“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”
Psalm 27:5
Names are important. Did you know that rock is not only a thing, a kind of music and a place, but that it is also a name? The name Peter means “rock or stone” The surname Carrick also means “rock or stone.” In both cases we are not talking about the size of stone you might skip across the surface of a pond but, rather a really significant rock – more like a boulder or one of the amazing rock formations you might find around the world. The size of this kind of rock might be used to identify a place it’s so big. Did you know that one of God’s names is Rock?
This week’s passage comes from one of David’s songs in its entirety it about having an unswerving faith and trust in the Lord God who in other places in Scripture especially in the Old Testament who is called the Rock. David makes it clear the he trusts God to keep him safe to set him on a rock above the dangers and doubts he is facing. What occurred to me as I read this passage this week is that David is using a powerful power to help us see an even more powerful truth. How many of you have ever stood upon a large stone and had a feeling of victory come over you. Maybe it’s been awhile since you’ve done that. That’s the image I see David describing in this passage God has set him on a solid place high above the battle of life, where he is safe and can find rest. But then the picture changes and rather than seeing a rock perhaps of granite or sandstone or limestone or whatever, instead of a mass of pressure treated mineral I see God. God is the Rock upon which David trusts and finds rest. God is the firm foundation we can all stand on.
As I write this a dear friend far away mourns the loss of two important people in her life. A number of people I know are dealing with major health issues. Plenty of people are still dealing with the effects of a bad economy. A huge earthquake has devastated parts of Italy and the list of struggles and storms we humans face on this planet could go on and on.
David says in the “days of trouble He will keep us safe in His house and He’ll set us on a high and solid rock” so we can rest safely and survey the landscape of our lives – remembering the victories and provisions of the past and looking for the lightening of the sky as a sign that the storm will pass.
He is the high Rock on which we stand. He will keep us safe in the midst of the storms and trials of life. All we have to do is have faith and trust.
A Prayer
Father – forgive us for the times when we allow doubt to keep us fearful and stuck in the mire of difficulties. Life won’t be easy You said it would be hard, but that You would always be there. Make straight our paths and when necessary set us on the high Rock of your amazing strength, security, mercy and love. Help us to lift others onto that Rock so they can find the peace and rest they need. In the name of Jesus, who is our firm foundation, the solid Rock – Amen.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Wild Love
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, 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 8:35, 37-39
I never actually write about what I was planning to write about because these devotions are the Lord’s. As I sit to write this particular week’s thoughts, a number of people I know are dealing with the storms of life - a few have received medical reports that are less than rosy, some are facing financial struggles and some relationship issues. Some have lost loved one and of course it seems like the whole of the free world is dealing with less than ideal political climates and lousy weather to boot. As I was looking for a passage that would be encouraging to all of us reading this - a song by the American band Zealand Worship came on the radio. That song is called Your Love is Wild. The words of the bridge led me to this week’s passage from Romans.
In what we know as chapter 8 in the book of Romans Paul is in full pep talk mode encouraging believer to hang on to the Holy Spirit and be the over comers Jesus intended us to be. The chapter starts with Paul reminding them that there is no condemnation for those in Christ. Throughout the chapter Paul gets real about life saying the present suffering cannot compare to the glory that’s coming (v18). Paul reminds us that for those that love God – He will work everything out for the good (v28). The chapter closes with the powerful words of this week’s passage.
Which of this life’s storms are you in the midst of? What is going on in your life that is making you question God’s presence and perhaps His ability to work it out? What’s going on in your life that sometimes causes a bit of doubt to creep in? Remember first of all you are never alone – Jesus faced many of the things we do while he walked this planet. Paul was certainly acquainted with the struggles and storms of life, but in the midst of that – even knowing that his faith would cost him his life eventually Paul stood firm believing that nothing would separate him from God’s wild and amazing love.
