A REFUGE acrostic from a message I preached a while back.
R elease control of your life to Him thru prayer
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. PS 62:8
E nter His presence through worship
Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him! PS 64:10
F ear the Lord for Who He Is
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. PS 2:12
U nderstanding from the scripture
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. PS 18:30
G ive Testimony and be real
But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. PS 73:28
E njoy the blessings of life
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. PS 5:11
Serenity Now
Ever watch Seinfeld? This video is a few excerpts from the episode where George's father, Frank Costanza, uses a relaxation technique where he is instructed to say "Serenity Now" whenever he experiences a stressful situation. Of course, being a New Yorker of the nth degree, Frank totally screws it up by continually screaming the phrase instead of saying it in a soothing/relaxing manner - quite funny. Years ago I learned the Serenity Prayer. It goes like this:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Ever pray this prayer? It is a teaching in and of itself. There are seven words in it that are significant in and of themselves:
God: The first word in this prayer is foundational to all of the other words. The Westminster Catechism defines God as a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. In Colossians Jesus is called the image of the invisible God ... in Jesus, God is personal.
Serenity: Synonyms are calmness, tranquility, peacefulness, quietness and unclouded-ness. Colossians also tells us to "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Serenity is something that we choose though prayer ... it is something that God will grant when we ask Him. Part of serenity is being at peace with God and with others. Thankfulness is key to a serene attitude.
Accept: The night before he would die a horrible death on a cross Jesus Christ knelt to pray in the garden of Gethsemane. Seeing that the cup of death was near, Jesus prayed "Father, if you are willing take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done". After that prayer of acceptance in the garden ... accepting the fate of three nails and a cross ... we find that Jesus moved with much strength through a time of great suffering and trial. Our lesson ... trust is only trust when it involves acceptance of things that we don't understand and cannot change.
Change: For a believer this is one of the most beautiful words in our language. It encompasses repentance, maturity and righteousness. Yet somehow I find myself wanting everything to change but me. You know, we need to change ... we need to be like Jesus and that requires change of the highest degree.
Courage: The dictionary says that this is the ability to meet danger or opposition with fearlessness, calmness and firmness. The apostle Paul put it this way in Philippians "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." Sometimes courage requires us to say NO to fleshly desires ... sometimes it requires us to say YES to the wooing and urging of the Holy Spirit.
Wisdom: Discernment, judgment or simply uncommon sense ... any way you say it true wisdom can only come from God. Like serenity, wisdom often comes through patience and experience. It often comes from other people who have “been there” before. The book of James says that "the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."
Know: There are people today that say you cannot 'know' spiritual things. The scripture says in 1 Corinthians that "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned". The heart of knowing is prayer and our relationship with God the Holy Spirit. Faith is the key to knowing ... knowing God leads us in paths of serenity and courage.
For Hurting Moms
This is a repost from May 8, 2005 ... as I read that post again I became convinced that this is an important message for hurting moms ... be encouraged ... your labor was not and is not in vain.
This morning in church, as I was lost in worship, I saw a picture in my mind. I first saw a picture of a very beautiful yellow flower ... as I looked the vision seemed to pan out and I saw a golden haired young woman kneeling before the planting ... crying as she toiled ... working the soil with her hands. I then began receiving a few words which I wrote down ... here they are:
These words are so appropriate for today, Mother's Day. If you are a mom then please take these words of encouragement to heart ... your children appreciate the tears, the words and the deeds that you have cultivated into their lives.
This morning in church, as I was lost in worship, I saw a picture in my mind. I first saw a picture of a very beautiful yellow flower ... as I looked the vision seemed to pan out and I saw a golden haired young woman kneeling before the planting ... crying as she toiled ... working the soil with her hands. I then began receiving a few words which I wrote down ... here they are:
The Cultivator
I saw her bowed down before a glorious planting of flowers,
Hands in the soil, tenderly working the roots with water and her hands,
Her flowers are beautiful, her plantings prosperous,
All she plants does very well and nothing withers in the sun,
The Lord has given her favor because she is faithful and a lover of God,
Stooped down, she has taken the position of serving and intercession,
With humility of heart and conviction of soul she is a mighty force,
She is The Cultivator. She is Mom!
I saw her bowed down before a glorious planting of flowers,
Hands in the soil, tenderly working the roots with water and her hands,
Her flowers are beautiful, her plantings prosperous,
All she plants does very well and nothing withers in the sun,
The Lord has given her favor because she is faithful and a lover of God,
Stooped down, she has taken the position of serving and intercession,
With humility of heart and conviction of soul she is a mighty force,
She is The Cultivator. She is Mom!
These words are so appropriate for today, Mother's Day. If you are a mom then please take these words of encouragement to heart ... your children appreciate the tears, the words and the deeds that you have cultivated into their lives.
Apologies Meaningless Without Repentance
Chuck Colson
April 28, 2007
In the Christian understanding, apology and repentance are two different concepts.
Apology merely means expressing regret or explanation, which could be for something as minor as a misunderstanding; repentance, on the other hand, is a response to an acknowledged sin and means a total change of attitude. The word in Greek is metanoia, that is, a change of mind, a new way of seeing things. This is not only acknowledging a wrong, but promising to change in the future.
For the Christian, forgiveness is an unconditional requirement -- turn the other cheek, forgive your enemies, etc. But for there to be genuine reconciliation, repentance is necessary. If the person who has wronged you or wronged others is sincerely willing to transform his behavior in the future, then there can be a genuine and lasting healing.
What we see on the part of most politicians today is apology. What would provide real benefit to our national well-being is if people could genuinely repent, that is, express sorrow for sin and pledge not to behave that way in the future. That would have a life- and culture-changing effect.
