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Midnight cry: 4 Prayers from Psalm 31

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Good Morning Everyone,
I’m sorry about my absence. Lately, life has been super busy, and there are some new and exciting things happening, those I will share at another time.

Just after midnight last night I took some time to pray, but I couldn’t find the words. So I started reading Psalm 31, a PowerFULL Psalm, and suddenly I knew exactly what to pray for. I’m sure you have been in that place before – you just don’t know what or how to pray, but the Holy Spirit shows and helps you to pray according to the will of God.

As I read the Psalm four prayers stood out to me. Let me share them, maybe you could use them too:

4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me

Traps set by the enemy of my soul. Traps set before because of success. Traps set by jealous friends. Traps set before me because of Kingdom advancement. And those by my own bad choices. Lord set me free!

8 set my feet in a spacious place
Bring me into my element. Let me have maximum impact in what I do… Enlarge the sphere of my influence. Release your unmerited favor. Increase my momentum. Unlock my potential.

15 My times are in your hands
Help me to number my days as well as remain confident that you are working things out so that can accomplish my life goals. Let it be my season to advance to the next level. Make it my time to shine for your glory. Make it my time to be a blessing.

18 Let their lying lips be silenced
Fight every spiritual battle that I can not see… Shut the mouths of lions and close the gates of hell. Every tongue that has risen against. Silent every lie, falsehood, rumor, gossip, and slander at work.  Lock the mouths of my enemies.

In Jesus Name
Amen!

 

go deeper… Midnight in the Bible

 

Exodus 11:1-8; Exodus 12:29; Judges 16:1-3; Ruth 3:8; 1 Kings 3:20; Matthew 25:6, 13; Acts 16:25-28; Acts 20:7

The Facebook Sonnet

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Welcome to the endless highschool

Reunion. Welcome to past friends and lovers however kind or cruel

Let’s undervalue and unmend the present. Why can’t we pretend

Every stage of life is the same?

Let’s exhume, resume and extend

Childhood. L:et’s all play the game

That occupy the young. Let fame

And shame intertwine. Let one’s search

For God become public domain.

Let the Church.com become our Church.

Let’s sign up, sign in, and confess

Here at the altar of loneliness.

-Sherman Alexie

Praying Scripture over Oklahoma

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Isaiah 48:8
In the time of my favor I will answer you,
and in the day of salvation I will help you;
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land
and to reassign its desolate inheritances

Isaiah 58:12
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called repairers of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 61:4
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations

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Thank you!
May God Bless these families!

11 Signs that show you’ve fallen from Grace

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You are hoping that works will get you what only faith can secure for you.

  • Galatians 3:2
    I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

You deliberately tolerate and indulge the sinful nature.

  • Hebrews 10:26
    If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,

You have forsaken your first love

  • Revelation 2:4, 5/ You walked away from your first love—why? What’s going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you’ve fallen? Turn back! Recover your dear early love.

You do not trust God, the scripture nor the church

You are completely isolated from everything. That includes God and His people

You have an unhealthy pursuit of money and material things

You are vengeful and unwilling to forgive 

You have no desire for worship, prayer, obedience and church fellowship

You no longer feel His presence, hear His voice, or fear Him

You demand perfection of others

Yet, you are longing, deep down inside you, for God to do something about all the above because you feel helpless

Let me assure you. Grace is not too far from you.

Grace is not an exemption from failure. It is, however, what makes it possible to sustain hope in the midst of failure.

Earnestly fervently Jesus is calling, calling oh sinner come home.

 

Quote: Andy Crouch

The Modern Mood of Syncretism and Pluralism

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There was a social worker in Nigeria who not long ago was visiting a young man in one of the back streets of Lagos. On the bedside of this student he found the following books: the Bible; the Book of Common Prayer, I’m glad to see; the Koran; three copies of Watchtower, the magazine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses; a biography of Karl Marx; a book of yoga exercises; and a popular paperback that he particularly needed entitled How to Stop Worrying. That is typical of the modern mood, a mood of syncretism and of pluralism.

The correct name for this aspect of postmodernism is pluralism. Pluralism does not just affirm the obvious fact that there is a plurality of cultures and ideologies and religions in the world. It goes beyond that. It says that all these claims should be respected equally, and we must therefore affirm the independent validity of every religion and every ideology. We must therefore give up the naïve and arrogant notion that we should try to convert anybody, let alone try to convert everybody. To those who have embraced pluralism nothing is more obnoxious than the Christian claim to uniqueness and the concept of world mission and world evangelization. Pluralism is an ideology that affirms the independent validity of every system of faith.

Excerpt from “Three Challenges to the Contemporary Church” by John Stott page 6

The Devil Inside Me

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I read an article today entitled: Amanda Bynes: A Reminder that Mental Health Woes Flourish in Our 20’s? Sometimes these stories are written to mock and ridicule people for their erratic behavior. But as Christians we are called to show compassion for people. Mental Illness is no laughing matter and as the people of God, we need to talk about the subject because some of our brothers and sisters in church suffer from this illness.

