Prayers for 2016

This is the time of year when I make my prayer list for 2016. I don't do New Year Resolutions because I have very little confidence in my resolve. It's called personal history. So, I make a prayer list. I don't pray all of these specifically every night. Some of them, more than others, are on my heart on certain days, but I can always, every night, pray, "Lord, those prayers." He knows which ones I mean. And the Holy Spirit always does a better job of praying them than I do. Anyway, here's my prayer list for 2016--so far. Yes, you are on it.
1. Lord, I have been praying many of these prayers for years, often with no visible evidence that You are at work, but I know You are. You answer every prayer. Remind me to pray with a thankful heart trusting your love and wisdom. Remind me to pray with a confident heart--a Romans 8:28 heart--knowing that the good is coming. The good is always coming.
2. May those that I know and love who are enemies of the cross overtly or secretly in their heart be brought by any means necessary to the foot of the cross and the wonder of Your love for them. And may they find me there in wonder on my knees.
3. May I live a life of fear and trembling; fear and trembling that I might do or say something that would break Your loving heart and grieve Your Spirit.
4. May the theology in my head become a certainty in my experience as I walk with you day by day.
5. May my tears--even the hard ones--always be tears of joy.
6. I know Your Second Coming will be dreadful, heart-rending; yet, full of Your love and to Your glory. Even so, come Lord Jesus. May You find me living a life of expectant loving obedience.
7. May I do no harm of any kind to even one of Your students that You have entrusted to my care.
8. May academics never get in the way of Your call to discipleship. Give me a sensitivity to the spiritual needs of Your students and may they always trump their academic needs.
9. May I be reminded each day that this day is my future. All of it that I have. Help me to rest in Your forgiveness for the stupidities of my yesterdays. And to not fear the human idea of "my future." Thank You that today--in my future--I have so much more than I could ever need.
10. May my first response always be forgiveness.
11. If You continue to give me opportunities to share Your truth in word and the written word, may I always exhort, edify, and encourage--never tear down. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
12. May You burn all the baskets I fearfully use to hide the Light of Your presence. Help me to always be Christ in the room.
13. May I never take the beauty of The Acres for granted, the beauty of Your presence here. May my Gardening Angels have a marvelous year planned for our walks together. Surprise me every day.
14. As my physical health continues to decline, may my spiritual health soar. If this is the year that You take me Home, may I be able to say with Paul that clothed every day in the whole armor of God, I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course You laid out for me. May my weapons be spiritual. And may I live a good death.
15. May I see in every circumstance in my life and in the world, Your work as the God of love. May it always be the dominating factor in my understanding of the times.
16. May I always remember where my citizenship lies and that I am an ambassador of the King--my King.
17. Nevertheless not my will but Thine be done. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Faith Believes

Faith believes:

Where there is no forgiveness there is no love;
Struggle--God's discipline and training--is proof of family membership, the breath of spiritual life, and the only path to transformational growth;
That no matter what one sees, God is working good in his or her life--in every situation;
Knowing Him more deeply requires suffering--a fellowship, participation, in His suffering for them;
That no one is in his or her life by accident; they are there because they need to experience first-hand His love;
That the fragrance of Christ emanating from one's life can draw people to Him or can act as a repellent:
That the battleground between Satan and God is the Christian's life;
That the message of The Golden Rule is to remind us that you reap what you sow; sow good seed;
That the church is the place where someone should always be able to find encouragement and love lavished upon them;
That blind people walk by sight.

Faith lives what it believes.

