Wow! What an incredible week it's been.
In the midst of preparing for a mission trip this past week, my son, Ben, got VERY sick. Many of you know that , he was bed-ridden for several days with an unknown illness. He had to have two IVs put in and was a very sick little boy. It couldn't have come at a busier time for us...or so we thought (in our selfish minds). We were so busy filling our lives with worry and anxiety that we almost missed God's blessing in it all.
You're probably saying, "What could possibly be the blessing in a sick child?"
Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God."
We were forced, as a family, to be still for an entire week. This didn't hit me until 12:30 a.m. Thursday after 3 days of no sleep, when Ben was finally resting. I had slept (I use that word sarcastically) outside his room on the couch for 3 nights. Abby came in to where I was on the couch, and wanted to chat....at 12:30 a.m.....when Ben was asleep...when I had a chance to sleep. But, I knew it was important.
She began to talk to me about her friends and how she just couldn't be friends with one of them anymore. I asked her why not. She said..."We're just too different." I said, "Abby, you're in all the same classes, you go to the same church, you're in every activity together...how are you different?" She said, "Well, he's a baptized Christian and I'm just a plain old Christian." That opened up a wonderful conversation between the two of us. She asked some incredible questions, and we sat down and discussed very simply the Gospel story. It was one of the sweetest moments as mother and daughter that we've shared. We prayed at the end, and we're going to continue to seek where God is leading her. She doesn't have a full understanding yet, and is not ready to be baptized. But in that stillness, He opened her heart to a sincere search for understanding.
That night, Ben slept soundly, we all slept 6 hours, and he was "on the mend" thereafter. He's going strong and is a part of our Monterrey Missions team this weekend--something he's worked to earn the privilege of going on all year long.
God is good. His people are pretty okay, too. Thank you for all of your phone calls, emails, prayers and concern for Ben. The nurse that administered the IV said she could tell that he was being lifted up in prayers and just reminded me that when we lift up a patient in prayer, we're also lifting up the doctors and nurses. So, she felt your prayers, too.
This week, 29 of us are headed out of the country on Mission. Please continue to pray for us, specifically for the following things:
1. Focus and Unity--that we will accomplish what God has in mind.
2. Open hearts -- we will be ministering to children in a children's camp, prisoners on death row, and we have a team painting a beautiful mural that will be a witness to the community surrounding the church.
3. Safety and good health.
Thank you for your prayers, and for all that you give week by week, not only in Worship Ministries, but in everything you do in the church and in lifting up others.
With great joy,
Emily
P.S. One more thing. I discovered one very interesting thing in my conversation with Abby that I want to share especially with her Sunday School teachers (two of whom are in the choir). She told us about her Sunday School lessons about Saul (Paul) and how Saul "saw Jesus on the road to Massachusetts." ... oh, and her "lie-ing days are mostly over".
Monday, August 4, 2008
Monterrey Devotion 2008 Day 5: Worship
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
We are just hours away from our final corporate worship time together with our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Monterrey. Aren’t you thankful for this time we’ve had? Just spend a moment rejoicing in what the Lord has done. Be specific.
Read Philippians Chapter 4: 3-20. I love the way that Paul closes this letter with this chapter. He rejoices in verse 4. He encourages in verse 6. In verse 7, He shares the peace (a wonderful tradition in other denominations—a time in each service where you turn to your neighbor and simply say “Peace be with you.” And they reply, “and also with you.” It’s really a very meaningful part of some liturgies).
Then, here’s what he says in verses 8 and 9:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
I love that Paul leads by example. We can learn from the example of our brothers and sisters here in Monterrey. Weren’t you overwhelmed by their hospitality? How about their joyful spirits? The warm welcome? The light in their eyes? Think about those things listed in verse 8 –true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy. Does it remind you of anything?
Turn to and read Psalm 19. Do you find a similar list?
Starting in verse 7, the Lord is perfect, true, right, radiant, pure, sure, more precious than gold, sweeter than honey. Meditate for a moment on His goodness and His radiance. Just bask in His glory. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Finally, flip back to Philippians 4. Just before Paul’s final farewell, he says in verses 19 & 20, “And my God will meet ALL your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Remember on the first day, how I said John was my favorite book? Read this beloved disciple’s and fellow worshiper’s account in Revelation 7:11-12 where he visions what Paul says, “All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
Today is a day of worship. Today is a day where we simply come before His Throne. We join with the saints that have gone before, present worshipers around the world, and as John shows us Heavenly worshipers truly in the midst of God’s glory. Lift up your eyes to Him, and lift up your voice with praise to our God forever and ever. He is worthy!
