Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

Let us live life “without murmuring and arguing, so that we may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, that we may shine like stars in the world.” Philippians 1:15

  • Two Rochester teens, ages 14 and 16, who allegedly set man on fire in apartment now face murder charges.
  • State governor facing calls to resign after multiple sexual harassment claims
  • 21-year-old man takes responsibility for killing eight people in Atlanta.

A.W. Tozer asked a pertinent question a generation ago that is still relevant today Tozer wrote, “were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, “What comes into your mind when you think about God?” We might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man. Were we able to know exactly what our most influential religious leaders think of God today, we might be able with some precision to foretell where the church will stand tomorrow.”

Jesus said in Matthew, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart comes evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.” (15:18-19)

The tragedy of the three bulleted headlines above could have been so different if each person would have asked themselves this simple, profound question “What comes into your mind when you think about God?” The results of their actions could have been life-giving instead of life-taking.

What comes to mind when we think about God is one of the most important questions we must answer. Our answer will determine the course of our spiritual life as well as our natural life. We can answer in the way of the world or we can offer an answer similar to Psalm 86:15, “But you, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

We could answer like Peter in Luke 9:18 and respond, “The Messiah of God.” Or similarly to Paul in I Corinthians 1:18 “for the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

What came to John’s mind when he thought about God in I John 4 was, “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God and God abides in them.” (16) For James, “every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” James (1:17)

Satan’s accusation against Job was that Job’s only thoughts about God were related to what Job could get for himself. Satan challenges God when he says, “Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” (Job 1: 10) Satan goes on to confront God saying that if He would only, “stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has,” then the reaction of Job thinking about God will be “he will curse you to your face.” (1:11) However, Job didn’t curse God because he had spent time over the years thinking about God.

What comes to mind when we think about God? The answer will come from what we have allowed to be planted in our hearts and souls. “Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3)

“From the beginning, God’s desire was that we would exist in an everlasting relationship with him. Sin gets in the way of that relationship, especially laziness that sidelines praise and prayer. May we never be too busy for both.” (Brennan Manning)

How will you answer, “What comes into your mind when you think about God?”

Father, I confess my often-lazy attitude for life, prayer and praise, letting sin harbor thoughts that prevent fellowship with you. Restore again the joy of prayer and praise that will permeate every fiber of my heart, mind and soul for you.

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

 

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“Thus says the LORD: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, “We will not walk in it.” Jeremiah 6:16

Most of us, when driving on a country road, have pulled up to a crossroads only to find ourselves questioning whether we should turn left or right. Now imagine you are at a spiritual crossroads. If you “ask for the ancient paths” you will find yourself on God’s way and by taking this path, you go through both green pastures and dark valleys. However, on this path you are assured of God’s companionship on the journey. The other road might look attractive but you would travel without God’s presence on the journey. It will be a road that takes you where you never intended to go.

Mark Matson invited me to join him last week on the Mid-Day Prayer & Worship to talk about Soul Care. A concept new to some, but one that is as old as the ancient paths. Jesus recognized that all of us will eventually come to the same crossroads where life’s difficulties present us a choice of trying either this or that way. What is Soul Care? The definition I have come to appreciate and relate too is of “an adventure of learning to care for your soul for the sake of others.” Our soul is really who we are as a person, our identity and passions.  David Hansen writes of the soul that, “the soul is more like a river than a street, more like a forest than a city, more like a wild trout than a laboratory rat.” Hansen’s imageries are ones of adventure, freedom and uniqueness as made in God’s image.

So, what is a person worth? In terms of chemicals we are 99% composed of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus – valued at about $100. Worthless unless you remember that the body is simply an address for the soul to reside. Jesus totally redefined the beauty and dignity of the soul to those he encountered.

