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Wait for the Lord

Wait patiently for the Lord.

On the anniversary of the attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and the loss of Flight 93, there is a silent cry for the Lord from the families, and communities who lost loved ones.  The horror of that dreadful day as we stood in disbelief as thousands were viciously killed still brings pain and sorrow.  Let us pause for a moment, and ask for healing for our world, and comfort for those who lives were forever changed.

Oh Lord, we still need you.  Help us, Lord to learn the lessons of that day.  May we reach out to one another in love and peace.  May we show how to live, really live as you want us to.  Help us to show the love of YOU today.  May we extend hands of comfort, hearts of compassion, and arms filled with the joy of you.    In Jesus’ name.  Amen

 

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God is our refuge

“God is our refuge and our strength (Psalm 46:1-3)…a very present help in the time of need.”

 Yesterday, I attended a women’s conference where speaker after speaker gave powerful testimony of the truth of this familiar passage.  A damaged heart healed, tumors miraculously gone, shattered lives mended.  Stories of enormous physical and emotional suffering, and lost, and how God truly became their refuge and their strength.  This was not fantasy.   These women had a personal encounter with the living God, and their stories became ours.

God is our refuge and our strength.  God’s power provides strength.  His presence gives grace.   We can face our todays and tomorrows, because we are sheltered from and within.  Sheltered in God’s arms, we have confidence, and faith in Him who will not leave us.  There is unwavering belief in a God that cannot lie.  He said He will be with us until the end.  We have a blessed assurance in a God that can accomplish what man cannot.  Knowing and believing in who God is changes us.  Our lives become a beacon; a shining lighthouse for those washed up by life’s stormy seas.  And just like these women, we reflect the beauty and glory of God; a God who will never leave us, nor forsake us, even during the worst times of our lives.

As the conference ended, there was renewed hope and strength.  We can tell their stories, and ours of how God rebuilds, restores, and became for each of us our refuge and our strength.    

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Lights in the World

A Classic Devotional from C.H. Spurgeon

We use lights to make manifest.  A Christian [man] should so shine in his life that a person could not live with him a week without knowing the gospel. His conversation should be such that all who are about him should clearly perceive whose he is, and whom he serves; and should see the image of Jesus reflected in his daily actions.

Lights are intended for guidance.  We are to help those around us who are in the dark.  We are to hold forth to them the Word of life. We are to point sinners to the Saviour, and the weary to a divine resting place.  Men sometimes read their Bibles, and fail to understand them; we should be ready, like Philip, to instruct the inquirer in the meaning of God’s Word, the way of salvation, and the life of godliness.

Lights are also used for warning. On our rocks and shoals a light-house is sure to be erected.  Christian [men] should know that there are many false lights shown everywhere in the world, and therefore the right light is needed.  The wreckers of Satan are always abroad, tempting the ungodly to sin under the name of pleasure; they hoist the wrong light, be it ours to put up the true light upon every dangerous rock, to point out every sin, and tell what it leads to, that so we may be clear of the blood of all men, shining as lights in the world.

Lights also have very cheering influence, and so have Christians.  A Christian ought to be a comforter, with kind words on his lips, and sympathy in his heart; he should carry sunshine wherever he goes, and diffuse happiness around him.

“In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”  Philippians 2:15

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Are you a passionate worshipper?

When was the last time you really worship? I mean experience God’s presence to the point you felt free.  Are you a passionate worshipper? Oftentimes, our culture conflicts with our inner desire to “enter into the Holy of holies.”   As one writer wrote, ” Passion for His presence will mark all that we are, and nothing will be more important than maintaining His presence in our midst.”   Feeling the blaze of the Lord, the oil of joy, and the beauty of His holiness transcends earthly pleasures.  It lifts us.   “Simply being with Him cleanses, refreshes, and satisfies.”

So much of our “worship experience” on Sunday is more performance than passion, more formal than informal, more staged than serene.   Now it has becomes an activity mainly marked by singing, clapping and perhaps dancing.   It lacks genuine connection with Him who is our all in all. Our worship experience with God should be so much more.  It should be like the sounds of heaven, where the angels and 24 elders continuously sing glory and praises to God and our Lord.  Passionate worship should make us one with the angelic chorus…our voices, our lives moving in harmony and rhythm to the great “I AM” in gratitude and thanksgiving for joy that besets our souls.

Are you a passionate worshipper?  Passionate worship should be daily, and not just relegated to a few short minutes on Sunday.  When was the last time you really worship God?  Can you recall it?  Where was it?  What were you doing?  How did it make you feel?  Does your life, your essence express glory to Him who is worthy of all our praise? Just like the 24 elders around the heavenly throne, we should worship Him each and every day.  We should never limit when to worship God.

How does one become a passionate worshipper?  God provided very clear and specific about what is biblical worship.

  1. Standing  – 2 Chronicles 9:7
  2. Lifting our hands – Psalm 28:2, 1 Timothy 2:8
  3. Clapping our hands  – Psalm 47:1
  4. Bowing – Psalm 95:6
  5. With all forms of instruments – Psalm 150
  6. Loudly, with crashing symbols – Psalm 150
  7. Dancing – Exodus 15:20; Psalm 30:11
  8. Leaping – Acts 3:8
  9. Shouting – Psalm 47:1

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord”, everyday.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, daily.  Passionate worship; expressions of joy and thanksgiving transforms our spiritual walk.  It releases us to experience more of the abundant life.  We become healers, givers, providers, mighty men of valor,  virtuous women, builders of God’s kingdom, creators of beauty,  restorers of the breaches.  Passionate worship puts a finger in the oozing hole of guilt, pain, and suffering.