Alleluia!
For the Lord God Almighty Reigns!
Holy, holy, holy are You, Lord, God Almighty.
Worthy is the Lamb.
Amen!
We are just hours away from our final corporate worship time together with our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Monterrey. Aren’t you thankful for this time we’ve had? Just spend a moment rejoicing in what the Lord has done. Be specific.
Read Philippians Chapter 4: 3-20. I love the way that Paul closes this letter with this chapter. He rejoices in verse 4. He encourages in verse 6. In verse 7, He shares the peace (a wonderful tradition in other denominations—a time in each service where you turn to your neighbor and simply say “Peace be with you.” And they reply, “and also with you.” It’s really a very meaningful part of some liturgies).
Then, here’s what he says in verses 8 and 9:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
I love that Paul leads by example. We can learn from the example of our brothers and sisters here in Monterrey. Weren’t you overwhelmed by their hospitality? How about their joyful spirits? The warm welcome? The light in their eyes? Think about those things listed in verse 8 –true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy. Does it remind you of anything?
Turn to and read Psalm 19. Do you find a similar list?
Starting in verse 7, the Lord is perfect, true, right, radiant, pure, sure, more precious than gold, sweeter than honey. Meditate for a moment on His goodness and His radiance. Just bask in His glory. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Finally, flip back to Philippians 4. Just before Paul’s final farewell, he says in verses 19 & 20, “And my God will meet ALL your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Remember on the first day, how I said John was my favorite book? Read this beloved disciple’s and fellow worshiper’s account in Revelation 7:11-12 where he visions what Paul says, “All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
Today is a day of worship. Today is a day where we simply come before His Throne. We join with the saints that have gone before, present worshipers around the world, and as John shows us Heavenly worshipers truly in the midst of God’s glory. Lift up your eyes to Him, and lift up your voice with praise to our God forever and ever. He is worthy!
Alleluia!
For the Lord God Almighty Reigns!
Holy, holy, holy are You, Lord, God Almighty.
Worthy is the Lamb.
Amen!
Monterrey Devotional Day 4: Endurance and Purpose
Though I’m writing this in advance of the trip, today (day 4) is most likely going to be the hardest day of this journey. We’ve performed the concert, we’ve painted, we’re on the last day of the Children’s camp. We’re trying desperately to complete the painting and tasks we’ve come to accomplish. It’s hot. We’re ready for our own beds and the remote. We’re ready to hug our loved ones that have been left behind. It’s a tough day. Today, we need to pray diligently for endurance.
Philippians 3:12-14 says, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Our task today is evangelism. There is a message to be sung and lived out. People are watching you even today. You are a witness at the hotel, among the church members, with the parents and children, prisoners, cashier at the Home Depot, etc.
I have a confession to make (which probably won’t come as a surprise). I am a terrible evangelist! Evangelism is not my spiritual gift. I do music missions because I feel called to discipleship—teaching others and building them up in the faith. But, when it comes to evangelism, I get scared. I stumble over my words and thoughts. I think it’s because I’m so passionate about it that I try to overcomplicate it. The Gospel is so full of mystery and seemingly complex (because it blows our mind that God would humble Himself on our account), but it’s also so simple. It transcends every language, culture, walk of life, age, gender. It’s amazing.
So, today, be bold. If you are going to the prison—sing with Jesus spilling out of your mouth and on your face. If you are shopping, hand a ticket to a salesperson or someone even on the street. If you are at the hotel, invite a hotel employee to the concert tonight, or to church tomorrow. Be bold. God will give you the words to say. More than likely, it will come much more naturally than you think.
Meditate on this promise:
Isaiah 55:8-11 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” says the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, SO IS MY WORD THAT GOES OUT FROM MY MOUTH: IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY, BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I DESIRE AND ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH I SENT IT.”
All we have to do is proclaim. He transforms. All we have to do is plant. He brings forth the fruit. His Word WILL NOT COME BACK VOID!