The dignity of the soul is found in that we are created in the image of God (Gen 1:27), valued to the point that every hair is counted (Matthew 10:30) and so loved that he gave up His only Son (John 3:16). “When human beings are devalued, everything in society turns sour. Women are humiliated and children despised. The sick are regarded as a nuisance, and the elderly as a burden. Ethnic minorities are discriminated against. The poor are oppressed and denied social justice…labor is exploited in the mines and factories. There is no freedom, no dignity, no carefree joy. Human life seems not worth living because it is scarcely human any longer…people matter…because every man, woman, and child has worth and significance as a human being made in God’s image and likeness.” (John Stott)

To care for our souls for the sake of others requires time – space – community. Jesus understood well the need for time-space-community. When asked which commandment is the greatest, “He said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37)

Soul care will require time with God where you can be alone and listening. Soul care will require setting aside a place that becomes your sacred place of worship and reflection. Soul care will require community, a group of believers who speak into your life.

Caring for your soul allows you to care for others, nurture someone, become a trusted listener and to pray deeply. Soul care is a rhythm where “as we comfort and teach and encourage, we will be comforted, taught and encouraged in turn.”

Jesus offers the invitation for us to walk the ancient paths to care for our souls for the sake of others. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 The Message)

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen strange things today.” Luke 5:26

“Of all the roads you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” Growing up in rural Oklahoma, my childhood home sat on a dirt road. The great thing about living on a dirt road, you could see the cloud of dust rising behind the vehicle long before they got to the house. I had a sense of excitement and expectation as the car pulled closer. Who could be coming? Would they simply pass by the house or were they coming to visit us?

Growing up in poverty, I had only dreams of the adventures that existed beyond the dirt road. I read almost every book in the church library and would imagine myself in the stories of the people and distant places as they would come alive on the pages of those books. Unbelievably, that small Oklahoma dirt road would someday lead me to a dirt road in Africa. Connie and I found ourselves in our first house in Bophuthatswana facing a dirt road. Similar to the Oklahoma dirt road, long before we knew who was coming, their approach was heralded by a cloud of dust. Whether arriving by donkey cart, on foot or in a car, we would welcome our dusty guests.

Our dirt roads have been paths of adventure that have allowed us to see some strange things. However, at the end, they always brought us to a place where we could glorify God and be filled with awe. We travelled roads that led to small church buildings in the middle of nowhere, yet where the gospel was preached, the people prayed and they gathered to worship God. There were dirt roads that led to medical clinics providing care for physical needs as well as encouraging the soul. The beauty of God’s creation lay at the end of many dirt roads; majestic mountain ranges, breathtaking canyons, thundering waterfalls and beautiful, simple villages.

Luke captures a “dirt road” experience in chapter 5. Faith fueled four men to pick up their friend’s mat and carry him along a dusty Judean village road looking for a Savior. He was a paralyzed man being carried with hope in his heart, perhaps for a chance to walk. Did Jesus see the “cloud of dust” from the four men coming? The men found a room filled with religious curiosity seekers which kept them out. Yet, dirt road walking leaves you ready for the unexpected. They managed the narrow stairs with their friend’s limp body. One by one, they removed tiles, leaves and dug a hole to lower their friend.

Would Jesus rebuke their intrusion? What would people think of their disrupting the master teacher? The crowd knew what to do, throw him out – not Jesus. He welcomed him, blessed him and sent him home walking.

Little did I know where I would travel on that small dirt road in Oklahoma. It has been an adventure that is still going on. It has been a privilege to be able to serve on staff at FBCPTC. Thank you for allowing me to serve you these last four years. I am grateful for the sweet sprit that welcomed us, encouraged us and has blessed us through these years of ministry on staff. I look forward to continuing to be with you in fellowship on my walk and to continuing writing this prayer blog.

As you travel the roads ahead of you, may this portion of prayer by Benedict of Norcia encourage you:

LORD, be with us to guide us,

within us to strengthen us,

without us to protect us,

above us to raise us,

beneath us to uphold us,

before us to lead us,

behind us to guard us,

ever about us,

this day and evermore;

this day and evermore.