Here is a thought-provoking story I read on preachingtoday that I think could share some light. Let me share it with you here and leave you to answer the questions posed at the end of the article. Please feel free to leave a response. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated.

NPR’s popular radio show This American Life featured an episode titled “The Devil Inside Me.” The show asked various people if they ever felt like they were under the spell of an “inner voice” that held them in bondage to unwanted thoughts. According to the show’s host, “It was like people had waited all their lives for somebody to ask them this question.”

Here were some of the responses from the interviews:

  • A man says, “I certainly know the voice you’re talking about.”
  • Another man says, “The voice is irresistible, always. I’m in the thrall of that voice.”
  • A woman says, “Totally out of control. It’s got this life of its own, and I can’t tame it anymore.”
  • A woman says, “I actually have a name for the voice. I call it Stan. Stan is the guy who tells me to have the extra glass of wine. Stan is the guy who tells me to smoke.”
  • A man says, “I remember somehow realizing just how finely calibrated the voice was to every nuance, every part of my feelings, including the feeling that I didn’t want to smoke cigarettes. And it’s like, ‘[You] might as well have another cigarette, because this is it.'”
  • A woman who just got engaged hears her Voice say: “You better try your hardest to make sure he doesn’t take [the ring] away, because he’s going to find out the truth about you and how much you suck. So you better distract him with a really thin body.”

At the end of the episode the host asks someone, “Do you feel like the voice is winning?” A woman replies, “Right now, yeah. I think I’m in some serious trouble, to be honest.”

What do the voice represent?

The “Voice” could represent Satan

The voice could represent our own fallen or fleshly nature

the voice could represent our unhealed wounds, or all three.

Now, this calls for some serious answers to some very serious questions. Here is a group of question for you consideration: Does Satan have the power to possess people? Can Satan speak through people? Is his activity limited to only unbelievers or can he possess believers in a similar fashion.

Another group of questions are as follows: What is our understanding about mental illness? Can mental illness possibly be influenced by the demonic, fallen or fleshly nature, or unhealed wounds or all three at the same time. What should be the approach to mental care.

Men die when they relax

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2 Samuel 11:1-26

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. Read the rest of the chapter here

Instead of going to war David decided to relax

Instead of being there to lead, David decided to relax

Instead of showing up to do his duty to country and to God, David decided to relax.

Relaxation can be a good thing for a leader sometimes but not when the lives of others hang in the balance. It can be a great thing sometimes but not when it keeps you from fulfilling your call. This kind of relaxation will put you in the wrong place at the wrong time. And that is exactly where we find David – exposed to sexual temptation, adultery, murder, lies and  cover-up. On that day of relaxation two men died: One spiritually, the other physically. One was visionary leader who let down his guard and lost his focus.  The other a good soldier and husband who simply obeyed his orders without any knowledge of what was going on.

Lord please help us to not be caught relaxing on the job. Because men die when we do.

Death is a greater deliverer

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Thomas Brooks was an English Puritan preacher and author in the 1600s. Though he’s best known for his many books and theological treatises, we have several of his sermons in print, some of which are funeral sermons. In one funeral sermon, Brooks reminds his listeners that for the believer, death not only ceases to be our conqueror; death actually becomes God’s meek helper. He wrote: “Death is another Moses: it delivers believers out of bondage, and from making bricks in Egypt.” He continued:

Remember this—death does that in a moment, which no graces, no duties, nor any ordinances could do for a man all his lifetime! Death frees a [person] from those diseases, corruptions, temptations … that no duties, nor graces, nor ordinances could do …. Every prayer then [when we die] shall have its answer; all hungering and thirsting shall be filled and satisfied; every sigh, groan, and tear that has fallen from the saints’ eyes shall then be recompensed. That is not death but life, which joins the dying man to Christ!

I am thankful for all those who sacrifice it all and praying for all those who lost someone dear… You are the greatest.

Lee Eclov, in the sermon It Doesn’t Sting Anymore, PreachingToday.com

Dear Pastor: A Letter from a Humble Church Member

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Dear Pastor, I don’t think I need to apologize for anything but here it is…

I sincerely apologize for anything, or apparently the many things I have said and/or done to offend you and/or made you feel defensive towards me and my efforts to do what I have felt was serving the Lord with all the blessings He had provided. I truly respect your spiritual leadership. I feel that we are all purposefully imperfectly made with strengths and weaknesses. I definitely have a need for a spiritual leader. I am thankful that He has put you in my life.

I have pride issues but I think you do too

I realize that I have to fight the battle of pride and perhaps that is also why God has put you in my life. On the other hand, perhaps in this pride I felt you had been blessed for me to be put here to help YOU make our church even more successful than you have already made it.