Last Sunday, in the 2nd service, the choir and the orchestra were singing their anthem. We had a monitoring issue in the orchestra area (not anyone’s fault…just one of those things that sometimes happens). In the middle of the anthem, the orchestra and rhythm were exactly 1 beat behind the choir. That meant they were one beat off on every chord changes. All the sudden, for about 20 measures, instead of “I Still Cling to the Old Rugged Cross”, it sounded like The Gaithers meets Screamo (well maybe not quite that bad, but that's what it felt like). But, the soloist and pianist hung tight and managed to get us all back together, and we ended fine. But, I was upset because I thought that I had ruined worship (how egotistical!!!). But, at the end of the song, I was amazed—everyone clapped. People responded to the Gospel message that the soloist and choir sang. God’s Word did not come back void, but rather touched the hearts of His worshipers.
You see, we are flawed messengers, but we are delivering a perfect Message. A perfect, protected Message.
So, be bold. Allow God to use you. He will amaze you…that’s just what He does!
Lord, how sweet it is to be in Your presence. We thank You that You can use us—imperfect, damaged individuals. We thank You for trusting us to be Your messengers of Your Gospel Truth. Help us to step out of our comfort zones today. Reveal to us in an undeniable way those who need to hear about You. Help us to boldly respond. Use us. We love You, and count it all joy that we have this opportunity to serve You today!
Philippians 3:12-14 says, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Our task today is evangelism. There is a message to be sung and lived out. People are watching you even today. You are a witness at the hotel, among the church members, with the parents and children, prisoners, cashier at the Home Depot, etc.
I have a confession to make (which probably won’t come as a surprise). I am a terrible evangelist! Evangelism is not my spiritual gift. I do music missions because I feel called to discipleship—teaching others and building them up in the faith. But, when it comes to evangelism, I get scared. I stumble over my words and thoughts. I think it’s because I’m so passionate about it that I try to overcomplicate it. The Gospel is so full of mystery and seemingly complex (because it blows our mind that God would humble Himself on our account), but it’s also so simple. It transcends every language, culture, walk of life, age, gender. It’s amazing.
So, today, be bold. If you are going to the prison—sing with Jesus spilling out of your mouth and on your face. If you are shopping, hand a ticket to a salesperson or someone even on the street. If you are at the hotel, invite a hotel employee to the concert tonight, or to church tomorrow. Be bold. God will give you the words to say. More than likely, it will come much more naturally than you think.
Meditate on this promise:
Isaiah 55:8-11 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” says the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, SO IS MY WORD THAT GOES OUT FROM MY MOUTH: IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY, BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I DESIRE AND ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH I SENT IT.”
All we have to do is proclaim. He transforms. All we have to do is plant. He brings forth the fruit. His Word WILL NOT COME BACK VOID!
Last Sunday, in the 2nd service, the choir and the orchestra were singing their anthem. We had a monitoring issue in the orchestra area (not anyone’s fault…just one of those things that sometimes happens). In the middle of the anthem, the orchestra and rhythm were exactly 1 beat behind the choir. That meant they were one beat off on every chord changes. All the sudden, for about 20 measures, instead of “I Still Cling to the Old Rugged Cross”, it sounded like The Gaithers meets Screamo (well maybe not quite that bad, but that's what it felt like). But, the soloist and pianist hung tight and managed to get us all back together, and we ended fine. But, I was upset because I thought that I had ruined worship (how egotistical!!!). But, at the end of the song, I was amazed—everyone clapped. People responded to the Gospel message that the soloist and choir sang. God’s Word did not come back void, but rather touched the hearts of His worshipers.
You see, we are flawed messengers, but we are delivering a perfect Message. A perfect, protected Message.
So, be bold. Allow God to use you. He will amaze you…that’s just what He does!
Lord, how sweet it is to be in Your presence. We thank You that You can use us—imperfect, damaged individuals. We thank You for trusting us to be Your messengers of Your Gospel Truth. Help us to step out of our comfort zones today. Reveal to us in an undeniable way those who need to hear about You. Help us to boldly respond. Use us. We love You, and count it all joy that we have this opportunity to serve You today!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Monterrey Devotion Day 3: Relationship
Today’s devotion is short and sweet, but probably one of the most difficult challenges for me personally. Today, I want us to focus on building relationships.
Again, turn to Philippians—this time to Chapter 3, Verses 7-10:
7 I once thought these things (he’s talking about the Jewish law—the “rules” of the tabernacle) were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ, For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.
