I Wasn't Talking to You!

Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

That reminds me of a story.  Every night this mother would kneel on the floor with her little 4 year old to pray. And then one night the little girl asked if she could pray. The mother consented and the little girl began to pray. The more she prayed the softer and softer her little voice became, until her mother could no longer hear her speaking. And then finally the little girl said, Amen! The mom said, Honey, I didn’t hear a word you said. The little girl answered, Mama, I wasn’t talking to you.

The Uniqueness of Community

We spoke about the uniqueness of community this morning in staff devotions.  In Ephesians 1:4-21, Paul shared with us how he specifically prayed for the church.  That’s not a bad idea to share with people how we specifically pray for each other!  

In vv.22-23 we see that nothing is over the head of Christ (except God according 1 Cor. 11:3).  All things are under His feet (that’s you, me and all of our problems).  Pastor Jon Courson says, “Jesus is in absolute control of every situation, be it financial, physical, relational, vocational, or parental. Whatever might seem to be rolling your way, ready to sink your boat and wipe you out is already under His feet—and might be the very path He chooses upon which to walk to you.  

The name of the game is community. We need another. We need to be with brothers and sisters who pray with us and care about us because the more closely we're linked to the body, the more clearly we'll experience the authority of Jesus' headship. That's just the way it works.  For one to separate themselves from community is not in God’s divine plan. 

The Spiritual Journey

In regards to a devotion I heard this morning called "Your Spiritual Journey”, I was reminded of what Gordon MacDonald said one time, “In order for us to know where we each are in our individual journey with God, we must first figure out what road we are on.”  Our spiritual journey should be characterized by our continually observing, seeking and finding (Titus 3:3-8).  Christ will always force us to define our position.  Our only choice is to move closer to Him or to become increasingly resistant.

Back in Lima

We arrived back in Lima last night at 9:30 p.m.  The weather here is awesome at the moment with temps hovering around 60 degrees.  We spent the morning today recovering a bit and then ran some errands for groceries and haircuts.  We also ended up getting a new battery for our car.  I knew it was coming because we had to have it "jumped" a few times before we left.

Tomorrow, Jannett and I start back to work at the school.  The boys will still have a bit of their "summer" left until next Wednesday.

It sure was great to see family and friends while we were at home.  It was also great to make some new ones!

Audio Files

I just received a gift from a dear brother to add space to my website so that I can upload some audio files.  I'll be adding them a little bit at a time.

Be Still My Soul

Psa 131:1-3 LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.  (2)  Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.  (3)  Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

Be Still My Soul was re­port­ed­ly the fav­or­ite hymn of Er­ic Lid­dell, the ath­lete who be­came fa­mous in the 1924 Olym­pics for re­fus­ing to run on the Sab­bath (see the mo­vie Char­i­ots of Fire). Lid­dell lat­er be­came a mis­sion­ary in Chi­na, and was im­pris­oned dur­ing World War II. He is said to have taught this hymn to others in the pri­son camp (where he event­u­al­ly died of a brain tu­mor).

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend.

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake

To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past

All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.

Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Prayer

Every night a mother would kneel on the floor with her little 4 year old to pray. And then one night the little girl asked if she could pray. The mother consented and the little girl began to pray. The more she prayed the softer and softer her little voice became, until her mother could no longer hear her speaking. And then finally the little girl said, Amen! The mom said, Honey, I didn't hear a word you said. The little girl answered, Mama, I wasn't talking to you.

 

When we pray, we must that remember:

1. The love of God that wants the best for us.
2. The wisdom of God that knows what is best for us.
3. The power of God that can accomplish it.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Lam. 3:19-23 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.  (20)  My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.  (21)  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  (22)  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  (23)  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

 

Thomas Chisolm wrote Great is Thy Faithfulness in 1923.  In stanza one he writes of God's unchanging character and unfailing compassions.  In stanza two he writes of God's faithfulness in maintaining the order of His universe.  In stanza three he writes of God's faithfulness in forgiving our sins, providing strength for today and hope for tomorrow.  Each stanza leads to the great culminating chorus that declares the victorious words of Jeremiah, "Great is Thy faithfulness."

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above;
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin And a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today And bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, With ten thousand beside.

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

Don't Worry About Tomorrow

The Bible says in Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  (26)  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?  (27)  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  (28)  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  (29)  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  (30)  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  (31)  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (32)  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  (33)  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  (34)  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Three times in this passage Jesus gives the command to now worry or be anxious (vv.25, 31, 34).  He also gives four reasons why we should not worry or be anxious.
 

#1 It is unfaithful because of our Master (v.25). To worry is to doubt the faithfulness of our Master to take care of us. 

#2 It is unnecessary because of our Father (vv.26-30). The believer has no reason to worry because of who his Father is. Jesus is basically asking, Have you forgotten who your heavenly Father is? 

#3 It is unreasonable because of our faith (vv.31-33). Worry is inconsistent with our faith and is therefore sinful. To worry means that we have taken our eyes off of God. 

#4 It is unwise because of our future (v.34). Making reasonable provision for tomorrow is wise, but to be anxious about tomorrow is unwise.

There is an old hymn written by Ira Stanfield that says:

 

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
And I don't borrow from the sunshine,
'Cause the skies might turn to gray.

And I don't worry about the future,
'Cause I know what Jesus said;
And today I'm gonna walk right beside Him
'Cause He's the one who know what lies ahead.

There are things about tomorrow
That I don't seem to understand.
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

They Are Not Singing Anymore

This is an excellent article that every pastor and worship leader needs to read.

They Are Not Singing Anymore... - LifeWayWorship.com/blog