Pastor, I have often been successful and consider myself a great #2 guy, but analyzing your poor leadership, I may as well be the # 1 guy.

We all have convictions, feelings and make decisions based upon our training, and experiences. These are some of mine:

CREDIBILITY: A person cannot be an effective leader unless he/she has credibility with his/her followers. Building credibility comes about when “would be followers” feel that following the “would be leader” somehow is helping them to make desired progress in their lives… and/or simply creates feelings of well being about them selves.

A SERVANT’S HEART: A “would be leader” must show their “servant’s heart,” and they can be depended on to always put the wellbeing of the group they lead above their own interests. This is a BIG plus for any ‘would be leader.”

WALKING THE WALK: When a “would be leader,” practices what they preach… when the walk matches the talk, it helps building this needed credibility. Unfortunately, “would be leaders” live in glass houses. A single misstep can undo a thousand times doing the right thing.

SEEKING ADVISORS: A good leader encourages and considers the input from those he leads as equal or greater than his/her own. However, the leader has the heavy responsibility to listen, to receive and weigh all the received and make final decisions that are in the best interest of the group he/she hopes to lead. A misstep would be to make a decision based upon pride, personal preference or fear of losing control can destroy a “would be leader’s” credibility.

SELF CONFIDENCE: Mature “would be followers” do not expect all knowing perfection from their leaders; however, perceived fear, deceit and/or conceit would be a critical stumbling block and cause a loss of credibility for a “would be leader.”.

COURAGE TO PROGRESS: Unless one considers themselves perfect (none of us are), we all recognize that we are a work in progress. Progress involves being open to learning new things and/or being open to leaving where we are to go to where we want to be. Making progress involves changing what we are doing to get something better than we have been getting. Oft times this involves seeking and accepting information and needed guidance from others who may be more knowledgeable or experienced. Often too, change is not comfortable. It takes courage to move away from what or how we have been doing something in the past. Courage in the face of fear usually builds credibility too.

Pastor, I know you studied theology and you know the Bible and all that, but I know the Bible too.

I may not be a Bible scholar, but I have found a few verses that support these feelings and convictions:

PR 15:22 – Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

PR 24:6 – for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.

1 Tim 4:15-16. 15 – Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 – Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

By the way, you don’t measure up with my former pastor.

Our church in SoCal had a congregation of about 2,000 with a regular Sunday attendance of about 1,300. Our pastor Keith Elliott, was greatly admired and respected as our spiritual leader. He had about 10 members on our Elders Board, and about 20 on our Deacon’s Board, and a staff of about 10 associate pastors and other staff.

It seemed to me that our pastor always sought wisdom and guidance from those resources the Lord had provided to him. He appeared to all of us to be a very humble man. Yet in 17 years this church more than tripled in the number of people it served. It seems to me that he had a good way of teaching others how to be a good servant leader.

I often say that PRIDE is the enemy’s favorite tool. And perhaps he is using it on you now. I have not been able to control negative thinking or even judging your feelings or motives as they much of what I have seen seems contrary to the above. Clearly this is a stumbling block for me to be the effective helper I had hoped to be to you. Thus, I have decided it best, at this time, for me to back off and allow the Holy Spirit to miraculously do His thing and hopefully change my feelings.

As I have made commitments to God, to you and other members of the church, I will do my best to follow through on them. But clearly you can see my lack of enthusiasm or even reluctance to take on anything new at this time. Also, as not to become a stumbling block, I will attempt to keep my feelings and this email confidential between you and me.

I welcome your thoughts and prayers.

I am just trying to be courteous here, but I don’t think you have anything of value to add to my life. It is clear you lack the credibility and courage a true leader should have. You talk the talk but you’ve failed to walk the walk. You don’t seek advisors and clearly no one wants to follow you because you are too controlling. I frankly don’t see what I can learn from you.

In His service,

By the way, I am in His service too… just so you know.

Frank

Never give up

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What can I say to you today that will spark a fire in you? What can I actually bring today that will motivate you, get you out of that rut, shake you out that funky place, get you off your couch or get some adrenaline pumping.
For some, it’s a seeming setback. For others, it’s boredom. Sadly still, it could be the ending of a dream, a dying relationship, a frustrating job, a long-awaited success or promotion that doesn’t seem to come. Whatever the case today, I want you to get up and try again.

never, never, never, never give up – Winston Churchill

you will need some determination to get you where you want to go…

lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees – Writer of Hebrews (12:12)

you will need some courage to keep you where you are going …

I don’t have 22 reasons to tell you not to give up. I only have one. You owe it to yourself. You deserve a second chance. There is so much in you, so much to offer and you just can’t sit back and let it waste. You owe it to yourself. because 10 years from now you will look back over your life and regret every wasted moment, every procrastination, every excuse you give yourself not to try harder and it will be too late. Don’t do this to yourself. Get up and try again. You owe it to yourself.