Look at those first 5 words in verse 10 and ponder them a moment:
I want to know Christ
God didn’t desire for us just to have head knowledge of Him. He didn’t desire for us to “go through the motions”. Nor did He want us to merely pay “lip service” to Him. He desires a RELATIONSHIP with us. Paul didn’t want to know about Christ. He wanted to KNOW CHRIST.
I always relate this to the President of the United States. I know a lot about George Bush. If I wanted to know more, I there are thousands of websites, newspaper clippings, books, etc. where I could learn more about Him. But, though I know about him, I don’t know George Bush. He is not my personal friend. I have never had a conversation with him.
But I KNOW the God of the Universe—the One, True God—through my relationship with Jesus. I haven’t touched Him, but I’ve talked with Him, and He has touched my heart many times!
Today, act out of that relationship with Him. Ask Him to help you be bold to build relationship with the people here in Monterrey. Today, we may encounter parents of a child we’ve taught in crafts, or a prisoner who needs a kind word and a warm handshake. We may meet a child who wants to tell us their thoughts about God in their simple, but awesome way. Or, the singer singing next to us may need someone to stop and pray with them. Look for ways to KNOW the people you encounter today in a meaningful way.
Lord, this is probably the most challenging thing for me. You know how I am made. I am an introvert. I don’t like to meet new people, and it is hard for me to know what to say or how to begin a conversation. Please speak through me. Help me to draw closer to You today so that You may draw closer to them through me. Help me not to withdraw as I meet new people, but to risk so that others may come to know You through my life and testimony. Pour out Your message from this shy soul. Help me to be sensitive to the needs of those around me. In and of myself, this is something I cannot do. I need Your power and Your guidance.
Again, turn to Philippians—this time to Chapter 3, Verses 7-10:
7 I once thought these things (he’s talking about the Jewish law—the “rules” of the tabernacle) were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ, For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.
Look at those first 5 words in verse 10 and ponder them a moment:
I want to know Christ
God didn’t desire for us just to have head knowledge of Him. He didn’t desire for us to “go through the motions”. Nor did He want us to merely pay “lip service” to Him. He desires a RELATIONSHIP with us. Paul didn’t want to know about Christ. He wanted to KNOW CHRIST.
I always relate this to the President of the United States. I know a lot about George Bush. If I wanted to know more, I there are thousands of websites, newspaper clippings, books, etc. where I could learn more about Him. But, though I know about him, I don’t know George Bush. He is not my personal friend. I have never had a conversation with him.
But I KNOW the God of the Universe—the One, True God—through my relationship with Jesus. I haven’t touched Him, but I’ve talked with Him, and He has touched my heart many times!
Today, act out of that relationship with Him. Ask Him to help you be bold to build relationship with the people here in Monterrey. Today, we may encounter parents of a child we’ve taught in crafts, or a prisoner who needs a kind word and a warm handshake. We may meet a child who wants to tell us their thoughts about God in their simple, but awesome way. Or, the singer singing next to us may need someone to stop and pray with them. Look for ways to KNOW the people you encounter today in a meaningful way.
Lord, this is probably the most challenging thing for me. You know how I am made. I am an introvert. I don’t like to meet new people, and it is hard for me to know what to say or how to begin a conversation. Please speak through me. Help me to draw closer to You today so that You may draw closer to them through me. Help me not to withdraw as I meet new people, but to risk so that others may come to know You through my life and testimony. Pour out Your message from this shy soul. Help me to be sensitive to the needs of those around me. In and of myself, this is something I cannot do. I need Your power and Your guidance.
Monterrey Devotional, Day 2: Humility
A few weeks ago, I wrote in my blog about “humility”. It is my least favorite issue to deal with. It seems like I have to wrestle with it A LOT! But, I’m thankful that God reminds me from time to time, in a bold way, that He is God and I am not!
Here’s the story I told:
The other night, my husband came home from work exhausted. He's been working so hard, and giving every spare minute to our family and the "honey do" list. We were getting ready to leave on a 10-day vacation. I didn't have the heart to ask him to mow the lawn (which DESPERATELY needed it--the grass is growing so fast right now). We have a large yard that requires so much care, and though we feel like we work in it often, there's always something else to do in it. So, instead of hitting him up with "Can you mow the lawn?" the minute he walked in the door, I asked him to show me how to use the mower. It's a new riding lawn mower, so I figured it couldn't be too hard. I could get the yard done in no time, and he could come in and kick his shoes off and relax.