Wise Men

The last couple of days I've been thinking about the Magi--the Wise Men. The first thing that comes to mind--because I've been thinking a lot about him too, this Christmas--are the words of Simeon. He will be "a light to the Gentiles." The Magi: "We have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." "And the glory of Thy people, Israel." The Shepherds: "And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them." Simeon's words--fulfilled before he even said them.
Now, I know the people of ancient times were star gazers, students of the heavens, always looking for signs in the skies, but why when they saw a "new" star did they think, "the King of the Jews has been born." Say what? There had to be a million different things they could have imagined. Why "the King of the Jews"? I'm thinking, grace, God's grace revealed to them.
And they had no doubts. They embarked on a journey fraught with dangers--perilous. Most people believe they embarked on a two-year journey--one way--to see that child. I'm sure they had servants with them. And with all those riches, guards of some kind. It was a courageous choice. But they went seeking--and arrived safely. Hmm, I'm thinking . . .
And what was so special about a king of the Jews? Who were they at that point in history? Most of them were scattered throughout the world. Those in the homeland were certainly viewed as irrelevant "players" in the events of the times. A small backward province on the edges of the Roman Empire known only for being an irritant. Why go to find such a child? King of the Jews? Who cares? They must have known more about Him than the Bible tells us. (Herod certainly knew they were looking for the Messiah.) They were seekers. But why? Yep, I'm thinking . . .
And then the surprise along the journey--there are always surprises. They show up in Jerusalem thinking surely the child was born there, and everyone will be excited about Him--but, no, He's not there, and no one has the slightest idea that He's been born. A little research came up with Bethlehem--a town so small it probably wasn't even on the map. So, on they go, and find Him, and--"rejoice exceedingly" (Wow!) Seekers always find Him. You know why.


And they worship Him,


Then, they head back home--warned by God to stay away from Herod (Someone wants to harm the child, the King? How can that be?!)--with who knows what thoughts going through their minds--for the rest of their lives. No doubt, they always remembered that child
There's so much the Bible doesn't tell us about so many things. But this we know. His promises are fulfilled before they are even spoken. He seeks men. What a God of grace! And the seekers, no matter how perilous the journey, no matter how many surprises they encounter along the way, no matter how much evil is at work in the world--the seekers find Him, and rejoice exceedingly. And, of course, God does tell us the most important thing--"Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the eternal King."

Be Still

This time of year there is a simple commandment we need to embrace with our whole heart:  "Be still, and know that I am God."

It is in that stillness that He assures us that:
He is our refuge and strength--"is"--every moment of every day.
He is our very present help in times of trouble--"call unto Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things." Will, not might.
Though the nations rage, He utters His voice and they are nothing.
Though the world trembles in fear, we need not fear. "The Lord of hosts--the Lord of battle--is with us."
Though the oceans roar, we stand like a tree planted by the rivers of water bearing fruit in its season--the fruit of the Spirit, the beauty of His likeness.
He is the God of gladness.
He is the God of steadfastness.
He is the God of peace.
He will be exalted among the nations--in the fullness of time, once more.

A Child has been born. The Son has been given. "And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

And of His kingdom, there will be no end."

Beware of the idol of busyness. Be still. And know. Worship your King and Savior in the quietness of your heart. Cry, "Abba, Father" in the whispering of your prayers. Let your loneliness vanish in the time alone you spend with Him--your inescapable Lover. Find rest for your soul.

The Mind of Christ

Let this mind--this attitude--be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:

A willingness to pour yourself out for others--empty yourself as a sacrifice for the needs of those around you. Deny yourself daily. Such a life will fill you and those you serve with joy.

Be so controlled by the Spirit that you can't walk by anyone with a need--emotional, spiritual, even physical without responding. You can't help yourself. Such a life edifies--builds up--strengthens--those you help and fortifies your spiritual faith in His desire--and ability--to use you for His glory.

Be committed to live such a life of obedient service for others no matter what--until death. Such a life of loving obedience in all things fills you with a sense of His presence--a sense of His faithful love toward you. "For me to live is Christ--and to die, gain."

Such a life of complete surrender to the Spirit lifts of the beauty of the Savior before the eyes of men. And if He is lifted up . . .?