 

Amen.

 

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“After the plague the LORD said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, “Take a census of the whole congregation of the Israelites, from twenty years old and upward, by their ancestral house, everyone in Israel able to go to war.” Numbers 26:1-2

“Close to you I waken in the dead of night,

and start with fear-

are you lost to me once more? Is it always vainly that I seek you,

you, my past?

I stretch my hands out,

And I pray-

and a new thing now I hear:

The past will come to you once more,

and be your life’s enduring part,

through thanks and repentance.

Feel in the past God’s forgiveness and goodness,

Pray him to keep you today and tomorrow.”

These are the words from the last stanza of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s poem, “The Past.” Our past lives with us forever since our tomorrow will soon be our past. Our past is made up of events both ordinary and spectacular.  However, more importantly, our past is made up of people. Those individuals who shape us, teach us, love us and hurt us. We will remember events that impacted us because of the people who shared the event with us.

Moses has walked faithfully with God through the wilderness leading the nation of Israel. Now God commands Moses to count the people by their family heritage. The census will become a family tree for those getting ready to enter the promised land, a record of faith that has been passed down from one generation to the next and a past that is not always glorious, but a past that will link each generation to the next.

Bonhoeffer wrote from his prison cell at Tegel shortly before his execution these words to his great nephew on the day of his baptism:

“You are the first of a new generation in our family, and therefore the oldest representative of your generation. You will have the priceless advantage of spending a good part of your life with the third and fourth generation that went before you. Your great-grandfather will be able to tell you, from his own personal memories, of people who were born in the eighteenth century; and one day, long after the year 2000, you will be the living bridge over which your descendants will get an oral tradition of more than 250 years.” 

Biological family trees are important but the richness of your faith family tree will bond generations together. Our faith family trees will include many of our biological family members, but there will be a depth and richness that will be added to the tree from school teachers, neighbors, Sunday school teachers and many more. “To be deeply rooted in the soil of the past makes life harder, but it also makes it richer and more vigorous.” (Bonhoeffer)

Who makes up your faith family? What relationships, writers, artists or places have shaped your ways of believing and worshipping? During a personal spiritual retreat create a faith family tree of spiritual influencers in your life.  Draw a faith family tree, placing yourself at its base, then on the branches and trunk nearest you, write the names of those most directly engaged in your spiritual journey. As you move away from the base, place names or descriptions of other influences on your spiritual life.

Allow this exercise to become holy ground for you as you pray and reflect upon those who God used to water and shape your tree of faith.  Pray over each name, place, event that shaped you. Allow this experience to become a precious and moving time of worship.

“Take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children” Deuteronomy 4:9

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“Moses said to Aaron, take your censer, put fire on it from the altar and lay incense on it, and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them. For wrath has gone out from the LORD, the plague has begun.” Numbers 16:46

“Jesus Christ carries on intercession for us in heaven; the Holy Ghost carries on intercession in us on earth; and we the saints have to carry on intercession for all men.” These words, from Oswald Chambers, challenge us to the overwhelming task of interceding for others. The role of intercessor calls us to run into the midst of situations we can’t even fathom. A role that pushes us into a spiritual battle that we are unable to wage solely through our own power.

Moses and Aaron have come face to face with a rebellion of the people – a spiritual battle of rebellion against God and themselves. Already Moses has had to intercede on behalf of the people to stem the anger of God. Aaron responds to Moses’ command, picks up his censer, “and ran into the middle of the assembly, where the plague had already begun among the people. He put on the incense, and made atonement for the people.” 16:47

It would have been easy for Aaron to turn the other way, abandoning the people to face the consequences of their sins. Instead “He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stopped.” 16:48

We carry the censers of intercessory prayer for those dying from the plague of sin. Seeking God’s mercy upon people who are so trapped in their sin that we become those standing “between the dead and the living.” We watch as the plagues of materialism, sexuality, greed, corruption, racism, abuse and violence destroy people’s lives. Standing between the living and dead was not a comfortable place for Aaron, nor will it be for us.