He was so appreciative, so he quickly gave me a lesson. I got on it, and released the brake to go forward. Immediately, it jerked and I was thrown forward. Evidently, I released the brake a little too fast. I slammed on the brake again, laughing (and a little shaken). I looked up, and noticed that there were 8 roofers on my next-door neighbors' roof, laughing and pointing at me. A very obvious lesson in humility!!!!! I waved and laughed and continued on with trying to figure out the mower, and finished the lawn (well, almost...my husband had to negotiate the hill in front).
Okay, let’s just get it out in the open. We will all probably deal with lessons in humility over the next four days. Perhaps, it will be because we misspeak about something minor. The first time I was in Cuba, I tried to tell someone my son was 7, and mistakenly said I had seven sons! Imagine the look on their face. Well, I’m sure that the more I try to speak Spanish, the more I’ll fail, but I’d rather try and have a little laughter than not build a relationship with anyone along the way. That would be so much more of a failure! Perhaps it will be a larger faux pas—something that hurts another individual. We must be on our guard.
But, my prayer is that we’ll go even deeper than that surface humility—not the kind that’s about us and our feelings, but the kind that develops true servants. Let’s turn to scripture…again to Philippians…and see what Paul has to say about it, starting in Chapter 2, Verse 3:
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Meditate on that statement a moment—YOU MUST HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE THAT CHRIST JESUS HAD. How is that even possible? What a HUGE expectation. But, that’s what Paul tells us we need to do. Spend a moment asking God for that sentence to manifest itself in your life! Read on:
6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
God is not asking us to die right now on this trip. But He is asking us to serve. Look around for the humble positions of a servant that we can take to serve our brothers and sisters in Monterrey. We are not there to be served or to be pleased. We are there to serve—to be slaves to Christ!
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
EVERY KNEE WILL bow and EVERY TONGUE WILL confess. Let’s pray that through our service, people will come to know Him NOW, and experience fully the JOY of living a life in Him.
Here is my prayer for us—our instruction manual if you will—from Paul’s words 2:12-18:
Dear Lord, help us to:
· 12Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
· 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you.
· Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
· 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
· Be joyful in all circumstances: 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
Those are challenging words. They are much deeper forms of humility than my experience with the mower. But, I know that God does not teach us such lessons to be demeaning, but rather to remind us that He is God, and we are not. We don’t serve something that our minds can control or define. He is so much greater than the greatest scholars and thinkers can wrap their minds around. He is so much grander than any engineer or scientist could build. He is so much more compassionate than any humanitarian or donor that we could imagine. He is a healer, like no physician we know. He is God. We serve the One, True, Living God. With joy and humility, let us take the news of Him to a world that needs desperately to know Him!
Lord, we love You and ask You right now to keep us humble so you can redirect our paths as needed. We are Yours.
Here’s the story I told:
The other night, my husband came home from work exhausted. He's been working so hard, and giving every spare minute to our family and the "honey do" list. We were getting ready to leave on a 10-day vacation. I didn't have the heart to ask him to mow the lawn (which DESPERATELY needed it--the grass is growing so fast right now). We have a large yard that requires so much care, and though we feel like we work in it often, there's always something else to do in it. So, instead of hitting him up with "Can you mow the lawn?" the minute he walked in the door, I asked him to show me how to use the mower. It's a new riding lawn mower, so I figured it couldn't be too hard. I could get the yard done in no time, and he could come in and kick his shoes off and relax.
He was so appreciative, so he quickly gave me a lesson. I got on it, and released the brake to go forward. Immediately, it jerked and I was thrown forward. Evidently, I released the brake a little too fast. I slammed on the brake again, laughing (and a little shaken). I looked up, and noticed that there were 8 roofers on my next-door neighbors' roof, laughing and pointing at me. A very obvious lesson in humility!!!!! I waved and laughed and continued on with trying to figure out the mower, and finished the lawn (well, almost...my husband had to negotiate the hill in front).
Okay, let’s just get it out in the open. We will all probably deal with lessons in humility over the next four days. Perhaps, it will be because we misspeak about something minor. The first time I was in Cuba, I tried to tell someone my son was 7, and mistakenly said I had seven sons! Imagine the look on their face. Well, I’m sure that the more I try to speak Spanish, the more I’ll fail, but I’d rather try and have a little laughter than not build a relationship with anyone along the way. That would be so much more of a failure! Perhaps it will be a larger faux pas—something that hurts another individual. We must be on our guard.
