Prayer

Eyes of Faith

/ The Pastor

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
[1 John 5:13-15]

A big misconception I keep running into about the Christian faith is that we can somehow get what we want from God when we pray.

If we live the right kind of life.
If we are kind to others.
If we volunteer enough.
If we serve in the church.
If we bring hot meals to the home bound.
If we are “good” people (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that one).
If we ask in the right way.
Etc, etc, etc…

And when people don’t get what they want they become disillusioned  about God and the whole point of even trying to be a Christian.  The problem isn’t that God is being a bully but that we are not understanding who God is and what our relationship looks like.  We are not understanding our place in this creation and what God has called us to be.  Despite what Joel Osteen says we can’t get what we want from God if we try really hard or have the right attitude.

It’s not about us or getting what we want when we want it, it’s about giving praise and glory to God.

Scripture repeatedly talks about praying according to God’s will.  The problem is that sometimes our will doesn’t line up with God’s will.  In that case we need to pray for understanding and patience.  We need to have eyes of faith to see what God is up to.  We need to understand that we are to draw others to God and we do that by living according to God’s will.

It might not be God’s will that you get that promotion or new job.
It might not be God’s will that your child get’s into that Ivy League school.
It might not be God’s will that healing comes.

But God’s will…whatever it is…WILL be awesome, because, well…it’s from our sovereign God.

So the next time you pray open your eyes of faith and watch God do His thing.  And the more we do that the more we come in line with his will.  And what a place to be.

edh -|—

Starting your day

/ The Pastor

How do you start your day?  Maybe the coffee maker is set up the night before so you can wake up to the sweet nectar that is coffee.  Maybe you roll out of bed and turn Sports Center on.  Maybe you turn on the radio or the CD player.  Maybe you are an early morning runner (like I am sometimes) or hit the fitness center.  Maybe you start by feeding the kids.

Whatever the case, we have our routines that we like and (sometimes) very much depend on.  For me…my routine varies throughout the week depending on the day (don’t worry…I won’t bore you with the details):
~ Sunday has its own morning routine for obvious reasons.
~ Monday – Wednesday routines share a common thread.
~ Thursday is slightly different since it is sermon prep and scotcheroo day 🙂
~ Friday is my day off (Sabbath Day).
~ Saturday is just different.

But whatever is going on; whatever is happening; where ever you are, there is one common thread I would suggest you adopt or strengthen:
Prayer and scripture

I used to be an ESPN guy in the morning but I have noticed that starting my day with God has made a huge difference.  Instead of sports flooding my thinking I am focused on God as a tackle a new day.  Instead of reflecting on my fantasy football players I am thinking about my Salem and Belmont members.  Instead of looking ahead to the next game I am looking ahead to who needs a pastoral care visit.  My morning routine definitely effects the way I see my day.

“This is the day the Lord (not Sports Center) has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.“  (Psalm 118:24 ~ with “Sports Center” being my addition…obviously).

Let us praise the Lord for this new day!

edh -|—

Ask

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
[James 1:5-8]

How many times have you gone to God asking for wisdom?
“God…grant me wisdom.”
“Help me to understand what to do.”
“Guide me.”

I have uttered those prayers many times.  I have asked God to lead me.  I have asked God to give me wisdom  The problem is that God wants to do this and when God does we often times don’t listen, believe or trust.  I think it is because that we don’t like the answer we get.

“Really God?  That’s what you want me to do?”
“I can’t do that.”
“That is going to be too hard.”

Sound familiar?

Imagine if we actually listened and trusted God when we prayed those prayers.
Imagine all that we could accomplish for the glory of God if we used the wisdom that God has for us.

Believe it or not, God knows what God is doing.  God has been around the block a few times.  God sees the whole picture (and we don’t).

So pray and believe…

…and imagine….and then pray some more…and listen…and trust…and then do.

God will be faithful.

edh -|—

New Covenant

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

“The time is coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.  [Jeremiah 31:31-32]

Loving God…

despite the fact that we have broken the old covenant over and over again you have made a new covenant with us.

Despite the fact that you KNOW we will continue breaking the old covenant over and over again, you have made a new covenant with us.

Despite the fact that you KNOW we will stray and go after other gods, over and over again, you have made a new covenant with us.

Despite the fact that we are unworthy, you have made a new covenant with us.

What wretched people we are…

…but…

what an AWESOME God YOU are!