Focused

The journey Home is fraught with disappointment, failure, danger, and greater tests of our faith. We must be focused on seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness on a daily basis. We must not be lured by the treasures of earth which are only, and always, "fools gold." If heavenly treasure, the fruit of the Spirit evident in our daily walk, is our sole desire, disappointment will be transformed into blessing, failure into victory, danger into deliverance, and the greater tests of our faith will deepen our love for Him and solidify our confidence in His goodness. As our faith matures into faithfulness, we will find that it is His faithfulness that secures the journey Home. I must be sure that the light that guides my next step into the darkness of this world is the light of His Word, the lamp for my feet. I must be sure that nothing can quench the Spirit's love radiating from a grace-filled walk. I must be sure that those that stumble find in me a gentleness that is eager to willingly stoop down and lift up--and not a harsh critical spirit quick to judge. I must be sure to humbly grab the hand of those who lovingly desire to lift me up when I have stumbled. I must be unafraid to admit my weaknesses. I must remember that I am called to pour myself out for others, to spontaneously serve others, to understand that in this world I am called to be His feet, His voice, His presence in the lives of all others on the journey with me. I must embrace the promise: "Seek first the Kingdom of God and all the things you really need will be provided from the rich, inexhaustible storehouses of My glory."

Jesus Christ is all I need. I must set my affections on things above where my lovely Savior is seated on the right hand of our Father.. "Fixing our eyes" on Jesus is the only way to walk worthy, to walk the walk of faith, the only walk that pleases Him. The walk that ends with "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into My rest."

Prince of Peace

In a neurotic, hate-filled, war-infested world, God comes with an offer--a promise of peace. And not just the future peace when men's weapons will be used to plow fields, but a right now peace with God--a peace that fills the heart with the peace of God.
Peace with God takes a man or woman with their natural enmity toward God and His righteousness and transfers them eternally into the Kingdom of the God of Love. It is a peace that not even death can destroy. Absent from the body, welcomed with open arms into the presence of The Prince of Peace.
The peace of God overcomes the world, removes troubles from a troubled heart living in a troubled, peaceless world. It removes fears of the unknown because the God of peace has no unknowns. It removes fears of loss because no one can fill up the empty places like the compassionate God of all comfort. It removes fears of failure because weakness engenders spiritual strength. It removes fear of the human enemy because a simple prayer turns them over to the God of justice and vindication. It removes the fear of "the enemy" because He was forever, completely routed on the cross and in the power of the empty tomb. It is a steadfast peace that enables one to continue to abound in the work of the Lord of Peace knowing that all work in His Name is not in vain. Ever. It is a peace that builds a impenetrable fortress of contentment around the heart and mind of the faithful soldier of the cross. The soldier whose weapons are the Sword of the Spirit and the compassion of the Savior that allows them to proclaim lovingly the gospel of peace to all that he or she encounters.

And to whom is this peace offered--peace with God and the peace of God?

A poor young woman and her tradesman husband
A group of unknown shepherds huddled around a fire
An old righteous and devout saint
An old widow prayer-warrior
Rich, wise kings of a distant land
Fishermen
Zealots
The teacher of Israel
Prostitutes
Crooked tax-collectors--of any height
Arrogant blaspheming Pharisees
Jew. Gentile. Man. Woman. Civilized. Barbarian.
All sinners

You.

Me.

All those in a neurotic, hate-filled, war-infested world who place their faith in the cross and the empty tomb and the Victorious Winner of the battle for the souls of men--in the Prince of Peace.

"For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Joy in Sorrow

Joy is not the absence of sorrow. It is the transforming power in the inner man that enables him or her to mature into the image of Christ--the "Man of Sorrows" who Himself endured the cross through the inner strength of joy. Joy comes from looking into my future, to the hope of every believer--to my inheritance with the saints. When I pause, just for a moment, and think of all that He has given me in this life, and all that He has promised me in eternity, the present difficulties, no matter how severe, seem inconsequential. They are not worthy to even be compared. I am, by His grace, a joint-heir with Christ. Everything that is His--and how much is His?--though I could never earn any of it for a second, He has promised to enjoy with me for all eternity. Joy allows me to triumph in sorrow--to persevere, to develop "proven character" which rests in the promised hope, "and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." 