But, my prayer is that we’ll go even deeper than that surface humility—not the kind that’s about us and our feelings, but the kind that develops true servants. Let’s turn to scripture…again to Philippians…and see what Paul has to say about it, starting in Chapter 2, Verse 3:
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Meditate on that statement a moment—YOU MUST HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE THAT CHRIST JESUS HAD. How is that even possible? What a HUGE expectation. But, that’s what Paul tells us we need to do. Spend a moment asking God for that sentence to manifest itself in your life! Read on:
6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
God is not asking us to die right now on this trip. But He is asking us to serve. Look around for the humble positions of a servant that we can take to serve our brothers and sisters in Monterrey. We are not there to be served or to be pleased. We are there to serve—to be slaves to Christ!
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
EVERY KNEE WILL bow and EVERY TONGUE WILL confess. Let’s pray that through our service, people will come to know Him NOW, and experience fully the JOY of living a life in Him.
Here is my prayer for us—our instruction manual if you will—from Paul’s words 2:12-18:
Dear Lord, help us to:
· 12Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
· 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you.
· Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
· 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
· Be joyful in all circumstances: 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
Those are challenging words. They are much deeper forms of humility than my experience with the mower. But, I know that God does not teach us such lessons to be demeaning, but rather to remind us that He is God, and we are not. We don’t serve something that our minds can control or define. He is so much greater than the greatest scholars and thinkers can wrap their minds around. He is so much grander than any engineer or scientist could build. He is so much more compassionate than any humanitarian or donor that we could imagine. He is a healer, like no physician we know. He is God. We serve the One, True, Living God. With joy and humility, let us take the news of Him to a world that needs desperately to know Him!
Lord, we love You and ask You right now to keep us humble so you can redirect our paths as needed. We are Yours.
Monterrey Devotion Day 1: Unity
We are preparing for a unique journey. God has great things in store. He has been at work long before we ever knew where Monterrey was on a map…long before we were ever born.
My favorite book of the Bible (if I had to choose one) is the Gospel of John, followed closely by the letter to the Philippians. John captures the sights, sounds and emotions of the Gospel. He saw things with such a unique perspective. John doesn’t talk of the physical details of Christ’s birth, but rather sums up the purpose and significance in the first 14 verses of the Gospel account. He talks about light coming into a world of darkness. He reminds us that this light is God in human form, but that Jesus (the Word) was with God in the beginning. He speaks of the fact that though we were made by God, we did not know Him. And then, in verse 14, John writes the most glorious words—he writes about something that would change this world FOREVER:
14And the Word became flesh, and made His dwelling among us, and we saw His glory, the glory of Jesus the One and Only from the Father, full of grace and truth.
We are preparing to share this incredible TRUE ACCOUNT with a world in desperate need of the hope of this message. We will share it in song on Friday and Saturday nights. We will share it through encouragement as we serve alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ at Prince of Peace Baptist Church. We will share it with prisoners in prison. We will share it with children who come to participate in a craft or drama or instrument. We will present to them the account of this Gospel. So, right now, as we begin, let us begin by praying for unity in heart and spirit.
Read with me Philippians Chapter 1, beginning verse 2:
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5in view of your participation in the Gospel from the first day until now. 6For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Skip to verse 9:
9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
My prayer for right now is that as we embark upon this journey, our love in Christ may abound more and more in REAL knowledge and ALL discernment so that we may be and be a part things that are excellent…to the Glory and Praise of God. What a noble purpose!
As you finish this reading, thinking about what lies ahead, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, and look closely at His prayer from the Garden just before His journey to the cross, as accounted in John 17:
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
Isn’t it amazing that Jesus, Himself, was praying for our unity in Spirit and Truth in that garden. His last thoughts and preparation before He gave Himself up for us was that WE would be unified and made one so that the Father’s glory would be revealed to this earth. Let us pray now that everyone who comes in contact with us throughout the coming days sees Him. Let His light and His grace radiate off of our faces. Let our words and instruments and song give Him glory. May people believe that God sent His only Son into the world because He loved us and loves them, and that He desires to have a relationship with them. What an awesome responsibility!
