James 1:5-8
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that a double minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord."
"...and it will be given to him." So, when I face circumstances that I find uncomfortable, or even heartbreaking ... I should ask the Lord to pull me out of those circumstances, right? "Fix it, Dad!"
Hmmm. Think again.
Just a few lines away from our opening scripture is this line: "Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him."
The key, then, is the initial recommendation to seek the wisdom of God ... to discern HIS will and to move boldly forward into whatever circumstances this life presents. IN CHRIST we can defeat anything this world or the enemy send our way. We are called to fully embrace the gift of faith, even when our senses tell us to take things into our own hands. Death has lost its sting, the Father offers the crown of life (eternal!) to those who claim the redemption of the cross and kneel before him, acknowledging him as the one and only God.
Rather than praying against any trials in my life, I pray, Father, that I would be inspired to ask for the wisdom and strength necessary for the challenge ... to persevere until such time you remove me from trying circumstances. The Lord gives, the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
It is well with my soul
Thank you, Lord, for all of the hymn writers and musicians you have gifted and inspired over the years!
It Is Well with My Soul
Text: Horatio G. Spafford
Music: Philip P. Bliss
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.
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!
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.
It Is Well with My Soul
Text: Horatio G. Spafford
Music: Philip P. Bliss
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.
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!
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.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Two praying as one
Psalm 127:1
"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."
As we pray for our son, who is single, my wife and I often acknowledge that love and marriage are gifts from God ... a wonderful part of His perfect plan in a fallen world. It is not a given, we concede, that God's blessings for His children include marriage and a family. So it is that part of our prayer for our son's future goes something like this: "Lord, if your will for our son includes a wife and family, we pray that you will prepare the way even now for him and for the woman he will take as his wife. We pray that each shall recognize and covet today the importance of living a life that is pleasing to you, including denial of a cultural message that says, 'If it feels good, do it'."
This being said, I want today to encourage married couples to commit to regular time in prayer TOGETHER, as one. It is amazing how God has blessed our marriage in the wake of a decision several years ago to pray together. I am embarassed to admit that I failed for many years of our marriage to make husband/wife prayer time a priority in our home.
It is hard for many to establish this element of married life, even with the best of intentions. In addition to the significant obstacle of making schedules match, there are challenges including the ancient stumbling blocks: fear and pride ("What does she think about the way I pray?" or even "Is it safe to share 'out loud' what is on my heart right now?").
As the Scripture emphasizes, marriage is important to the Lord. Why else would He have encouraged it? When "the two become one," doesn't it follow that the Father desires to spend time not only with son and daughter individually, but also with husband and wife "as one?"
For encouragement in your marriage, I first urge the obvious: spend time in the Word apart AND together. I also suggest occasional "visits" to Christian ministries including Family Talk, Men's Fraternity and Focus on the Family. God calls us to be in prayer always. Commit today to making prayer with your spouse a part of each day on this journey toward eternal life with the Father.
"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."
As we pray for our son, who is single, my wife and I often acknowledge that love and marriage are gifts from God ... a wonderful part of His perfect plan in a fallen world. It is not a given, we concede, that God's blessings for His children include marriage and a family. So it is that part of our prayer for our son's future goes something like this: "Lord, if your will for our son includes a wife and family, we pray that you will prepare the way even now for him and for the woman he will take as his wife. We pray that each shall recognize and covet today the importance of living a life that is pleasing to you, including denial of a cultural message that says, 'If it feels good, do it'."
This being said, I want today to encourage married couples to commit to regular time in prayer TOGETHER, as one. It is amazing how God has blessed our marriage in the wake of a decision several years ago to pray together. I am embarassed to admit that I failed for many years of our marriage to make husband/wife prayer time a priority in our home.
It is hard for many to establish this element of married life, even with the best of intentions. In addition to the significant obstacle of making schedules match, there are challenges including the ancient stumbling blocks: fear and pride ("What does she think about the way I pray?" or even "Is it safe to share 'out loud' what is on my heart right now?").
As the Scripture emphasizes, marriage is important to the Lord. Why else would He have encouraged it? When "the two become one," doesn't it follow that the Father desires to spend time not only with son and daughter individually, but also with husband and wife "as one?"
For encouragement in your marriage, I first urge the obvious: spend time in the Word apart AND together. I also suggest occasional "visits" to Christian ministries including Family Talk, Men's Fraternity and Focus on the Family. God calls us to be in prayer always. Commit today to making prayer with your spouse a part of each day on this journey toward eternal life with the Father.
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