In 31 years working in the prisons, I have seen the most amazing reconciliation between, for example, a mother whose daughter was murdered and that daughter’s murderer. This is the path to true peace among peoples, something which I have seen the Gospel achieve hundreds upon hundreds of times.
This article was taken from Mr Colson's column in the Washington Post.
April 28, 2007
In the Christian understanding, apology and repentance are two different concepts.
Apology merely means expressing regret or explanation, which could be for something as minor as a misunderstanding; repentance, on the other hand, is a response to an acknowledged sin and means a total change of attitude. The word in Greek is metanoia, that is, a change of mind, a new way of seeing things. This is not only acknowledging a wrong, but promising to change in the future.
For the Christian, forgiveness is an unconditional requirement -- turn the other cheek, forgive your enemies, etc. But for there to be genuine reconciliation, repentance is necessary. If the person who has wronged you or wronged others is sincerely willing to transform his behavior in the future, then there can be a genuine and lasting healing.
What we see on the part of most politicians today is apology. What would provide real benefit to our national well-being is if people could genuinely repent, that is, express sorrow for sin and pledge not to behave that way in the future. That would have a life- and culture-changing effect.
In 31 years working in the prisons, I have seen the most amazing reconciliation between, for example, a mother whose daughter was murdered and that daughter’s murderer. This is the path to true peace among peoples, something which I have seen the Gospel achieve hundreds upon hundreds of times.
This article was taken from Mr Colson's column in the Washington Post.
It Is Well with My Soul
I heard this song sung this morning on a TV church service. It reminded me of how God can bring peace to our hearts in the middle of really dark times. I remember singing this song when I was young ... at least younger ... and realize that time and age teaches us how true the message of this song really is.
It Is Well with My Soul
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
(Refrain)
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(Refrain)
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.
(Refrain)
Knowing Jesus gets us through the dark times ... He is what causes our soul to be alive in the middle of death ... so that we can say that it is well with my soul.
It Is Well with My Soul
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
(Refrain)
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(Refrain)
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.
(Refrain)
Knowing Jesus gets us through the dark times ... He is what causes our soul to be alive in the middle of death ... so that we can say that it is well with my soul.
From Wikipedia via salguod's comments:
"It Is Well with My Soul" is a very influential hymn penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss. This hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a wealthy businessman). In 1873, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, the Holy Spirit inspired these words. They speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain and grief befall them on earth."
'Each One' or 'Only One'
I recently had a discussion with someone about church culture and found myself asking this question:
I think that in 1 Corinthians Paul addresses a lot of dysfunction in the church. Chapter 12 addresses the importance of spiritual gifts when they are used in the context of the entire body. It speaks to the idea of no gift being more important than an other ... and consequently no gift preeminent over another. Is it possible that the modern day pulpit ministry has become the antithesis of body ministry and is encouraging church to become a spectator activity?
Hope this doesn't offend anyone. I would be interested in having a discussion around some alternate views. You can read more of my views on this here and here.
Is the focus of our church experience on the pastor's pulpit ministry healthy or unhealthy?I said that I thought it is unhealthy. Think about 1 Corinthians 14:26:
What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.An interesting scripture isn't it. I wonder, why does it say 'each one' if (generally speaking) teaching is limited to 'only one' in most churches? Do you find it interesting how so much of the evangelical church experience is built around the pulpit ministry of one person? Could it be that the growth of home church ministry is directly related to a fulfillment of the 1 Corinthians 14:26 scripture?
I think that in 1 Corinthians Paul addresses a lot of dysfunction in the church. Chapter 12 addresses the importance of spiritual gifts when they are used in the context of the entire body. It speaks to the idea of no gift being more important than an other ... and consequently no gift preeminent over another. Is it possible that the modern day pulpit ministry has become the antithesis of body ministry and is encouraging church to become a spectator activity?
Hope this doesn't offend anyone. I would be interested in having a discussion around some alternate views. You can read more of my views on this here and here.
Light Shining in Darkness
In the aftermath of the horrible mass shootings at Virginia Tech Patchouli quotes FOX News correspondent Lauren Green:
In my own painful journey I have had to deal with dark times of deaths, addictions and illnesses. I still often struggle with disappointment over health issues. Yet, in spite of my failings of faith, I still find that Light will arise in me ... it will lift me out of my despair and help me to see my life from a different perspective ... the Light will cause me to change and be more like Jesus ... yet this change often comes at a great price.
My prayer this Saturday for the families of Virgina Tech students is that Light will arise out of the ash heap of this tremendously sorrowful event. I join with many of you asking for His comfort and compassion to come through the community of faith in that college town. I pray that many would experience Emmanuel, God with us.
So where is God? He is in the prayer vigils. He is in the rivers of tears flowing from everyone affected. He is in the community coming together to offer support to the families. He is at work in the love and strength people are offering each other. God is with us.The Apostle Paul somewhat echo's these comments when he talks about his own trials:
For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:6-11)Crisis, trials, hardship and suffering often brings out the best or worst in us. It amazes me how, as Paul puts it, light will shine out of the darkest places. Don't you just love the way Paul contrasts the attitudes of darkness and light. When darkness perplexes the Light in us does not despair. When darkness brings persecution the Light in us knows that He is with us. When darkness strikes us down the Light in us causes us to rise.
In my own painful journey I have had to deal with dark times of deaths, addictions and illnesses. I still often struggle with disappointment over health issues. Yet, in spite of my failings of faith, I still find that Light will arise in me ... it will lift me out of my despair and help me to see my life from a different perspective ... the Light will cause me to change and be more like Jesus ... yet this change often comes at a great price.
My prayer this Saturday for the families of Virgina Tech students is that Light will arise out of the ash heap of this tremendously sorrowful event. I join with many of you asking for His comfort and compassion to come through the community of faith in that college town. I pray that many would experience Emmanuel, God with us.
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