He is beginning a work in us. He will be faithful to complete it. As we close our devotion for today, ask Him to enlighten your hearts toward unity. Think thoughts of unity. You can’t go wrong with focusing on names of praise for our Savior. After that, think of ways to build up the brother or sister sitting beside you, or befriend a brother or sister on this trip that you don’t even know. Ask God to embolden you and speak through your actions, your song, your instruments, and your words.
I am rejoicing that you are on this journey with me! I am thankful to God for each one of you on this journey:
…for Richie, Beth, Laney, Keaton, Hayden, Malcom, Carl, Tami, Matt, Kerry, Jana, Jonah, Raeann, Lisa, Carmen, Valerie, Lynne, Jana, Halie, Daryl, Jack, Julie, Ken, Nancy, Chrisann, Kim & Ben
Dear Lord, we are humbled that You have called us forth as a team for this purpose. We pray that it will be Your purpose, and that we won’t go astray. Lord, we turn over our hearts to you even now, that You will focus us on You, thus focusing us on Your goals. We thank You, our Savior, our Redeemer, the Lover of our Soul, the Rock, our Refuge, our Deliverer, our Friend. Savior, like a shepherd, lead us now as we embark upon Your journey!
My favorite book of the Bible (if I had to choose one) is the Gospel of John, followed closely by the letter to the Philippians. John captures the sights, sounds and emotions of the Gospel. He saw things with such a unique perspective. John doesn’t talk of the physical details of Christ’s birth, but rather sums up the purpose and significance in the first 14 verses of the Gospel account. He talks about light coming into a world of darkness. He reminds us that this light is God in human form, but that Jesus (the Word) was with God in the beginning. He speaks of the fact that though we were made by God, we did not know Him. And then, in verse 14, John writes the most glorious words—he writes about something that would change this world FOREVER:
14And the Word became flesh, and made His dwelling among us, and we saw His glory, the glory of Jesus the One and Only from the Father, full of grace and truth.
We are preparing to share this incredible TRUE ACCOUNT with a world in desperate need of the hope of this message. We will share it in song on Friday and Saturday nights. We will share it through encouragement as we serve alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ at Prince of Peace Baptist Church. We will share it with prisoners in prison. We will share it with children who come to participate in a craft or drama or instrument. We will present to them the account of this Gospel. So, right now, as we begin, let us begin by praying for unity in heart and spirit.
Read with me Philippians Chapter 1, beginning verse 2:
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5in view of your participation in the Gospel from the first day until now. 6For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Skip to verse 9:
9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
My prayer for right now is that as we embark upon this journey, our love in Christ may abound more and more in REAL knowledge and ALL discernment so that we may be and be a part things that are excellent…to the Glory and Praise of God. What a noble purpose!
As you finish this reading, thinking about what lies ahead, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, and look closely at His prayer from the Garden just before His journey to the cross, as accounted in John 17:
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
Isn’t it amazing that Jesus, Himself, was praying for our unity in Spirit and Truth in that garden. His last thoughts and preparation before He gave Himself up for us was that WE would be unified and made one so that the Father’s glory would be revealed to this earth. Let us pray now that everyone who comes in contact with us throughout the coming days sees Him. Let His light and His grace radiate off of our faces. Let our words and instruments and song give Him glory. May people believe that God sent His only Son into the world because He loved us and loves them, and that He desires to have a relationship with them. What an awesome responsibility!
He is beginning a work in us. He will be faithful to complete it. As we close our devotion for today, ask Him to enlighten your hearts toward unity. Think thoughts of unity. You can’t go wrong with focusing on names of praise for our Savior. After that, think of ways to build up the brother or sister sitting beside you, or befriend a brother or sister on this trip that you don’t even know. Ask God to embolden you and speak through your actions, your song, your instruments, and your words.
I am rejoicing that you are on this journey with me! I am thankful to God for each one of you on this journey:
…for Richie, Beth, Laney, Keaton, Hayden, Malcom, Carl, Tami, Matt, Kerry, Jana, Jonah, Raeann, Lisa, Carmen, Valerie, Lynne, Jana, Halie, Daryl, Jack, Julie, Ken, Nancy, Chrisann, Kim & Ben
Dear Lord, we are humbled that You have called us forth as a team for this purpose. We pray that it will be Your purpose, and that we won’t go astray. Lord, we turn over our hearts to you even now, that You will focus us on You, thus focusing us on Your goals. We thank You, our Savior, our Redeemer, the Lover of our Soul, the Rock, our Refuge, our Deliverer, our Friend. Savior, like a shepherd, lead us now as we embark upon Your journey!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
No Less Days
Barry, Jana, Daryl and I have been in the Worship Leader National Conference this week. We just left a room of 2500 people all joining hands and singing the first verse of "Joy to the World" a capella, in perfect harmony. It was an amazing time of worship.