The fragrance of mercy from Aaron’s censer finally begins to cover the stench of death. What does the fragrance of mercy smell like? It is the aroma of freshly baked cookies left on the porch of someone isolated due to the pandemic. It is the fragrance of those working at Wellspring Living caring for and protecting a sexually abused girl. The fragrance of mercy is the aroma of food you donated for the hungry, drink provided for the thirsty, the feeling of welcome made to a stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and the imprisoned. The fragrances of mercy are those of hope, faith, peace and life.

“Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.” Revelation 8:3-4

“Reflect the glory of God with your life. God pours out love on us who are naturally unloving and unlovable. So, why would we refuse to offer it to others? Because we have the spirit of Christ, we, too, can reflect the glory of God by showing His love to our enemies. Show the world the grace God has bestowed upon you. We are to be like God, extending love aggressively in the face of hostility.”  (author unknown)

“So Moses prayed for the people.” Now is the time to pick up our censers and pray. Our prayers are offered up as a beautiful fragrance for those who are running from God. The prayers offered up for the politician we don’t like. The ideology that just seems so wrong. The neighbor, co-worker or person on the street who looks different from us. We offer up our prayers as a sweet aroma to God. It is through our prayers that we stand “between the dead and living.”

 

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

 

 

 

 

 

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” Leviticus 19:1-2

 

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning, our song shall rise to thee:

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

 

“Be holy, for I am Holy” is at the heart of Leviticus. (A book many speed-read through on their way through their “Read the Bible in a year” plan.) Yet as we slow down and look around, we come face to face with the holiness of God.  Just as the hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy” is found on page one of most Baptist hymnals, it is on page one as we follow God. Just as the holiness of God took center stage in the hymnals, so it should rightly occupy page one in our lives.

Leviticus is not normally read as good news and most certainly not in the context with how the world now determines what is a modern, culturally acceptable worldview. However, J. A. Motyer looks at Leviticus totally differently. He writes, “Leviticus is good news. It is good news for sinners who seek pardon, for priests who need empowering, for women who are vulnerable, for the unclean who covet cleansing, for the poor who yearn for freedom, for the marginalized who seek dignity, for animals that demand protection, for families that require strengthening, for communities that want fortifying and for creation that stands in need of care. All these issues, and more, are addressed in a positive way in Leviticus.”

Visit Leviticus 18 and 19 again but read as one who seeks God, treating life as holy and allowing God to have control of your life. At the heart of each requirement is the holiness of God in the life of his people, a people set apart from the world. Culture no longer determines the standards, only God does.

As you read these two chapters, mentally or literally, create two columns. At the top of the columns, title one “God’s values” and title the other “Human Values.”  It doesn’t take long to realize God’s values and human values are worlds apart. Living a life set apart from the world requires God’s grace.

Augustine wrote that, “The LORD himself not only shows us the evil we are to avoid and the good we are to do (which is all that the letter of the law can do), but also helps us to avoid evil and to do good-things that are impossible without the spirit of grace. If grace is lacking, the law is there simply to make culprits and to slay; for this reason, the Apostle said; “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6)”

Chapters 18 and 19 are not a “Golden Corral” buffet of principles. We don’t get to go through the line choosing the one’s we like and leaving the others. It is easy to pick a verse and sling it at someone, yet at the same time avoiding verses we would rather overlook. The problem: God didn’t give us a choice. Each requirement interlocks with each other forming a strong family, church, community and culture.

Requirements that set a people apart from the other nations, are not to set them on a pedestal but to glorify God. Jesus would take the law and empower it with grace. Jim Denison in his weekly blog shared that at the Super Bowl Breakfast, New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis received the Bart Starr Award. It is given to a player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership. Davis’ wife explained their shared purpose: “Our primary mission has always been to be a walking billboard for Christ, so that others may be able to see and encounter him through us and our experiences.”