We can have that same confidence no matter what we are facing nothing can separate us from God’s love, His wild and amazing love. The chorus of the song from Zealand Worship says: “Cause Your love is wild, fire in my soul. Your love is wild great than I know and I’m coming alive, coming alive and it’s beautiful. And I’m coming alive, coming alive cause You are beautiful.”
This week no matter what you are facing – let God embrace you with His wild love, He will not let you go.
A Prayer
Father – I am so thankful for Your wild and amazing love. Remind us daily that you are right there in the middle of our struggles, in the middle of the storms of life. Help us to find comfort and peace in the embrace of that love. Fill our hearts to overflowing with that same wild love so that we can embrace someone who needs to really see You in the midst of their struggles and storms. In the name of Jesus, who showed us what wild love looks like, we pray – Amen.
Romans 8:35, 37-39
I never actually write about what I was planning to write about because these devotions are the Lord’s. As I sit to write this particular week’s thoughts, a number of people I know are dealing with the storms of life - a few have received medical reports that are less than rosy, some are facing financial struggles and some relationship issues. Some have lost loved one and of course it seems like the whole of the free world is dealing with less than ideal political climates and lousy weather to boot. As I was looking for a passage that would be encouraging to all of us reading this - a song by the American band Zealand Worship came on the radio. That song is called Your Love is Wild. The words of the bridge led me to this week’s passage from Romans.
In what we know as chapter 8 in the book of Romans Paul is in full pep talk mode encouraging believer to hang on to the Holy Spirit and be the over comers Jesus intended us to be. The chapter starts with Paul reminding them that there is no condemnation for those in Christ. Throughout the chapter Paul gets real about life saying the present suffering cannot compare to the glory that’s coming (v18). Paul reminds us that for those that love God – He will work everything out for the good (v28). The chapter closes with the powerful words of this week’s passage.
Which of this life’s storms are you in the midst of? What is going on in your life that is making you question God’s presence and perhaps His ability to work it out? What’s going on in your life that sometimes causes a bit of doubt to creep in? Remember first of all you are never alone – Jesus faced many of the things we do while he walked this planet. Paul was certainly acquainted with the struggles and storms of life, but in the midst of that – even knowing that his faith would cost him his life eventually Paul stood firm believing that nothing would separate him from God’s wild and amazing love.
We can have that same confidence no matter what we are facing nothing can separate us from God’s love, His wild and amazing love. The chorus of the song from Zealand Worship says: “Cause Your love is wild, fire in my soul. Your love is wild great than I know and I’m coming alive, coming alive and it’s beautiful. And I’m coming alive, coming alive cause You are beautiful.”
This week no matter what you are facing – let God embrace you with His wild love, He will not let you go.
A Prayer
Father – I am so thankful for Your wild and amazing love. Remind us daily that you are right there in the middle of our struggles, in the middle of the storms of life. Help us to find comfort and peace in the embrace of that love. Fill our hearts to overflowing with that same wild love so that we can embrace someone who needs to really see You in the midst of their struggles and storms. In the name of Jesus, who showed us what wild love looks like, we pray – Amen.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Two Wrongs = More Wrongs
“And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
In today’s culture, at least according to the media – the way humans solve problems is by hurting one another. This idea of getting even for a wrong or even a perceived wrong, a rush to judgment that leads to violence creates a cycle of brutality that if not stopped leads to anarchy and chaos, and people not even knowing why they are doing what they are doing – the first wrong is not even remembered, there have been so many other wrongs. I once worked in an environment where a person could be commended and commended, but one small mistake could wipe out all the good that had been previously accomplished. The saddest thing is that there are people who claim to be followers of Christ fall just as easily into this vicious cycle some times.