Last night, as we sat in worship, we heard some wonderful worship leaders, and some amazing new songs. We heard a variety of styles, expressions, etc. But what was overwhelming was God's presence and His sovereignty. It was a time filled with praise--I felt like my heart was exploding with praise. There were many songs that I didn't know, but on those, I was able to just write the texts on my hearts as others sang, or open my journal and just write thoughts of praise.
Last night, the Pastor started us off with an image. Before we ever even sang a note, he merely said the word, "Manna." It was an image that immediately focused me on what God had to teach me and on the blessings of being in His presence and uttering praise and adoration to Him. At one point during last night's worship, we got to a moment when we all sang "Amazing Grace". As we began to sing the last verse, "When we've been there 10,000 years...we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first began." That phrase just burned in my mind.
Can you imagine? A time of worship where time isn't limited. It will be a place where we will utter praises and be in His presence for eternity. We won't be counting down the minutes until lunch. We won't be counting down the days to an event. We won't be counting down the years until our lives are over. We'll be serving in praise among the saints...actually as a member of the saints...for eternity.
I have a dear friend whose mother is very sick right now. She is living on "borrowed time"--as are we all. As I focused on that phrase, I thought of my friend and her Mom--both of whom are strong believers. That image of her Mom praising Jesus around the throne...not counting down days...not worrying who she might be leaving behind...not feeling pain or sickness. Just pure, holy praise. I could just picture her radiating with God's glory. It was an image that brought tears to my eyes. It is an image I long for--a time when I'm not living on borrowed time, but rather home with my King.
As I left, I was reminded once more that I should NEVER take worship for granted. I should NEVER treat it as routine or ordinary. I should take EVERY opportunity personally and corporately to rehearse for Heaven! I should take EVERY opportunity to fill our hearts and our lips with praise.
I love the Psalms, and want to finish praying exerpts from Psalm 25:
"To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in You I trust...Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long...My eyes are ever on the LORD...Guard my life and rescue me...may integrity and uprightness protect me because my hope is in You."
Last night, as we sat in worship, we heard some wonderful worship leaders, and some amazing new songs. We heard a variety of styles, expressions, etc. But what was overwhelming was God's presence and His sovereignty. It was a time filled with praise--I felt like my heart was exploding with praise. There were many songs that I didn't know, but on those, I was able to just write the texts on my hearts as others sang, or open my journal and just write thoughts of praise.
Last night, the Pastor started us off with an image. Before we ever even sang a note, he merely said the word, "Manna." It was an image that immediately focused me on what God had to teach me and on the blessings of being in His presence and uttering praise and adoration to Him. At one point during last night's worship, we got to a moment when we all sang "Amazing Grace". As we began to sing the last verse, "When we've been there 10,000 years...we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first began." That phrase just burned in my mind.
Can you imagine? A time of worship where time isn't limited. It will be a place where we will utter praises and be in His presence for eternity. We won't be counting down the minutes until lunch. We won't be counting down the days to an event. We won't be counting down the years until our lives are over. We'll be serving in praise among the saints...actually as a member of the saints...for eternity.
I have a dear friend whose mother is very sick right now. She is living on "borrowed time"--as are we all. As I focused on that phrase, I thought of my friend and her Mom--both of whom are strong believers. That image of her Mom praising Jesus around the throne...not counting down days...not worrying who she might be leaving behind...not feeling pain or sickness. Just pure, holy praise. I could just picture her radiating with God's glory. It was an image that brought tears to my eyes. It is an image I long for--a time when I'm not living on borrowed time, but rather home with my King.
As I left, I was reminded once more that I should NEVER take worship for granted. I should NEVER treat it as routine or ordinary. I should take EVERY opportunity personally and corporately to rehearse for Heaven! I should take EVERY opportunity to fill our hearts and our lips with praise.
I love the Psalms, and want to finish praying exerpts from Psalm 25:
"To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in You I trust...Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long...My eyes are ever on the LORD...Guard my life and rescue me...may integrity and uprightness protect me because my hope is in You."
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On Top of Pecos Baldy
...what a memory!