Leviticus is a challenging book with some difficult passages, yet the shared purpose is for the people of God to be “walking billboards for Christ.” As you reflect on your two columns, use them to restore and empower you to live a life set apart for God. “It is said of St. Francis not merely that he prayed, but that he became a prayer.”

God is great!

Pastor Lynn Burton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“Then Agrippa said to Paul “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”  Acts 26:28-29 NKJV

Lots of words fall into the “sad” category but I tend to think the word almost ranks right at the top. It is a word filled with missed opportunities. It is a word filled with regrets, bitterness and struggles.  You are so close yet so far away. I almost won the race, yet I didn’t. I almost took that new job, but I didn’t. I almost won the election, but I didn’t run.  Almost, yet not. Merriam-Webster defines almost: “very nearly but not exactly or entirely, very near but not quite.” This little adverb finds itself in the company with words such as “about”, “all but”, “more or less”, “nearly”, “somewhere”. Words reflecting myriads of “could have been” and “should have been”

According to research by lottery expert Brett Jacobson, a total of $2.89 billion was never claimed by winners in 2017. Recently a $14.6 million prize expired in Arizona because no one came forward to claim the money. Hung Nguyen lost out on $1,008,624 because he lost the ticket. Lots of stories of almost.

Stefan Thomas made headlines this year when a lost password left his $220 million bitcoin account inaccessible. The Business Insider story said, “the secure hard drive, on which 7,002 bitcoins were stored, was an IronKey device. It gives owners 10 chances to guess their password before encrypting the contents.” Thomas went on to say, “It was actually a really big milestone in my life where, like, I sort of realized how I was going to define my self-worth going forward. It wasn’t going to be about how much money I have in my bank account.”

This little word almost keeps many of us from discovering the beautiful vista just over the mountain. We give up before we scale the top. Almost finds energy at the bottom of our valley experiences that are fueled by our fears, loss of time, lack of self-confidence, empty bank accounts and a host of other things that make saying almost so easy.

Scripture is filled with stories of almost:

The Israelites almost made it to the promise land but disobedience fenced them out.

The rich young ruler almost followed Jesus but the lure of riches blinded him.

King Agrippa almost became a Christian but for the pomp and power of position.

Paul, the defendant on trial, has spent two years sitting in prison based on false charges. Paul now has the chance to present his case to King Agrippa, yet instead of laying out his arguments to be released, he carefully and meticulously lays out the case for Christ in Acts 26. King Agrippa faces the ultimate decision of his life. What will he do? “If only Paul had been a little more eloquent. If only Agrippa had been a little more receptive, a little braver, a little crazier. If only God weren’t such a stickler for letting people make up their own minds without forcing their hands. But things are what they are, and almost is the closest Agrippa ever got to what might have changed his life.“ (Frederick Buechner)

In our spiritual life almost robs us of the peace and joy that God desires to give each one of us. It was almost that kept Agrippa from experiencing the greatest joy of life, Jesus. King Agrippa kept looking around at the pomp and ceremony of his position, he thought of his political fortune imploding if he said yes to Paul’s arguments. He realized people would no longer bow in his presence if he bowed in the presence of Jesus. Almost kept him from enjoying the ultimate gift of joy and peace.

“It is sad enough to miss God’s invitation. But to just miss it is sadder still, especially when an apostle is trying to help you discover it! May almost never mark our spiritual journey.” (Faith that Matters)

The world is filled with almost millionaires who will survive. The world is filled with politicians who almost won who will survive. Unfortunately, hell is filled with almost persuaded who will not survive.

Maybe almost doesn’t best fit in the sad category but, rather, in the tragic category. “If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God, it will make in the end no difference what you have chosen instead.” C.S. Lewis

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

God is great!