You’ve heard on the news a driver cuts someone else the “offended” party chases down the wrong doer and the cycle starts and doesn’t end until someone – possibly someone not even involved is hurt or dead. The cycle doesn’t have to include physical violence - hate filled words can do just as much damage. Ok I can hear some of you say but what about…? In the Old Testament the strong language and judgment were intended to some balance and limits to hand handling of wrong doing by individuals and their leaders. In the New Testament Jesus set a higher standard for the offended party to abide by when he said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” (Matthew 5:38-39). Later in Matthew He also His audience: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…” (Matthew 7:12). Jesus never said, go get a bigger stick. He never said respond to harsh words with even harsher words.
The Apostle Paul and Peter both tell their fellow believers to respond with kindness. This week’s pass from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians make it clear that we should not pay back wrong with another wrong. We have a choice to make today and everyday – we can allow ourselves to get caught in the cycle of thinking two wrongs will eventually make it right or we can respond to the wrong we see around us with divine goodness.
What does it look like to respond to our world with divine goodness? Yield when you have the right of way. If you get cut off – pray for that driver because there maybe something happening in their life distracting them. Open the door for someone; let someone cut in front of you in line. As Paul instructs – encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone and respect those in authority over you even in those moments when they don’t deserve it. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Overcome evil with good, it’s the only way to break the cycle.
Just remember two wrongs just make for more wrongs and good, especially divine goodness can change a life, can change the world.
A Prayer
Father – Forgive us for the times when we allow our worldly, sinful nature to get the better us and we retaliate for offenses made against us with just as much or more force. Help us to bring Your light, Your goodness, Your kindness into every situation we face. May we be the ones who lift people up and show them the way to Your love for the healing this world so desperately needs. In the name of Jesus, who taught us love our enemies, we pray – Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
In today’s culture, at least according to the media – the way humans solve problems is by hurting one another. This idea of getting even for a wrong or even a perceived wrong, a rush to judgment that leads to violence creates a cycle of brutality that if not stopped leads to anarchy and chaos, and people not even knowing why they are doing what they are doing – the first wrong is not even remembered, there have been so many other wrongs. I once worked in an environment where a person could be commended and commended, but one small mistake could wipe out all the good that had been previously accomplished. The saddest thing is that there are people who claim to be followers of Christ fall just as easily into this vicious cycle some times.
You’ve heard on the news a driver cuts someone else the “offended” party chases down the wrong doer and the cycle starts and doesn’t end until someone – possibly someone not even involved is hurt or dead. The cycle doesn’t have to include physical violence - hate filled words can do just as much damage. Ok I can hear some of you say but what about…? In the Old Testament the strong language and judgment were intended to some balance and limits to hand handling of wrong doing by individuals and their leaders. In the New Testament Jesus set a higher standard for the offended party to abide by when he said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” (Matthew 5:38-39). Later in Matthew He also His audience: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…” (Matthew 7:12). Jesus never said, go get a bigger stick. He never said respond to harsh words with even harsher words.
The Apostle Paul and Peter both tell their fellow believers to respond with kindness. This week’s pass from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians make it clear that we should not pay back wrong with another wrong. We have a choice to make today and everyday – we can allow ourselves to get caught in the cycle of thinking two wrongs will eventually make it right or we can respond to the wrong we see around us with divine goodness.
What does it look like to respond to our world with divine goodness? Yield when you have the right of way. If you get cut off – pray for that driver because there maybe something happening in their life distracting them. Open the door for someone; let someone cut in front of you in line. As Paul instructs – encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone and respect those in authority over you even in those moments when they don’t deserve it. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Overcome evil with good, it’s the only way to break the cycle.
Just remember two wrongs just make for more wrongs and good, especially divine goodness can change a life, can change the world.
A Prayer
Father – Forgive us for the times when we allow our worldly, sinful nature to get the better us and we retaliate for offenses made against us with just as much or more force. Help us to bring Your light, Your goodness, Your kindness into every situation we face. May we be the ones who lift people up and show them the way to Your love for the healing this world so desperately needs. In the name of Jesus, who taught us love our enemies, we pray – Amen.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Too Big For A Building
“But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?”
