TGIF

Opening Your Cause

¹²But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause. 

Fellowship

All Men In Authority

This evening, President Barack Obama will make his 2014 State of the Union Address. It will be viewed on at least thirteen television channels I know about, so you only need to decide what commentary you want to hear along with it. It will be followed by four Republican responses, two official speakers, one unofficial (Rand Paul), and finally one Hispanic. But I'm sure every one of us will have our own opinions about what we hear. My landlord, who is also a good friend, already said he probably would not watch for some of the same opinions I hold about the Obama Administration. So I am equally disinclined, but I will still watch for one simple reason, as the apostle Paul exhorts us…


“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.” – 1Timothy 2:1-3

Regardless of how disillusioned we are about anything that might come out of the mouth of what seems to be a pathological liar, we still need to be able to effectively pray with understanding about those issues he advances and problems he usually creates. So put on your sackcloth and ashes, and do it for the Lord, our Saviour, God, and Guide.

Practical Theology

Quite a few years ago, I came across a book called "Shepherding God's Flock", which has always remained a great resource for me concerning all the issues of ministry. Most important of all, it had one totally unique chapter appropriately titled "Practical Theology", that answered much neglected concerns. The most immediate thing to remember is the author said that all practical theology should also be equally subject to the Word of God. We waste our time and efforts when we try to solve practical matters as if they were just secular things. The scripture says, "God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness", so that includes the practical things, and results in a Practical Theology of how those things ought to work and are interrelated in our lives.

Sunday Meditation

Later

Early Will I Seek Thee

The scripture tells us, through the psalms of King David, that our heart's cry ought to be, "Early will I seek thee, thou art my God!" This doesn't mean that all godly people are morning people, since comtemporary lives can begin at anytime all around the clock, so the chronology of "early" for you might be different from mine. It is what it is, and begins when it begins, but we all need to start that day renewing our hearts and minds with God. This declaration of "early will I see thee" refers more specifically to those times of troubles and trials in our lives. Who are you going to turn to first? How many machinations and changes do you go through looking for an answer from other sources and resources; including your own best ideas from past experience; before you finally turn to God to seek and consider his present answer and ultimate solution? That is a true way to measure your spirituality. "Abba, Daddy...help me!"

"If you had asked Me, I could have told you not to go there in the first place, so now how can I help you? And, how are those other choices working for you so far? "

Save For Later

God Needs Snow Angels Too

Prayer Works, But...

Prayer works, but... sometimes it takes longer to get the answers than we might like. "If any of you are afflicted let him pray." Sometimes we are expecting the prayer of others to make the difference for us, but prayer is in the details; and who knows those details better than you. "The curse doesn't come without a cause." Only sometimes we go into denial and suppress those things which we actually knew at the outset in order to get away from the pain. In Job, we are told, "If you embrace the pain you will discover what it is trying to tell you." A positive profession of faith about what God wants to do or you, only works if you really know what is wrong and acknowledge your need, so you can specifically speak the correct aspect of His multi-faceted Word to that precise issue. Remember, as King David said, the Lord "teaches my hands to war, and even my fingers to fight". Ask and He will tell you how to get down into the details for a more speedy answer! Amen.

Working

Patriots @ Broncos

"Standing in the need of prayer... Patriots?"

Posited

Word Up, Beloved!

When are the words more powerful than the thoughts behind them? They are more powerful when we get our words from God. King David said, "Let my words, O Lord, come from your presence?" God's answer... "The word of faith is nigh you, even in your mouth!"

Argh!

Still trying to catch up with my blogging due to sickness. Sorry. Gotta run!

Doubtless

"Doubtless I shall come to visions..."

Timely

"There is a time and a season to every purpose under heaven." Are you paying serious attention to those times and seasons in your own life? Are you patiently waiting to enter those times and seasons, or are you running ahead of God and wasting your energy and resources before it's appropriate. Enjoy your season of rest, and prepare for when it's time to run, and learn to know the difference.

What's Next?

Sunday

Waiting To Hear

Saving Grace Space

Pray Without Ceasing

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

The work of prayer is never really done. Another scripture tells us to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and supplication make your requests known unto God”. Until you see what you are specifically looking for begin to materialize, like Elijah who sent his servant seven times to look out over the sea, until he saw a cloud no bigger than a fist, you need to persist in prayer. We become anxious for a reason. It let’s us know that we need to be concerned about the details involved in the goal of our prayers. Pray about the people, places, and issues involved; both pro and con.

Prototypical

Scatters Hoarfrost... Snow

Effectual Fervent Prayer

Rejoicng In The Way

14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psalm 119: 14-16

We are naturally looking for our own personal experience of the grace of God in our lives as we seek to walk in the way. Sometimes we are less than excited when it seems to be business as usual. Only the apostle Paul said that “all things are yours” and “all these things were written for your admonition and instruction”. So the Way is actually the way of his testimonies, where the Lord has already approved and confirmed His promises in others, as we see in the list of the faithful forerunners recounted in Hebrews. We need to meditate on all these things; what they believed, obeyed, and reaped as reward; so we can know what to expect and hope for in our own walk, and ultimately use to stay focused and undistracted by rejoicing in this Living Truth which has been given to us. “Rejoice in the Lord always!”

Sinners In The Way

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD. Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. the meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 25:7-10

God will not only guide and teach the righteous in the way, but also sinners. It’s all about his goodness and mercy. No matter where you find yourself in life, even just struggling to overcome what are called easily besetting sins, God will not abandon you. Not everyone struggles with the same sins. Some sins are more publicly obvious, and easier to fall back into than others. Substance abusers, for example, are often also struggling with natural addictions, rather than just our all too human sin nature. We only need to put on a little humility and become meek in acknowledging our errors, and our need for God’s grace to change.

The Way You Shall Go

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go: I will guide you with my eye. Do not be as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest those things come near unto you. Psalm 32:8-9

It’s not enough to simply be told the directions to your destination. We also need to know how to conduct ourselves on the journey. Since the Lord will “teach us in the way” then we need to be sure to continue to walk in the way, and not wander here and there, all willy-nilly like the horse or the mule. The horse always wants to be given his head to run wild and free, exhilarating in the beauty of his own strength, and fears nothing in the day of battle. While the wild ass snuffs up the wind, going here and there to check things out. The grass always seems greener as long as he can smell something different before he can see it. If you are like them, God has to lead you with a bit and bridle in your mouth to overcome your natural self-interest, through chastening. He prefers for you to hear his voice and use your mouth to declare you understand the teaching and instruction, which is the first step to always making the next step, and keeping these other things from coming near you. Remember, “the word of faith is nigh you, even in your mouth”!

Your Guide Into All Truth

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. John 16: 12-15


Jesus said there were many things that He wanted to say to the disciples, to say to us, but we could not bear them. Perhaps, this is the year when you can finally bear to receive those things. How is your relationship with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth? Can you hear his voice for yourself, or do you need some help? Open your eyes and you just might see Him showing you things in the easiest possible way for you to receive them. All things that the Father has, also belong to Jesus, who also wants to share them with us; and specifically what you need, when you need it, as you are able to bear it.

Happy New Year 2014

Greetings Beloved,


It’s now 2014, another New Year, and what are we going to do to “redeem the time”. No matter what any of our past limitations, hindrances, and even failures have been, and where they seem to have left us, let us remember these words of the apostle Paul. “Forgetting those things that are behind, I stretch myself beyond myself, to apprehend that for which I have been apprehended by God, and strive for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Sounds like a plan to me!