July 30

2 Chronicles 26-28

Romans 13

Psalm 23

Proverbs 20:11

The Lord is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

he leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me

in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

I feel like this psalm encompasses all that God has been trying to teach me lately. I have a strong tendency to hold on to things that are hurtful to me. I focus on things that I think are not fair. I get upset when things don't work out for me the way that I think I deserve. But if I continue to hold on to past hurt, it's going to turn my heart bitter. If I focus on things that I think are not fair, then my mood is dependent on circumstances outside of my control. If I get upset when I don't get what I want, then I become ungrateful with an exaggerated sense of entitlement.

When I am hurt, He doesn't want me to dwell on those that hurt me. He wants me to turn to Him for strength. When things are not fair or circumstances don't work out the way I want them to, He doesn't want me to feel sorry for myself. He wants me cling to Him and be comforted. Even in our darkest hour He is there and that is all we need to get us through.  And when I don't get what I think I deserve, He doesn't want me to complain about what I don't have. He wants me to rejoice in the gifts that He has given me, because in all honesty, I don't deserve anything at all.

This psalm doesn't promise that our lives will be free from difficulty if we stay near to God. It simply says that He will always be with us no matter what is going on around us. Whether we are in a dark valley or in green meadows, we can count on Him to overflow our lives with blessings.

Right now, someone I love very much is going through a dark valley. The enemy is using every weapon in his arsenal to make her feel defeated, hurt, anxious, and scared. Please pray for her, that she will cling to God our Shepherd and she will experience His goodness and unfailing love even in the valley. Thank you all.

Blogpost: Monday, July 29, 2013 [Can't You See?]

Monday, July 29, 2013 [Can't You See?]

But after Jehoiada's death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. Yet the Lord sent prophets to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen. Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, "This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord 's commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!" (2 Chronicles 24:17-20 NLT)

I began to truly follow the Way of Jesus when I was 22 years old. I grew up going to church with my parents and was even baptized at nine years old, but I never had a healthy relationship with Christ until I went through some personal crises in college and became desperate enough to really WANT Christ. I wanted to know who He was and what it meant to be a follower of Jesus. But up to that point, I had always followed my mama's Jesus. I prayed to my daddy's God. I had relied on the relationships that my parents had with Jesus to somehow bless me, and they did bless me. They just never grew me or changed me. The relationship wasn't mine until I sought after it myself.

Joash seemed to have a similar issue. He followed the wise Godly counsel of Jehoiada until Jehoiada died. But later, because his heart wasn't devoted to the Lord, he was able  to be swayed by the leaders of Jerusalem, who gave him some really bad advice and persuaded him to abandon the Lord completely.

This is the story for many people who grew up in or around Christian "religion," but never have a relationship with the Christ. We were swayed by the lie that everything was okay because we understood a few rituals and had followed some of the rules along the journey of our life. However, we had no real peace or joy; no One to turn to; and, we didn't have any idea of how much we are truly valued or loved by God. In my own personal experience I can say that I abandoned the Lord, wanting to have things my way. I got what I wanted...it wasn't pretty.

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12, 13)

To "believe in his name" (the name of Jesus) is to put faith in who Jesus IS (not just who He was in history). It is to personally trust that Jesus is who the Scriptures say He is and that He has the power and authority to do all that the Scriptures say He can do. It is the beginning of a relationship as one of God's children.  And in this relationship, it's not all about rules and regulations and religiosity. In this relationship it's about love, integrity, honesty, and loyalty. And God has already made the first move.

Lord, help us not to get caught up in the ritual of worship. May we ever get caught up in You, and You alone.

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"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26)

Kenny Sullivan

(201) 218-0751

שלום

July 27 - Before you lift a finger, bend a knee

2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37

Romans 10:14-11:12

Psalm 21:1-13

Proverbs 20:4-6

I have doing unnecessary work.  Which is why the story of the victory over the Moabites, Ammonites and some of the Meunites is amazing.  In very few other places in the Bible do we find God fighting the battle completely on His own.  The first one that comes to mind is the escape from Egypt; I confess to not having memorized the entire OT, so I am not sure...but I cannot recall any other instance besides this battle.  

How many of us, when problems arise, gird our loins for battle, roll up our sleeves and get to work?  How many of us, when threatened with attack, prepare to fight back?  How awesome would it be if we didn't have to do any of that, take any of our own direct initiative, and still know the problem would be resolved?  Because that's what happened to Jehoshaphat and the men of Judah.  Not only that - faced with a massive army and the threat of death and destruction, they instead went out and collected plunder, enriched themselves at the expense of the defeated enemy they did not have to fight.  

How can we get there?  We have a good instruction manual in Jehoshaphat's life.  We read in yesterday's OT reading that "The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him.  He did not consult Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel...His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah". And today we read that he not only removed the idols, he appointed people with authority over Judah, and instructed them to "serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord...you are to warn [the people] not to sin against the Lord."  And when the threat came, he cried out to God and sought His instruction.  Jehoshaphat had a relationship with God, one he sought to share with the rest of Judah.  And so he knew the God whom he was called to trust, the God who turned disaster into victory, pain into provision.  So when God said not to worry, he knew Who it was making the promise, and could trust.  And then, when He had provided for them, Jehoshaphat and Judah went to the Lord's temple "with hearts and lyres and trumpets" - presumably to give thanks.