Pastor Lynn

 

 

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush, he looked, and the bush was blazing yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight.” Exodus 3:2-3

What should I do? Making hard decisions is never easy. You go through inner turmoil trying to figure out what to do or how to do it or is it really right for me. You look at multiple options and finally come down to what you think is the best. Then you may live with the “only if” questioning for days, months or maybe years. How often have  you said if only you could have a burning bush clarity. The thought of a burning bush experience seems like a fantastic way to know, yet there is a cost to burning bush experiences.

  • Burning bushes will necessitate worship:

You can’t play religion if you want to get close to the burning bush. You can be curious and “turn aside and look.” You can ponder why “the bush is not burned up” but burning bushes require you to “remove the sandals from your feet.” Religious people find a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. You worship at the burning bush because you know “the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

  • Burning bushes create questions:

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” God welcomes questions, the more the better. Samuel asked “How can I go? Saul will kill me.” (1 Samuel 16:2)   Mary asked, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34) Peter knew enough to question, “By no means, LORD; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” (Acts 10:14) Questions will come at the burning bush but “The Samuels” go, “The Marys” obey, and “The Peters” follow.

  • Burning bushes destroy the edges of one’s comfort zone:

“I have never been eloquent…I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Comfort zone living is a lot easier. We can be content in the world we know and don’t have to push the edges. Yet somehow God doesn’t see our self-limitations. So, you don’t think you can speak? God has the answer, “Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak.”

  • Burning bushes will burn away the undergrowth of yesterday’s failures:

“When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses.” You may have lived in palaces, studied at the best schools, had an unlimited bank account but you blew it. A nasty divorce, a horrendous scandal, a horrible financial mistake. Guess what? God calls your name and gives you another job. “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” God reminds you, “I think I can handle your past!”

  • Burning bushes do have a cost:

Moses had to go but also “Moses took his wife and his sons, put them on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt.” Jethro watched as his son-in-law, daughter and grandsons left for the mission field. Hannah cried as she left little Samuel at the temple. Jesus’ body torn to shreds, nailed to the cross, cried out in agony, “It is finished.” Yes, there is a cost when you respond to God’s call in your life yet “God never leaves you nor forsakes you.”

  • Burning bushes do make a difference:

“God wants to lead us. Not all the ways of humans are God’s leading. For a long time, we can walk our own paths. On those we are pawns of coincidence, whether they bring good luck or misfortune. Our own ways always lead in a circle back to ourselves. But when God leads our ways, they guide us to him. God’s ways guide us to God. God leads us through happiness and unhappiness always and only towards God. In this we recognize God’s ways.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Moses led a nation out of slavery heading for a new land. Esther saved a nation from mass annihilation. The widow of Zarephath fed her household. David stood in front of a giant to unite a nation. The disciples fish net was overflowing. Jesus stood at the front of an empty tomb declaring victory over death!

Maybe we will not have as dramatic of a burning bush experience as Moses but we do have our burning bush. God has provided Scripture to be “a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” (Ps 119:105), Jesus has come who “will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:6) and daily “God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.” (IThess 4:8b).

The question becomes, “Do you choose to turn away or stand on holy ground?”

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” (2 Cor 13:14)

God is great!

Pastor Lynn

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” Genesis 27:41

Hatred is a pattern that repeats itself for generations, often a pattern that is never broken. One of the more famous examples of generational hatred in our nation was the Hatfield-McCoy feud that covered several decades in the 1800s. These two rural families from the West Virginia-Kentucky area would live for decades under the siege of hatred, distrust and violence. It was one act of violence by one family leading to a retaliatory response by the other family and a feud that implanted seeds of bitterness that bore fruit in the coming generations.

“Esau hated Jacob” set in motion a bitterness that would drive a wedge between two brothers and would ultimately live on for generations. Esau did not care about his role as first born and Jacob took advantage of the situation. A feud sparked out of jealousy, scheming and hatred until a family was split apart. We find the pattern of hatred that drove Esau and Jacob apart repeated often.

Cain in jealous hatred kills Abel.