2 Chronicles 2:6
David’s son Solomon was preparing for the construction of a temple for the Name of the Lord his God and this week’s passage comes from a letter Solomon was sending to King Hiram of Tyre asking for construction materials for the project. Solomon, in my opinion, makes a very telling statement in that letter – that his God, my God, your God, our God, the One God is really too big for a building.
So if God is too big for a building made of wood, stone, and precious metals – what can hold Him? The Apostle Paul makes it pretty clear in his letters that it is a body. In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian believers he writes: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Paul encouraged gentile believers in Ephesus with this: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation if the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Did you catch that? Paul makes it clear that the true temple of the God of the universe is built of people – not wood, stone, gold or silver and it is held together by His Son. God has chosen to use the hearts, minds and souls of mankind to build His dwelling place. Our desperately limited existence on this planet becomes the conduit of His life changing power when we are together.
We each bring something to this living, breathing, growing dwelling place of the Lord. All of our life experiences are harnessed and made pure by the blood of Christ allowing us to take the living God into a world desperately in need of understanding, love, mercy, grace and the soul healing that only come through Jesus.
So this week gather with a few or with many of your fellow believers, be encouraged and equipped by one another and the Word of God. Gather in all sorts of places because wherever you are it is the people of God that make it a church. Then go out and do your part, use your gifts to add daily to His dwelling place.
Remember that without followers of Christ, that structure of wood and stone is just a building. We, His people make it a church because we are the church and it should be a church with doors and arms thrown open wide.
A Prayer
Father – Forgive us for the times we make church about a building. Help us to remember always that You are far too big for a building, that you require a body instead – one that moves and breathes and most importantly grows. Help us to heed Your word and never give up meeting together. May the actions of Your church bring glory to You and draw others to Your heart so that they too might be added on to Your dwelling place. In the name of Jesus, who is the head and cornerstone of His people the church, we pray – Amen.
2 Chronicles 2:6
David’s son Solomon was preparing for the construction of a temple for the Name of the Lord his God and this week’s passage comes from a letter Solomon was sending to King Hiram of Tyre asking for construction materials for the project. Solomon, in my opinion, makes a very telling statement in that letter – that his God, my God, your God, our God, the One God is really too big for a building.
So if God is too big for a building made of wood, stone, and precious metals – what can hold Him? The Apostle Paul makes it pretty clear in his letters that it is a body. In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian believers he writes: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Paul encouraged gentile believers in Ephesus with this: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation if the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Did you catch that? Paul makes it clear that the true temple of the God of the universe is built of people – not wood, stone, gold or silver and it is held together by His Son. God has chosen to use the hearts, minds and souls of mankind to build His dwelling place. Our desperately limited existence on this planet becomes the conduit of His life changing power when we are together.
We each bring something to this living, breathing, growing dwelling place of the Lord. All of our life experiences are harnessed and made pure by the blood of Christ allowing us to take the living God into a world desperately in need of understanding, love, mercy, grace and the soul healing that only come through Jesus.
So this week gather with a few or with many of your fellow believers, be encouraged and equipped by one another and the Word of God. Gather in all sorts of places because wherever you are it is the people of God that make it a church. Then go out and do your part, use your gifts to add daily to His dwelling place.
Remember that without followers of Christ, that structure of wood and stone is just a building. We, His people make it a church because we are the church and it should be a church with doors and arms thrown open wide.
A Prayer
Father – Forgive us for the times we make church about a building. Help us to remember always that You are far too big for a building, that you require a body instead – one that moves and breathes and most importantly grows. Help us to heed Your word and never give up meeting together. May the actions of Your church bring glory to You and draw others to Your heart so that they too might be added on to Your dwelling place. In the name of Jesus, who is the head and cornerstone of His people the church, we pray – Amen.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Interrupted By Compassion
“When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick”
Matthew 14:13-14
In my line of work it would be really easy to close my office door and keep my head down working on the various things required to keep a church operating smoothly and be ready for Sunday, but I don’t. I have not once failed to get my “work” done because of interruptions. By allowing my work day and life to be interrupted by the people I’ve been called to work with and care for – lots of things happen – all of them good.