And so we have a roadmap - get to know our God, live life in relationship with Him and according to His commands, turn to Him in all our needs, obey what He says, and trust in His deliverance, whatever form that may take.  This roadmap, this instruction manual, is laid out in similar fashion in today's Psalm.  What an amazing God we have...may we come to know Him and live by His word the way Jehoshaphat did.  In that way we might learn to bend a knee before we lift a finger.

7/26/13

7/26/13

Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab's daughter. A few years later he went to Samaria to visit Ahab, who prepared a great banquet for him and his officials. They butchered great numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle for the feast. Then Ahab enticed Jehoshaphat to join forces with him to recover Ramoth-gilead. "Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?" King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Jehoshaphat replied, "Why, of course! You and I are as one, and my troops are your troops. We will certainly join you in battle." Then Jehoshaphat added, "But first let's find out what the Lord says." (2 Chronicles 18:1-4 NLT)

Jehoshaphat was a reconciler. However we might feel about Ahab, I'm sure Jehoshaphat felt the same. But, Jehoshaphat made an effort to reconcile Judah with Israel. He wanted them to be one, as is very clear in this passage. But why would he care? Was not this the same Ahab who did not care about the Lord? Isn't this the husband of Jezebel? Isn't this Ahab, who made God more angry than any other king of Israel? Jehoshaphat clearly cared. He clearly understood that God is a God of reconciliation. And I believe that he probably saw some good in Ahab that others did not. Maybe he saw Ahab when Jezebel was not around being controlling and evil? (some of you reading this might be saying a quiet "amen" thinking about your spouse....JK!) Whatever the reason, Jehoshaphat wanted to reconcile with Ahab. We can learn a few things from this story. We should try to reconcile with even people that we don't necessarily like, or get along with. And when we are under their influence, we need to seek out the Lord's guidance.

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Thursday, July 25

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2013

2 Chronicles 14:1–16:14

Romans 9:1–21

Psalm 19:1–14

Proverbs 20:1

 

 

“The heavens declare the glory of God;

                the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day, they pour forth speech;

                night after night, they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language

                where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

                their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1–4)

 

These verses speak to God’s self-revelation through creation.  May I just recount some ways in which God displays His goodness?  Let us consider:  the order of the stars, the beauty of a single leaf, the grandeur of a sunset, the softness and quietude of falling snow, the power and suddenness of a thunderstorm, the relief of a mountain crest, the roaring of the ocean waves, the ripple of a brook, or the safety of His loving embrace.

 

Reading these verses brings to mind a favorite hymn, “How Great Thou Art”:

 

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

 

“Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee:

‘How great Thou art!  How great Thou art!’

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee:

‘How great Thou art!  How great Thou art!’”

 

“When through the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

 

“Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee:

‘How great Thou art!  How great Thou art!’

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee:

‘How great Thou art!  How great Thou art!’”

 

 

From what I may gather from the truth here, no one may escape God’s self-revelation.  In Psalm 14:1, we read:  “The fool says in his heart,/ ‘There is no God.’/ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;/ there is no one who does good.”  The sinfulness of the human heart blocks this revelation and causes our hearts to become callous to the ever-present signals of His existence and glory.  While God “rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6), this world clouds the full understanding and knowledge of God:  “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.:” (1 Corinthians 13:12)  In large part, the glory of heaven will be the unveiling of all the truth and fullness of God’s revelation.  It will bring tremendous joy to our hearts and eternal satisfaction to our souls, the very gift for which we will have always been longing.

 

 

“The law of the Lord is perfect,

                reviving the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,

                making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

                giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant,

                giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure,

                enduring forever.

The ordinances of the Lord are sure

                and altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold,

                than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

                than honey from the comb.

By them is your servant warned;

                in keeping them, there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7–11)

 

These verses extol the glory of God’s written Word and the servant’s delight in it.  The uncreated Word, which has always existed because God has always existed, brings greater fruit and worth than any created thing.  We may esteem and trust God’s Word because of its Source:  His permanence, surety, perfection, and radiance.

 

Recently, I have reflected on the power of meditating on God’s Word.  A simple form of such meditation is to relax our minds and ask God to bring to the fore a verse or passage.  After writing that last sentence, I did just that.  He brought to mind the phrase:  “… Every animal of the forest is mine,/ and the cattle on a thousand hills.” (Psalm 50:10)  Coupled with this verse, He brought to mind images of those hills and a symbol of His power and sovereignty.  I then repeated the phrase several times:  “You own the cattle on a thousand hills” and completed the thought with:  “God, You are awesome and sovereign over all creation.  To You be all glory!”  What verse would He like to bring to mind for you?