"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in my love." Reflect on that for just a moment . . . "As the Father has loved Me.'  I understand that I have lived with myself longer than many of you have lived with yourself, but I find that incomprehensible--to be so deeply loved. Me? "Amazing love, how can it be?"

"These things have I spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
Joy in the midst of sorrow is the evidence of His great love being poured into our hearts It is the evidence of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit Who has sealed us until the day of redemption--until the Hope becomes a reality--forever.

Patience

To be Christ-like one must develop patience. Patience is the ability to accept people where God has them for the moment. It's the faith to allow God to take all the time He wants to change them--or you. To lack patience is to become a stumbling block to spiritual growth. God clearly tells us in Scripture that it is the patience of God that brings men to repentance--to a change of heart and behavior that pleases Him. We must love others--no matter how much they are irritating us at the moment--right where they are, patiently, trusting God to do what is necessary to change and mature them. We are not the transformers. God alone is. We are the instruments--the lights--He uses to bring others His love in order that they might seek Him and find Him.

For You

I often wonder what conversations, what activity, or even what the Shepherds were thinking as they sat that evening, under those stars, before the angels appeared with their message of hope. Was there a David among them, softly playing his lyre, singing a psalm, quieting the sheep--and his own heart? If so, I think I know what psalm was his favorite: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures." Perhaps the star that alerted the magi to the coming of the King, and then led them to Bethlehem, was visible in their night sky? Did they discuss among themselves its significance? Or maybe they talked of Abraham and resting in the vista of that starry night, they reflected on the promises: "Your seed will be as numerous as the stars." "In you all the nations of the earth will be blessed." And can you even imagine the magnificence of the starry sky that they could see in the dark heavens of a world without lights? Must have been like a twinkling blanket of white. Or perhaps they talked about family and home, spouses and children, or maybe, just sat in silence alert to any dangers to their flock of sheep. Hey, maybe they were complaining about having to work the "night shift"? Personally, though, I think that's the shift I would have loved to work.
They, obviously, were men of simple, and thus, profound faith. The angels' appearence to these men--and boys, I assume; shepherds in training--was not a random act. God doesn't do random. They went from feeling petrified to being overcome with ecstatic joy. The message must have seemed improbable--the Savior has come; He has been born in Bethlehem; you'll find Him wrapped in rags--a baby, and in a manger. Oh, Bethlehem, was not improbable--the city of David, but a baby, poor like them, clothed humbly like them? But yes, "for you, has been born this day in the city of David, a Savior." Yes, "for you." And so they ran, "made haste"--whatever that may have looked like--joyous wonder and expectation in motion, a flock of men seeking their Shepherd. And they had no doubts. They didn't go to see if it was true--they went to see. And having seen, they went joyously to tell--"the Savior is here. Angels told us where to find Him." And then they returned to the darkness on the hillside, and, I imagine, looking up at those innumerable stars, just like Father Abraham, believed. And it was imputed to their account as righteousness. A Savior. Born for us. The Savior through whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

Yes, for you, was born that day, a Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. Yes, for you. And the message is the same: "Seek, and you will find."
Believe. Rejoice. Tell.

The Message of Hope

The message of Christianity is a message of hope not despair. For the sorrowful and broken-hearted their is an inexhaustible well-spring of comfort to be found in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ who promises to work all things for the good of His children and promises to in all things make the radiant majesty of His person--the weighty importance of His presence in the world--known. His followers spontaneously weep with those who weep. His followers respond to the agony inflicted by evil-doers, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Yes, genuine faith in Him forgives, and thus, trusts in His sovereignty, His wisdom, and His love, and makes no room in the heart--not an inch--for fear and hatred.

Heresy 101

Heresy 101
Could it be that since it is so incredibly difficult to take the gospel into Muslim countries that the God of all grace--who is not willing that any should perish--has decided to send them to us? You know, a new evangelistic "strategy" in these modern times. So that now we are being given the incredible opportunity to demonstrate to them the love and grace of God. So, perhaps, some will come to know the real Jesus, the One who willingly went to the cross to bring them eternal salvation and redemption--the One who died on that cross to pay for their sins--and ours.
And how many Muslim immigrants coming to know the Savior would make it all worthwhile? Personally, I'm guessing one maybe?