David in lustful hatred has Uriah killed.

Joseph’s brothers in jealous hatred sell their brother into slavery.

Absalom out of revenge hatred kills his brother Amnon.

Judas out of power hatred betrays the Son of God.

“There is no positive benefit or place for hate other than directing that emotion to evil.” Psalm 97:10. “Let those who love the Lord hate evil.” “The way to get out of that darkness is to walk in the light and allow God to transform your heart. Forgive those who have hurt you, let go of bitterness and the need for revenge, stop thinking and ruminating about your injustices. Rather think about how can you be part of the solution and begin to open your heart to love.” Dr. Linda Mintle

This illustration from a Native American anecdote sums up well the power of hatred. “A grandfather talking to his young grandson tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him, struggling with each other. The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other is the wolf of fear, greed and hatred. “Which wolf will win, grandfather?” asks the young boy. “Whichever one you feed” is the reply.”

Which wolf are you feeding? In our current culture it is easy to find yourself feeding the wrong wolf within your soul. Jesus said “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” Mark 7:20-23 (NLT)

Love is not the opposite of hate but love is the transformer of hate into love. A love that is not some cheap perfume that covers the stink of evil but a love that was born on a splinter laden cross is the only way to overcome the power of hatred.

Allow 1 John 4:20 to awaken a new prayer within your heart for ourselves, our families and our nation. “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

 

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

“After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham! ‘And he said, “Here I am.”” Genesis 22:1

The very thought of being tested sends fear through my mind. I hated to take tests in school; they always made me nervous. Questions raced through my mind, “Did I know the subject material well enough? Can I pass the test? What if I make a bad grade?” Usually, I knew the material well enough to pass the test. Occasionally I totally blew it. Regardless of the outcome, I had to face the test. The times I did well were usually the result of time invested in studying until I knew the subject material. Failures to do well were normally because I had not properly prepared myself for the test.

As much as I dislike tests, I realize they are important. Knowing the test day is coming forces me to focus on the material until I am prepared. When I pass the test, there is a certain feeling of accomplishment, a sense of inner pride. More importantly the test grade represents a symbol of my knowledge and the passing grade lets others know I have mastered the material.

I build confidence from the fact that the surgeon who is getting ready to operate on me passed their Board exams. I relax a little at 10,000 feet knowing the pilot passed the aviation test and is certified to fly the plane. I feel comfortable traversing the Mississippi River knowing the engineer who designed the bridge passed the civil engineering test.

Abraham had been preparing for this day of testing. When God asked him to move to a distant land, he packed his bags. When Abraham could have had his choice of parcels of land, he allowed Lot to take the best piece. When his nephew was captured, Abraham pulled together his troops to go into hot pursuit to rescue Lot. When God asked him to give up his only son, Abraham was ready. Yes, Abraham failed a few tests in the process, yet God kept working with him to get him ready. Generations later Abraham’s test results were recorded in Hebrews 11. “Therefore, from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” (Hebrews 11:12)

James captures well the purpose of spiritual testing as he writes, “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-3)

Noah’s test came when God asked him to build an ark, even though it had never rained!

Moses’ test came when God asked him to pick up the staff and lead his people out of slavery!

Hannah’s test came when she left Samuel in the care of God at the temple!

Ruth’s test came when she declared, “your people shall be my people, and your God my God!”

David’s test came when God asked Samuel to anoint him as king, even as he tended sheep in the pasture!

What about you? How are you doing in preparing for your tests?  “Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? –unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed.” (2 Corinthians 13:5-6)

How will you know if you passed the test? Maybe you will get to know but just as likely you will not know. “Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised” (Hebrews 11:39)

Don’t worry about the results, simply focus on God. Let God grow you through the test to become the person God intends you to be for His work. Job moves from questioning God, defending himself to his friends and family to the affirmation that being with God is more important than understanding the reason.

“Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely, I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1-6)

God is great,

Pastor Lynn