Father God,
For each beat of my heart,
For each breath I do take,
For each blink of my eyes,
I give You thanks.
For this world You did make,
For the wonder You are
For this life You sustain,
I give You praise,
For the love You have showed,
For my Lord Christ Jesus
For my sins forgiven,
I worship You.
For my hope that’s secured,
For the peace I now have,
For the joy in my heart,
I love You.
Mark 4:38 ESV
But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
I like this story.
A storm is raging about and Jesus is sleeping on a cushion in the back of the boat. The storm is doing everything it can to toss that boat to and fro and thus drive its occupants to fear, but not Jesus. The disciples, scared silly, accuse Jesus of not caring, but in fact, he cares very much. He just knows something they do not.
The storm has no power over him or those who belong to him.
I can think of many times when I accused Jesus right along with the disciples even though my boat never sank. It has come close a few times, but here I am, safe and sound with the Lord. As Paul says in Romans 14:8, “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” And so with that truth, I can be at peace no matter the storm. And so…
Rage on, o storm, rage on. I belong to Jesus.
Colossians 3:1-4 ESV
[1] If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
What you seek, see, hear, and talk about affects your whole being.
I see a lot of political posts on social media and I find myself getting drawn in and thus worked up over the inflated or false images and rhetoric I see and read, and I do not like what it does to my being. I do not like it because none of it brings me the peace, only anxiety and discord with others.
But I want more.
Therefore, I need to redirect my seeking and not allow the world to drawn me into despair and disunity. I need and want to seek that which is from above, Jesus, and not the things that are on the earth. For that which is from the world, is sin-filled and will never last, and therefore it will never give lasting peace. Politics, that which is of the earth, will never bring unity or peace, only Jesus will. And so, just give me Jesus.
Just give me Jesus.
The cool of the morning surrounds and envelops me under the bright, blue canopy, as the sun’s rays peak over the horizon and caress my face. Its warmth mingles with the coolness on my arms in an intricate dance, and I long to soak in everything sensation. And during this dance, the hummingbirds chatter, whether to one another or to me, it does not matter. I listen intentively anyway to their beautiful song.
All is relaxing.
All is peaceful,
and I thank God.
But there are other noises around me, sounds of man and machine, but there is
No rhythm,
No music,
No beauty.
Just noise that grates one’s heart and shreds it like cheese. And there are times when that is all I hear and feel, but not now. This morning, it is just background noise from which I quickly and resolutely turn away. This morning, I choose to listen to the beautiful voice of Power and Peace. No shredded heart here, just one that is full and spilling over. So, I simply and peacefully sit here and thank God, as I silently and prayerfully,
Listen
Feel
Enjoy
This is the moment, but it’s not something confined to a place or a time. It’s something contained in the One, the One whose voice is power and life, peace and love. It’s the Voice, not the noise.
And I thank God.
Freedom, grace, mercy, peace.
They are not free.
They are costly.
Many have given their lives.
Many have sacrificed much.
Oh so much.
But too many forget –
taking for granted,
simply enjoying a “long weekend”,
a peaceful life.
But what is peace?
Are you really at peace?
Many have died that we my ask this question.
One has died that true peace may be had.
Let us not forget the many,
and do not forget the One.
Freedom, grace, mercy, peace.
Given through the sacrifice of many – For now.
Given through the grace of One – Forever.
Remember now
Know forever.
I gaze at the glass-like beauty as it,
Reflects it’s surroundings
Hosts the song of birds
Teams with life unseen
Yet,
It is just a glimpse.
There is so much More that I haven’t experienced – More to be known.
I can’t take it all in with a single gaze.
But I know there’s More,
and I want it.
I want to gaze at Your full beauty.
I want more than what I know now.
This world reveals Your handiwork now,
and I praise You.
But it is not enough.
I know there is More
and I want More,
More of You.
I start my day in a particular way:
I grab my coffee.
I begin to pray.
I read my Bible,
and seek Your way.
To begin my day in another way,
Is sure to bring me much dismay.
I seek Your Spirit,
To quiet mine,
To focus my heart
on love divine.
No other way can give me peace.
No, not even the news
of a “Well written” piece.
I need your Word to jump start me,
For in only You can I find true glee.
And so,
I will start my day in this particular way,
And seek Your face,
All
The live long day.
The following poem was birthed this past week through a devotion I recorded on YouTube. It was part of a larger series called, The Wednesday Word that I do every Wednesday at 6:45 AM (PST). I was talking about the word “meditate” — more specifically, meditating on God’s Word. I led people through a meditation exercise on Psalm 23:1 and encouraged them to spend some time in that verse. As I followed my own advice that day, the Spirit started to bring this poem to life. It now breathes and thus I present it to you now. To God be the glory!
The Lord is my Shepherd,
I shall not want.
So why shall I worry?
For I am in His flock.
He leads me in green places,
And by waters still.
So why shall I worry?
He is always my fill.
He doth restore my soul,
in righteousness.
So why shall I worry?
My life is not a mess.
Dark valleys I walk in,
evil around.
But I will not worry.
In Him I’m safe and sound.
My table is prepared,
with enemies near,
But I will not worry.
My anointing is clear.
His goodness and mercy,
will follow me,
all the days of my life,
and with Him I will be.
P – God of POWER and might,
break through hardened hearts,
and chase away all the hate.
E – EVERLASTING Father,
open wide Your gentle arms,
and heal all our hurts.
A – ALL knowing and holy God,
teach us to love one another,
so the heart is what we will cherish.
C – CREATOR God,
restore broken relationships,
and rebuild communities now torn apart.
E – Giver of ETERNAL life,
may the love of Jesus shine brightly in us,
and may hope calm our restless hearts.
AMEN
You are my stronghold,
And You are my life.
You are my fortress,
And You are my light.
Now I may have strife,
And I may have pain.
But faith in my Lord,
I will have much gain.
In You there’s no fear,
For You are my peace.
In You there’s no death.
My life will not cease.
So to You I will run.
In You I will stay.
For You I will live,
To You I will pray.
The Heart of a Pastor 