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” [Jeremiah 31:34]

I just can’t get over it.
I just can’t understand why.
I just can’t fathom your reasoning.

Through faith in Jesus you forgive us…and…remember those sins no more.  Wow…that is AWESOME!

Loving God…

stir in our hearts faith to receive this promise and live for you.
Stir in our hearts faith to run to you.
Stir in our hearts faith to remain with you.

Thank you, God, for this New Covenant and for Jesus Christ who died and rose that we may live.  Thank you, God, for showing patience and love and grace and mercy.  

Thank you God…may you be praised always and forever. 

Amen 🙂

edh -|—

Sunday morning false gods

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Holy and mighty God…

~You are worthy of all our praise.
~You are worthy of all our worship.
~You are worthy of all our life…
…for you saved us wretched sinners through the life, death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Through faith in Jesus we receive forgiveness and everlasting life.

Oh God…you are so worthy!

Yet when Sunday morning arrives where are your people?  I know exactly where they are.  They are in worship…but not necessarily in a church building.  Many people are out worshiping other gods.  They are out obeying the gods of this world that say to them “Come to me and I will give you all that you need“.  Too many people think that what they truly need is provided by this world, but in the end they are left with empty promises and false hope.

Oh God…please stir their hearts to know you better.  Please stir in the hearts of your children knowledge of you and a faith to come and worship YOU.  Please stir up a revival in this community and in your Church.

~Please don’t let Satan draw your children away.
~Please don’t let Satan draw your people to worship false gods.
~Please don’t let Satan get the last word.

Oh God…I think of all you have done for me and it pains me that people choose to follow that which will not save them.  It pains me that more people don’t have a relationship with you.  It pains me that people will choose to worship a false god this morning and think they are still following you.

Loving God…I pray that my worship this morning is pleasing in your sight.  I pray that my whole heart is devoted to you.  I pray that the words I say may go forth through the Holy Spirit to create, build and maintain faith in your children.  Loving God…I also pray for those not in worship.  I pray that they may see their false gods for what they truly are and come running back to you.

Oh God…you are SO worthy and I thank and praise you.  Thank you for hearing my prayer.

In Jesus Christ I pray…Amen.

edh-|—

The “little things”

/ The Pastor

Loving and gracious God…I give you thanks for those “little things” that we too often take for granted.  Those things that are all so common…right there in front of our face…those important “little things” that we forget to thank you for:

Water
Air
Coffee
The sound of the furnace running on a chilly day
A warm bed to sleep in
Clothes
Quiet moments
My Christmas cactus
Chocolate milk
A comfortable couch

You have blessed me, God.  You have provided for me in countless ways.  You have been gracious to this man who too often sets his mind on the “things of man” rather than on the “things of God”.

I am not worthy.

And so I add to the list that one “thing” that is not so little; the one thing that saves me from condemnation; the one thing that is the ultimate expression of your love…

Your Son, Jesus Christ.  

Thank you!  Thank you! Thank you!  You are most worthy to be praised.  Help me to not forget the “little things” and to always remember that “big thing”; the cross.

Thank you for listening to me ramble.  I look forward to what you have in store for me today. Amen!


edh -|—

Holy community moments

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

Last night (Sun, Feb 26) brothers and sisters in Christ from Jackson gathered together to pray.

Back in January we had a special prayer service for a family mourning the tragic death of their 20-year-old son.  A lot of people showed up and it was a powerful moment.  Following the prayer time a few of us were talking and wondered:

“Why do we need to wait for a tragedy in order to gather to pray?”

So yadda, yadda, yadda…

…we decided to hold a community prayer service every month on the 4th Sunday.  The location is to rotate among the churches.  Last night we were at Salem.

The agenda is nothing more than to just pray.  I set up circles of chairs in the fellowship hall.  I lite candles in the sanctuary in case people wanted a quiet place for private prayer.  I began our time with scripture and off we went.

That was 7pm.

By the time I looked at the clock again it was nearly 8pm.  Wow…how time flies when brothers and sisters in Christ unite in prayer.  And it didn’t even seem that long.  Our little circle prayed about a variety of things and people.  No rhyme or reason, but then again that is how it should be…pray however the Spirit moves you.

It was great!

But what really meant a lot to me was to see and hear people’s hearts.  We poured ourselves out.  We weren’t afraid to speak.  We weren’t concerned about “proper format”.  What I heard was people talking to God as one would speak to a close friend.

