be still my soul, be still

Be still my soul, be still. Wait patiently upon the Lord. Be still my soul, be still.

While driving home earlier this evening, I caught a glimpse of the sunset over McCullom Lake and pulled into the park to take a better look. I found a nice bench looking out at the vast beauty before me. I soon decided upon, and upgraded to, a better seat in the tree above the bench. As I was hanging in the tree, talking with God and pondering life; geese started to fly in. Hundreds, even thousands of them joined the group in the middle of the lake. Their honking and squawking drown out all the other noises around. It was simply incredible. Matthew 6 was brought to mind; "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matt 6:26 ESV)

This teaching comes from Jesus during the sermon on the mount. In chapter 6, verses 25-34 He addresses anxiousness. 

In 27, He questions the worth of peoples' worrying; "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"

He refers to grass and lilies in a field which God clothes and the birds of the air which God feeds; and He compares their worth to ours. How much more concerned is God with our well-being than that of the geese or the grass?

In verse 32 we get these words of assurance "your heavenly Father knows that you need them all." Wow.

Then, in 33, Jesus give this challenge; "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

In Luke (10:38-42) Jesus is with Mary and Martha. It says that Martha was distracted in all her preparations while Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet listening to Him. Martha was upset that her sister was not helping her and Jesus tells her "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

Folks, what are we so anxious about? What worries are weighing on our mind?

Know that the almighty God, creator of heaven and earth, knows what you need! Not only that, but He takes care of the things that are of far less value to Him than you are. Rather than worrying and being distracted, lets focus on the one thing that is necessary-seek God and his kingdom.

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV). Crossway Bibles 2001.

Allegory Time!

So I was doing some homework and I got the opportunity to have a lil' fun. I was supposed to take 1 Kings 17:1-6, ignore all context, and make the most "superspiritual," allegorical interpretation I could for this piece of scripture.

(If you're not 100% sure what an allegory is I will save you and google the bandwidth; "1. a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another. 2. a symbolical narrative"[dictionary.com])

Here is the passage;
"Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” ² The word of the LORD came to him, saying, ³ “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. ⁴ It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” ⁵ So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. ⁶ The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook" (NASB)

Far-fetched allegorical interpretation of 1 Kings 17:1-6; In this passage Elijah is, allegorically speaking, the church. The church is “hiding” because it is not supposed to be like the world. (Romans 12:2) Jesus is the brook, because He brings living water. (John 4:10) The Ravens are the Holy Spirit, because He helps us to understand the spiritual food of scripture. (John 16:13; 1 Peter 2:2) This passage was simply a fore-telling of the arrangement of the church, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s roles to come. We can trust that as we preach things people don’t like to hear and hide ourselves from worldly lusts that God will feed us and sustain us. Allegory. Understood. Done. Right?

Can you hear that being preached as a sermon? I can. Is this passage about the church? No. Is this passage about Jesus? No. Is this passage about the Holy Spirit? No. Does it have value and worth? Heck yea! Did I completely avoid it by looking past the context and trying to develop an allegorical meaning? Yup.

I posted this as a reminder; we need to take the Word at 'face value.' When we add meaning, or try to interpret what it "means to us", we take away from the original, correct, intended, God-breathed meaning. Don't let yourself get in the way of what the Word has to say. (Hey, that rhymes!)

Allegory. dictionary.com. June 25, 2011. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/allegory

New American Standard Bible. (NASB) 1960, The Lockman Foundation. biblegateway.com. June 25, 2011. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2017:1-6&version=NASB

The LORD is My Shepherd I Shall Not Want

This is a journal that I had to write for a class. It was my response to chapter 14 from the book Renovation of the Heart In Daily Practice by Dallas Willard and Jan Johnson. (Which I would highly recommend anyone to work through-fyi) I apologize if it gets a little confusing having not read the chapter from the book. The chapter was about self denial and the 'experiment' at the end of the chapter called me to read through Psalm 23 and to "Picture this sheep who is surrounded by green pastures yet isn't on his feet munching away. This sheep is so full and satisfied that he contentedly lies down without needing even a bite. Move through the verse.. fill in the blanks with your life."

This chapter could not have come at a more opportune time. God had already been teaching me a lesson in self denial.

This morning I was sitting at the lake/pond/puddle and pondering God’s will for my life because ‘life had so greatly let me down.’ My heart was broken after things had not worked out. I spent time in prayer asking questions; then I read some scripture before taking my walk. I read Psalm 147, which praises God for how awesome He is and how great His love and power are. I read the words saying; “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the numbers of the stars; He gives names to all of them.” (Ps 147:3-4 NASB) I couldn’t understand those words. I felt like the circumstances He had given me had broken my heart; certainly He isn’t healing it. I felt like He had just forgotten completely about me; yet He knows the stars?

I went out on a walk and determined to be silent and let God answer me (after all He had a lot to answer for, right?) Over the next 45 minutes of a steady, cool wind, watching geese, and staring at the rippling water, while waiting for God’s answer, He brought me to the realization that He is God, and I am not. I was broken because my plans did not work; not because He has forgotten about me. The world has not come to an end and the sky has not fallen; only my plans have. I have to put aside myself, my plans, and seek His plans.

