LOVE her stuff!]

"What If?" by Nicole Nordeman

What if you're right?
And he was just another nice guy
What if you're right?
What if it's true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it's true?

What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?

But what if you're wrong?
What if there's more?
What if there's hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He's more than enough?
What if it's love?

What if you dig
Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find
A thousand more unanswered questions down inside
That's all you find?

What if you pick apart the logic
And begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more
Than folklore that must be told and retold?

You've been running as fast as you can
You've been looking for a place you can land for so long
But what if you're wrong?

What if all the religious stuff in the world is all bunk? What if it's just blowing in the wind? What if the faith I choose to believe in is all just a waste of time and energy? What if there is no God?

But what if there is?

On some level, I know that being a Christian takes faith to believe in the mysteries of God. It does not and will never make sense from a purely rational/thinking level. But I know that the Holy Spirit was, is, and continues to draw God's children to God through Jesus Christ. And while I pray for this blogger to come to faith, I also realize, I look foolish to believe in such things. But I do. (At least most of the time!)

"Fool for You" by Nicole Nordeman

There are times when faith and common sense do not align,
when hardcore evidence of you is hard to find,
and I am silenced in the face of argumenative debate,
it's a long hill it's a lonley climb. Maybe it's true.

CHORUS:
Cause they want proof,
They want proof of all these mysteries I claim,
Cause only fools would want to chant a dead man's name.
I would be a fool for you all because you asked me to.
A simpleton who's seeming naive,
I do believe You came and made Yourself a fool for me.

I admit that in my darkest hours I've asked what if,
What if we created some kind of man made faith like this,
Out of good intention or emotional invention,
and after life is through there will be no You.

Cause they want proof of all these miracles I claim,
Cause only fools believe that men can walk on waves.
Maybe it's true.

Unaware of popularity,
and unconcerned with dignity,
You made me free.
That's proof enough for me.

I would be a fool for You,
Only if You asked me to,
A simpleton who's only thinkingz of,
The cause of love.

I will speak Jesus name,
and if that makes me crazy,
they can call me crazed,
I'm happy to be seemingly naive,
I do believe You came and
made Yourself a fool for me.

¹⁸For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." (1 Cor. 1:18-19, Isa. 29:14 NIV)

Put very simply, my prayer is this:

Lord, help us have courage, wisdom, and strength to be fools for you. Amen

Finding the Light

Stir up your power, come to save us, O Lord of hosts, restore us; let your face shine upon us that we may be saved.  (Ps. 80:3, 4)

Light of the world,
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes let me see
Beauty that made
This heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You (by Tim Hughes; 2000 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing))

Our pastor told a story in church about a man who was going cave exploring.  He took everything he'd need - extra batteries, extra food, extra water, rope to follow back out - with him deep into the cave.  When he got there he put everything down and started to walk around.  Just then his lantern which he had left with his gear went out.

He wandered around in the utter darkness knowing all his supplies, the things that would keep him alive, were very close.  But, quickly disoriented, he could not find them.

I was thinking of the hopelessness of that dark situation.  And I was reminded that he had everything he needed - a lamp, extra fuel, food, water - but he couldn't reach it.   Much the same way people living in spiritual darkness don't realize that everything they need is within their reach.  Our call as Christians is to be a light to help them find the spiritual Light of Jesus Christ.  

Silent night holy night
Son of God love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Jesus Lord at Thy birth        ("Silent Night" by Gruber/Mohr)

God who from the beginning was Light, shine on us and shine through us.

Lord let Your light
Light of Your face
Shine on us
Lord let Your light
Light of Your face
Shine on us
That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way
In the darkest night
Let Your light shine on us  ("Shine On Us" by Michael W. and Deborah D. Smith; 1996 Sony/ATV Milene Music Deer Valley Music)

Stir up your power, come to save us, O Lord of hosts, restore us; let your face shine upon us that we may be saved.  (Ps. 80:3, 4)

Amen