God wants us to worship to Him with all of our hearts, all of our hearts, and with all of our souls.    When we experience exuberant, intense, intimate, passionate worship, it releases “joy unspeakable.”

Passionate worship is loving God.  Are you a passionate worshipper?      

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Trust

“Seek the Lord, and find rest. Do what is good, and right in the sight of the Lord, and prosper. Remove and break the idols, the things binding you and become mighty. Trust in the lord, and prevail against an army.”

Though you may feel weak, and feeble, you possess the power of the universe.  One touch from the Master’s hand, and the weak become strong, the poor become rich, the oppressed are made free.   Trust in His mighty power.  Trust and believe that all things are possible to those who believe.  Trust that your problems are solved.  Trust that He will take care of you.

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised);… Hebrews 10:23   God is not a man.  God can never lie.  He is faithful and just, and His word is true.  Trust in the light and love of Christ.  Trust in Him who never fails.  Trust the Lord of lords, and the King of kings today.

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Quiet Thought

Just a quiet thought to end this day.

“What though His holy footsteps linger no longer here?

Still through His Spirit’s presence Jesus is ever near,

What though your heart be lonely

What though your friends be few,

He will not leave you orphans,

Jesus will come to you.”

Quietly rest in the knowledge that Jesus will never leave or forsake you.

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Joy’s Fountain

A Classic Devotional from D.L. Moody

“Happiness is caused by things that happen around me, and circumstances will mar it; but joy flows right on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows all through persecution and opposition.  It is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the hearts; a secret spring the world can’t see and doesn’t know anything about. The Lord gives his people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to him.

Joy is love exalted peace; peace is love in repose; long-suffering is love enduring; gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action; faith is love on the battlefield; meekness is love in school; and temperance is love in training.  The world does not understand theology or dogma, but it understands love and sympathy.”

God, thank you for the joy that transcends all situations, problems, conditions.  Help me this day Lord to walk more closely with you, and be a Joy foundation filling up all those empty vessels with Your everlasting joy.  Amen

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Wait on the Lord

Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote the following passage, ” It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching.  Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God’s warriors than standing still.  There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desires to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take.  Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption?  No, but simply wait.

Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God, and spread the case before him; tell him your difficulty, and plead his promise of aid.  In dilemmas between one duty and another, it is sweet to be humble as a child, and with the simplicity of soul upon the Lord. It is sure to be well with us when we feel and know our own folly, and are heartily willing to be guided by the will of God.  But wait in Faith.  Express your unstaggering confidence in him…”

Psalm 27:14 [NJKV] “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your Heart; Wait, I say again, on the Lord.

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Friendship

A sudden call in the middle of the night; a moan; a cry of disbelief, and then the slow walk into the “valley of the shadow of death” echoed through the room.  Reality and shadow merged, and the question why is uttered.   The sudden lost of a friend hits hard, and when it does your spirit and soul seeks a place of refuge.  A place that makes sense when the floor beneath your feet feels like sinking sand.  As news of the sudden passing of our friend came, the community that knew him gathered to comfort and console one another.  There were memories of past days of fellowship, fun and friendship.  Conversations that began with  “remember when he; remember when we;  remember, remember, remember…. The inevitable sighs, and strained moments of laughter amidst the reality of lost, and what will be never be again.  Then tears, sadness, and pleas to gather more frequently, to share and celebrate our lives together.   

Friendship is a powerful thing that connects and unites us to another human being or circle of individuals.  It is mutual values, experiences, common interests, or special ties which creates a bond sometimes stronger than family relationships. Friendship generates community; a sense of belonging to something or someone.  Friendship forms love.  

The abundant life includes friends whose purpose it is to share their life with you and I.  Yes, friendships are a wonderful thing, but even more they are blessings from God.     

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No Greater Joy

Stormie Omartian wrote, “Lord,there is no source of greater joy for me than worshiping You.  I come into Your presence with thanksgiving and bow before You this day.  I exalt Your name for you are great and worthy to be praised.”

Psalm 100 encourages us to make a joyful noise, serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.  We are to enter into His gates with Thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.     These assignments are simple, but have a profound impact.   Joy changes the whole environment.  It transforms hearts and minds.  Spirits are lifted up, and thinking is clearer.  Laughter fills the air, smiles upon faces, and songs are sung.   This is not reserved for a church building, or program.  Our joy should accompany us into the homes, businesses, the marketplace, the political arena, and every place the soles of our feet touch.

How much joy have you shared today?   Was there a smile on your face, a song in your heart, and on your lips?  Did your arrival change the environment, or was it the same old, same old?

Let the world know we are sons and daughters of God, and they can be too.  Share the incredible joy we have because of Him.   Tell others about the gift of eternal life, goodness and mercy.  Explain how we experience His amazing grace and mercy every day, despite all our challenges.

Show them how to rejoice and be glad, for there is no greater joy than knowing our Lord!!!  Each day holds the possibility of miracles both great and small.  The greatest is the gift of salvation.   From that we experience a God who will never leave or forsake us.  We see evidence that His promises are true every day.  O’ yes, there is so much.

Show someone the great joy you have in your heart.  The day is not over.  Go ahead, there is still time.  Tell someone there is no greater joy than knowing Christ.  It is a small miracle that holds the promise of No Greater Joy.