If Jesus minded having His plans interrupted, it’s not recorded in scripture – so personally I think He was ok with people interrupting him, after all He came to care for people, to build relationships with them, to draw them into His family. In this week’s passage we see Jesus’ plan to get way for some downtime interrupted. You see He had just learned of the death of John the Baptist. Jesus and John had known each other since before they were born, they were related – most likely cousins and they clearly understood one another’s place in God’s divine plan to save mankind. This no doubt would have been a troubling loss and Jesus’ friends would certainly have understood the need to get away. Anyone who has dealt with the loss of a loved one understands. The crowds perhaps didn’t know what had happen or were just insensitive to His needs because their needs were so great – so they interrupted His day.
Jesus could have gotten back in the boat and crossed back over to the other side of the lake, but He didn’t. Instead because He was filled with compassion for them He allowed them to interrupt. The result? People were healed, eventually they would be fed as well (Matthew 14:15-21) and some would recognize who Jesus really was and He would add children to His Kingdom. Real compassion demands action, sometimes immediate action so it’s going to interrupt your plans.
So this week, just be open to allowing compassion to interrupt your plans. Your willingness may just change someone’s life and you will be blessed in ways you can’t imagine.
A Prayer
Father – You know how busy we get and how we tend to put blinders on so our busy lives won’t be interrupted by someone else’s need. Help us today and everyday going forward to take the blinders off. Fill our hearts with the compassion of your Son, so that we are open to divine interruptions and moved to action. Remind us often that to change a life can be as simple as spending a little time really listening to someone’s story – someone who like us has been made in Your image and who needs You as much as we do. In the name of Jesus, who is our example of a life interrupted by compassion, we pray – Amen.
Matthew 14:13-14
In my line of work it would be really easy to close my office door and keep my head down working on the various things required to keep a church operating smoothly and be ready for Sunday, but I don’t. I have not once failed to get my “work” done because of interruptions. By allowing my work day and life to be interrupted by the people I’ve been called to work with and care for – lots of things happen – all of them good.
If Jesus minded having His plans interrupted, it’s not recorded in scripture – so personally I think He was ok with people interrupting him, after all He came to care for people, to build relationships with them, to draw them into His family. In this week’s passage we see Jesus’ plan to get way for some downtime interrupted. You see He had just learned of the death of John the Baptist. Jesus and John had known each other since before they were born, they were related – most likely cousins and they clearly understood one another’s place in God’s divine plan to save mankind. This no doubt would have been a troubling loss and Jesus’ friends would certainly have understood the need to get away. Anyone who has dealt with the loss of a loved one understands. The crowds perhaps didn’t know what had happen or were just insensitive to His needs because their needs were so great – so they interrupted His day.
Jesus could have gotten back in the boat and crossed back over to the other side of the lake, but He didn’t. Instead because He was filled with compassion for them He allowed them to interrupt. The result? People were healed, eventually they would be fed as well (Matthew 14:15-21) and some would recognize who Jesus really was and He would add children to His Kingdom. Real compassion demands action, sometimes immediate action so it’s going to interrupt your plans.
So this week, just be open to allowing compassion to interrupt your plans. Your willingness may just change someone’s life and you will be blessed in ways you can’t imagine.
A Prayer
Father – You know how busy we get and how we tend to put blinders on so our busy lives won’t be interrupted by someone else’s need. Help us today and everyday going forward to take the blinders off. Fill our hearts with the compassion of your Son, so that we are open to divine interruptions and moved to action. Remind us often that to change a life can be as simple as spending a little time really listening to someone’s story – someone who like us has been made in Your image and who needs You as much as we do. In the name of Jesus, who is our example of a life interrupted by compassion, we pray – Amen.
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