Very intimate time.
Very powerful.
Very moving.

Afterwards we just visited.  We drank coffee.  People caught up with one another.  More holy moments 🙂

The only things that bothers me about this is this:
Why didn’t we start doing this a long time ago?

Let us pray…

edh -|—

Lenten discipline – Prayer journal

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

It has been placed on my heart recently to do some reflecting on various spiritual disciplines throughout Lent.  One of the reasons is my recent rebelliousness of not giving something up for Lent.  I have found that when I give something up for Lent that it doesn’t help me focus on God more but rather it distracts me.  Instead of focusing on God I find myself focusing on how much I miss the thing I have given up.

So I am changing the rules.  Instead of giving something up for Lent I am taking something on.

And when I say that I mean taking on a spiritual discipline such as:
Bible reading
Prayer
Journaling
Mediation
Worship
Fasting
Study
Serving
Etc…

Something I have started doing recently is keeping a prayer/study journal.
On the left is my Bible.  The book on right is a leather bound journal for taking notes during scripture reading and meditation.  The white paper in the middle is my prayer list that I update often.  All of this is contained in a canvas Bible cover with storage compartments for writing utensils and other items.  This is super easy to carry around with me and use as needed.  If a prayer request comes my way I make sure I immediately write down the name, date and circumstances…and also make sure I follow up.  I do this through personal visits, Facebook messages, email or phone calls.

I have found that this discipline has drawn me closer to God and closer to others as I work through this prayer list.  Something else I am starting is praying through the church membership list; a couple names/families at a time.

But this is not just a Lenten discipline…this is something I plan to maintain after Lent is done.   You see…the old Lenten rules said that when Easter arrived you could STOP giving up what you gave up and begin indulging in what you had deprived yourself of for 40 days (not counting Sundays).  The NEW rules encourage you to continue what you began.

Don’t give it up after Lent…keep it up.  Let it become a daily ritual for fostering and nurturing your relationship with God.

So there you go…the NEW rules:
Don’t give up but take on and continue.  Pretty straight forward.

So…who’s in?

And…

What are you going to take on?

edh -|—

Show us

/ The Pastor

Scripture reference (Transfiguration Sunday) ~ Mark 9:2-9

Loving God, on that mountain top you showed Peter, James and John a glimpse of your glory.  They saw a tiny piece of the puzzle; a preview of THE coming attraction.  And…as they were drawn to stay in that moment so are we.

But…

…there is a valley.  A valley of darkness, demons, disease, death, fear, hopelessness.  It’s a scary valley…but…we must remain in that valley…at least for the time being.  People need to hear a word of:

HOPE

PROMISE

LIFE

All through Jesus Christ.

Loving God…
Show us your glory.
Show us your love.
Reveal to us hope.  

EACH AND EVERY DAY. EACH AND EVERY MOMENT.

Show us and reveal to us who you really are so we may be your instruments here in this valley to bring this word of hope. And then, through faith in Christ, we look forward to returning to the mountain top…

FOR EVER AND EVER!

Praise to you, O God, for you are great.

Amen!

edh -|—

 

 

Showing up

/ The Pastor

It is week 2 of men’s morning prayer and I thought I was going to go solo once again.

I got the OJ and coffee ready.
I sat down and did my Bible reading.
Reflected.
Prayed through the worship prayers for healing list.
Reflected some more.

Then…

…around 7:30am someone showed up.  He was driving by and remembered it was Tuesday so he went home quickly, dropped off the groceries he was sent to get and returned to the church.  We sat a chatted about what was going on in our lives.  He asked me if there was anything Connie and I needed help with.  I got an update on how his family was doing.

It was great visiting with him and hearing his question to me.

We then prayed together.  I had our worship prayer list still handy and so I worked through the list of the most current needs.  Being a small church and community he was well aware of what was going on with these people.  He also brought up someone I was not aware of…so we prayed for him as well.

I enjoy private times of prayer, but there is just something special about praying with others; whether it is 100 others or just one.

So we prayed…and then went our separate ways to begin our days.

Next Tuesday I will be back ~ praying ~ by myself or with others.  We’ll see 🙂

Thank you God for your presence and blessing upon the morning.  Whether I am flying solo or whether 100 people show up doesn’t matter; you are there: listening
loving
embracing
Bless the rest of this day that you may be gloried in our lives.  Amen.

edh -|—