Attitude

My attitude toward God's Word--and for the person God has placed in my life to instruct me in God's Word--is truly my attitude toward God and toward obedience to His Word. We shake our heads at the attitude of the Jewish people toward God's prophets and their "Thus says the Lord," but are we any different? Am I any different? May my heart sing with David, "I love Thy law, O Lord." Why do we call Him, "Lord, Lord," and then sit under the teaching of His Word with apathetic hearts?

Loved

As I reminded my students this week: (Yep, I claim them all)

When your circumstances make you question God's love for you--

First. Stand for a moment at the foot of the cross. He died for you. The longer I live the more I am moved in my soul by that truth. I have lived with myself for a long time, and I can't imagine anyone willingly dying for me. But the perfect, sinless Son of God died for me. And I didn't ask Him to--He willingly volunteered.
Second. Remember that positionally--this very moment--you are perfect. All your sins have been forgiven. All of them. You can never be condemned. You have been justified. He has taken away your sin and robed you in His righteousness. As Paul says in Colossians--your life is hid in Christ. When God looks at you, He sees His Son.
Third. Daily, because though you are positionally perfect but not yet perfected, He intercedes on your behalf. He ever lives to make intercession for you. Even when you deliberately sin, He stands before the Father and says, "I paid for that sin." And if that love doesn't motivate you to loving obedience, I don't know what will.
Fourth. One day, when He is revealed, when you see Him as He is, you will be eternally made perfect. You will be like Him. You will be forever freed from even the desire to sin.
Fifth. He will never leave you nor forsake you. You will never experience what He experienced on the cross--being forsaken by God. Even when you are faithless, He will be faithful. Ascend up into the heavens--He is there. Descend into the deepest part of the ocean--He is there. Go so far East you're West. He is there. Go to the grave. He is there. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are WITH me. Nothing in life, not even death can separate you from His love. No amount of space or time can separate you from His love. No power natural or supernatural can separate you from His love. As you weep over your circumstances, guess where He is? Yes. There with you--weeping.
Sixth. When you are flat on your face, defeated, strengthless, not being able to imagine going on, He comes to you and promises: "When you are weak, then I can empower you with My strength. Yes, now, I can use you to do all things. Now I can transform you into My likeness. Now you can be the personification of My love and My grace to all with whom you interact."

You are deeply loved! And the key to understanding more fully the depth of His love, the key to being filled with the fullness of God exceedingly above all that you could ask or imagine is His prayer in the Garden. When in your Gethsemane, you cry out to the Father, "Isn't there another way for me to accomplish Your will?" and the Father, Who is Love, says, "No, this is the only way." Then, you must pray, "Then not my will, Lord, but Yours. Whatever it takes for me to glorify You--and to sense experientially the great heighth, and width, and depth of your love for me--that's what I desire--I want Your will above all else.

Yes, when the worst imaginable thing is happening to you, you are incomprehensibly loved.

Goals of Discipleship

The goals of discipleship :

To strengthen the inner man
To deepen one's faith in the reality that the Spirit lives within each of us to empower us to live lives of obedience by submission to His complete control over our every decision.
To make the unfathomable, inescapable love of God more of a reality in one's daily experience than the mere knowledge of that love in one's theology.
To encourage someone along the journey to becoming filled with the fullness of God--to becoming Christ in the room wherever they are.

And such a work is impossible without a total dependence on God. And total dependence on God is impossible without a reliance on intercessory prayer for those we have been called to disciple. Not by human strength nor by human power but by the Spirit only can discipleship be effectual.

And without discipleship the church is totally incapable of impacting the world. Simply because it is off mission. Whatever work it claims to be doing, is not God's work. It's the work of human strength and human power.