God is whispering sweet somethings in your ear,
For He is not far but oh so very near.
He has wonderful things for you to behold,
That in this life you can be so very bold.
For your life here is not the point of it all,
But the glory of God that stands oh so tall.
So quiet your life and give heed to His voice,
That you may know Him and through Jesus rejoice.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.“
[John 14:1 ESV]
Oh, why do you have a troubled heart?
Why do you worry about tomorrow?
Why do you worry about this life?
Oh troubled heart one,
Why do you get anxious about trivial things?
Why do you obsess about that which you can not change?
Why do you fear this world?
Oh, why are you so troubled?
Why?
Do you not trust Me?
Do you not understand that I have overcome this world?
Have you forgotten how much I love you?
My child,
There is nothing I can not handle.
There is no trouble too big.
There is no challenge too difficult.
There is no obstacle too tall.
There is no opponent too strong.
I can handle it.
So why is your heart troubled?
Do you need a reminder, well, do you?
Look at the cross – look at the tomb of Jesus,
What do you see?
Nothing?
That’s because Jesus has risen.
I have overcome the world.
Through Jesus, I have overcome the world for you.
Now, let’s discuss this troubled heart thing, shall we 🙂
I thought I would share with you a portrait of myself drawn by my 6-year-old daughter. Notice my (out of season) Lenten stole (my daughter’s favorite color). Arms out-stretched (as I can be animated in the pulpit). And of course, “God is good“. Behind me is the cross (a very happy daddy here that my daughter included that). Apparently I am a ghost since I have no legs, but far be it from me to critique a 6-year-old’s artwork. I am not sure what the red is at the bottom. Maybe I am jumping out of the flames because the Holy Spirit is red hot that day. Who knows, but I love it. But the following is my favorite…
This one is titled (in her own words), “God’s radiance”. Yup, I like that. No further commentary needed.
From the heart of a 6-year-old to mine 🙂
I will praise the Lord with all my heart,
Singing songs of joy to thee.
I will thank the Lord with all my soul,
Praising him that I am free.
I will speak of Him with all my breath,
Shouting from a mountain top.
I will proclaim his name with all my might,
Preaching with each single breath.
I will share this sure and certain hope,
Telling all of his great grace.
I will boast of him, oh yes I will,
Bragging ’til I see his face.
The following is the preface to the Great Thanksgiving for Holy Communion that I wrote for this morning. The inspiration is from the Gospel text, John 16:16-24. To God be the glory!
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, oh God, for through the death of Jesus Christ you tore away the veil that separated us from You. Through Jesus’ resurrection You crushed the reign of Satan through the forgiveness of our sins. Now, through the Holy Spirit, we live in joy. Continue to draw us closer to You that we may know this joy more and more as we anxiously await the consummation of Your Kingdom, the coming of Your Son. And so, as we long to dine with You at Your Great Banquet table we join with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven in singing Your unending praise.
This “Psalm” was inspired by Psalms 146-150; Psalms with the bookends “Praise the Lord“.
Is it right to praise the Lord?
Oh let me think…
He is awesome and mighty
Gracious and merciful
Faithful and just
Powerful and gentle
Father
Shepherd
Creator
He has made the heavens and the earth.
He breathed the breath of life into all living creatures.
He perfectly made everything
We sinned
But He vowed reconciliation and restoration through crushing Satan.
And He followed through on His promises.
He sent Jesus
Jesus lived and loved and healed and forgave
Jesus suffered and died and was buried
Jesus rose victorious
Jesus reigns
Sins are forgiven
Death and Satan and tears are no more.
Joy and peace and Life forevermore.
Oh sinner, is it right to praise the Lord?
Yes
YES!
Praise the Lord!
Scripture: 2 Samuel 6, Psalm 150
Awesome and mighty God,
as David danced before You in uninhibited worship and praise;
dancing with all of his might,
shouting Your praises with a loud voice,
may my spirit know the freedom of letting go
to worship You without fear or judgment from others.
David, as king, sought not the approval of man,
but of You and You alone.
Oh, how I seek the approval of man.
Oh, how I seek shelter from judging eyes.
But the psalmist calls all living beings to praise You;
everything that has breath;
not according to our gifts and abilities,
not according to how well or awful we sing,
but to praise YOU, for your mighty deeds,
and your exceeding greatness.
Yes, Your mighty deeds and exceeding greatness.
For it is not about me.
David knew that.
May I know that.
May my heart and soul show that in uninhibited worship;
dancing and singing for You.
Praise the Lord, oh my soul,
Praise the Lord!
Speeding down the freeway at breakneck speed.
Life rushing by in the blink of an eye.
I barely have time to smell the roses.
I barely have time to enjoy the journey.
Twists and turns
Bumps and potholes
Curves and hills
Dangers all around but I can certainly handle this, right?
Then…
A fork approaches.
Indecision is not an option, but…
Do I go left?
Do I go right?
Indecision has captured me.
Indecision has become my prison.
Help me
Help me!
Dangers are all around but why am I driving?!?
I don’t know the road.
Indecision. Help me!
God, take the wheel.
Go left
Go right
Either way, as long as I am with You.
Now…
Speeding down the freeway at breakneck speed.
This time and every time,
God is at the wheel.
This time and every time,
I’m smelling the roses.
This time and every time,
I will enjoy the journey.
Father God, my sins to you I must confess
For my life here and now is a total mess
Created in beauty but still I transgress
Holiness I seek yet I seem to regress
Your holy judgment of death I acquiesce
But Jesus Christ is my Lord, that I profess
And so, in his name, I ask that you may bless
For Jesus is risen, that I will express
The following is the preface for the Great Thanksgiving in the Holy Communion liturgy for today (based on the Gospel text from Jon 10:22-30)…
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, oh God, Maker of all things. Through Jesus Christ You have brought us into Your eternal Kingdom, giving us a security and peace like nothing the world can offer. You hold us firmly in Your loving hands, where no thing or no one can touch us. You keep us free from all harm. Though the body is fragile and wastes away, our soul is kept perfectly in Your care. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven we join in singing Your unending praise…
The Heart of a Pastor 