The chapter continued to build on what God had already been doing this morning. When I read Psalm 23, tears ran down my cheeks as I imagined God as my shepherd, making me lie down in green pastures and leading me by still waters. He had restored my soul. He was guiding me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake. I know that even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (which, now, sounds a tad bit worse than my current circumstances) I will fear no evil, because He is with me! His rod and His staff; they comfort me. He has prepared a table for me in these hard times, anointed my head with oil, and He is overflowing my cup. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

I then re-read Psalm 147 knowing that it was not God that had broken my heart, but that I had. Having experienced firsthand how He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. I was left in awe of His power and his mercy. I just had to step down from sitting in God’s throne in my life to understand it. God has restored my broken soul this morning.

I am posting this hoping that you might put God back on His throne if you're sitting in it, and that He would restore your soul as well.

Willard, Dallas. Johnson, Jan. Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice. Colorado Springs, CO: NAVPRESS, 2006.

"May God Bless Us, Every One!"

A CHRISTmas Carol

The name may be a little misleading… while watching the muppet’s take on Dickens’ story I kept thinking; “when will they get to the point?” With a title like a Christmas Carol there seemed to be a lack of Christ. There was a lot of mention of Christmas being a blessed day, requests for God blessing to people, talk of;  love, ‘spirit of the holiday’, peace, hope, joy, thankfulness, and singing; but they never gave the reason!

Why the love? Why the charity? Why the warm spirit and cheer? Why the blessings? How?

Christ.

The writer of the first book of John writes; “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” -1 John 4:7-11

The reason that this is such a blessed day, the reason to show love, the cause of the warmth and cheer, is all Christ. As the song being sung in the streets states; “It feels like Christmas, It is the season of the heart, A special time of caring. The ways of love made clear, It is the season of the spirit.” The way of love was made clear on this day. God came down in the form of a child on this day (approximately) to take away our sins and to reconcile us with God! How amazing is this day! Let us never, like the story of The Christmas Carol, get so caught up by the characteristics of the season that we leave out the reason for the season!

Late night thoughts on tithes (I know, fun, right?)

When reading tonight (well, this morning) I read Deuteronomy 14:23-24 which reads;
 ²² "You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. ²³And before the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.

I just got something I hadn't had in focus before;
"That you may learn to fear the LORD your God always." -there is a thought that I haven't had before; tithing is about learning to fear the Lord our God. I've heard the sermon many times about how God wants out heart, and doesn't need our money and that tithing should be done with a grateful heart and done willingly and joyfully-and I thought I got that. However I have always just thought of it as a way to show obedience and to show the reverence and respect that God wants. I never thought of it as a way to learn the reverence and respect. I just got tithing truly into perspective for the first time; God wants our hearts and our lives; not so we can give Him our stuff. He wants us to give Him our stuff; to prepare ourselves to give Him our hearts and lives.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
   fools despise wisdom and instruction.

What Do I Know of Holy

What do you know about holy?

What do you know about God?


Have you made him too small? Have you ever feared him at all?


Here is some of what God has said about Himself in his word (ESV);


Genesis 1:1- In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.


Genesis 1:27- So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.


Deuteronomy 4:24-For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.


Deuteronomy 6:4-Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.


Deuteronomy 10:17-For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.


Psalm 50:6-The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah


Psalm 95:3-5-For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth: the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.


Psalm 96:4-5-For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.


Proverbs 30:5-Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.


Lamentations 3:21-23-The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.


John 4:24- God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.


Romans 1:20- For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.


1 Corinthians 10:13-No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.


1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.


1 John 4:7-9-Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.


Revelation 21:3-5-And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."


Our God is a Great God!


I pray that after reading this you can say the song’s lines “Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be. The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees.” While writing this I caught a further glimpse and it has brought me to my knees.


Below are some more of the many verses that give details of who God is, what His love is and what it means, what we mean to him, and what He is doing and what He will do.


Exodus 2:23-25-During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.


Exodus 34:5-7-The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation."


Deuteronomy 3:24-O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?


Deuteronomy 4:29-31-But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice. For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.


2 Samuel 22:32-34-For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.


2 Chronicles 30:9-For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.


Psalm 10:4-In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.


Psalm 33:11-The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.


Psalm 97:1-7-The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. His lightings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!


Isaiah 6:3- And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"


Romans 1:18-23-For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.


Romans 6:23- For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Romans 14:17-For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.


1 Timothy 6:15-16-which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.



I want to give a big thank you to google.com (as well as the sites that google actually pulled the information from) and biblegateway.com for making this blog far easier to write!

Whats inside you?

If this was your heart; would you hear the Hallelujah Chorus? Amazing Grace? California Girls? Bad Company? The End of the World as We Know It?

The verse at the end of the video was; Colossians 1:27 "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

How are you making that hope of glory known? What if you put that stethoscope to your hands? Would you hear Hands and Feet? What about if you put it to your head or to your tongue? What would you hear?

So, what song is your heart singing?

What song are you singing to the people around you?