 

Another thought from earlier today:  As evangelicals, we may tend to focus on our depravity and shortcomings.  Certainly, we are all rightly condemned under the Law and by creation’s revelation (Romans 1:18–3:20).  Yet, we should not solely wallow in these thoughts.  The beauty and glory of God should call forth our praise, thanksgiving, and obedience.  When did you last picture His glory?  Again, these images become readily apparent through meditation.  Likely, we don’t seek these images as persistently as we should because of our infatuation with the world and its faux-glory.  In this, I am greatly vulnerable.

 

 

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”  (2 Chronicles 16:9)

 

This highlighted verse speaks to the character that God desires in His servants, but also the sustaining and reinforcing power of God in our daily walks with Him.  The verse tightly discusses the interplay between God’s sovereignty and human free will.  As His eyes range, how will He find us today?

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2 Chronicles 11-13:22, Romans 8:22-39, Psalm 18:37-50, Proverbs 19:27-29

2 Chronicles 11-13:22, Romans 8:22-39, Psalm 18:37-50, Proverbs 19:27-29 Romans 8 is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible. I had a pastor who challenged many of us to memorize it. I didn't, but one day ill take up that challenge. I have reread this passage a few times over the last couple days and praying for wisdom. D and I have been on an adventure the last few days and I am ever so thankful. We are traveling roads and lands and I wonder which of the apostles did the same. Paul has been on my mind so much and I am excited we are reason through Romans. Paul, the author of this letter to the people of Rome, suffered so much because of Christ's name. We know from 2 Corinthians 11 he was shipwrecked, beaten, arrested, and unaccepted by the people of the land. It's hard for me to think how a man who went through so much hardship could write the words of verse 28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Now this is not magic wand verse that I have seen thrown out in the last. Just because you love God doesn't mean that life is going to be perfect an great. We all know this to be true. I want to point out a few things I have learned about this verse by looking at the words: 1. God is WORKING in our lives. He is always in control and always sovereign. I remember a pastor saying how, "There is nothing in our lives that surprises God. He never does anything as a reaction to what we have done. He has already orchestrated every moment, every millisecond." He is always at work. 2. All things. This is the good, the bad, and the ugly. This is the beginning of marriages, the failure of marriages. This is the hard eucharisteo (being thankful for the hard things in life) we face. Cancer, loss of jobs, children walking away from God, loss of retirement plans. All things is also the great things all around us: fresh figs, red flowers, fresh cut grass, grandma making tortillas. All things. 3. God is working in the lives of THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. Love. This may be the same love (agape) that sent Jesus to the Cross. A sacrificial, unconditional, consuming love. How in love are we with God? I know what live is as a wife, a daughter, a sister, a best friend, an enchanted love...I know I love God but I pray that I love him the way he loves us. I pray I love others the way he loves others. It is a love that we see a few verses later in 38-39. A love that can never be broken, or separated. Like Paul we can be convinced. It is a love only found and demonstrated in Jesus Christ and what he did on the cross. 4. Called according to his purpose: predestination as we see in the verses after. But I do believe that God is sovereign and that he did choose us before time. He is Omniscient....he know all things. At the end of it all, we have a purpose and that is to glorify Him. He has a plan for us and he brings all this together for His will and his purpose. Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPhone

Monday Blogpost - 7/22/13 [Life Happens]

July 22, 2013 [Life Happens]

2 Chronicles 6:12-42

I'm impressed by the wisdom of Solomon and the heartfelt prayer that he prays for the people of Israel at the dedication of the temple.  He begins standing on the bronze platform with his arms spread wide.  But then he kneels down before the entire assembly of people with his hands spread out toward heaven and begins to pray.  Here are a few things that stand out to me:

1.  There is no God like You, period. (v. 14)

2. He reminds God  of His covenant promises.

3. The use of the word "when"

- when a man wrongs his neighbor

- when Your people have been defeated by an enemy because of their sin against You

- when there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You

- when disasters come

- when a foreigner prays to You

- when we go to war

- WHEN THEY SIN AGAINST YOU-for there is no one who does not sin

4. If they have a change of heart and pray and turn back to you with all of their hearts, then hear their prayers and forgive Your people.

The honesty of Solomon's prayer is what I need in my prayer life as well.  It is that raw acknowledgement of the reality that "life happens" - disasters, sin, conflict, battles, times of draught (physical, financial, spiritual, etc.).  But in as much as he acknowledges that life happens, he also recognizes that we have a responsibility to how we respond to life happening.  Having a healthy relationship with God requires humble repentance.  It's more than just saying that we're sorry.  It's making the decision to make an about-face on the things that we have done against God and His will.

Have you ever said (or heard someone say), "I could never forgive somebody if they _____ ?"  I'm so glad that God is not like that.  If we're willing to confess, repent and turn to Him, He's always willing to hear us and forgive.

----

If my people, who are called by my name, will humblethemselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (1 Peter 3:9)

 

For he [the Lord] knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:14)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1:9)

July 20 - Wisdom and Knowledge

2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17

Romans 6:1-23

Psalm 16:1-11

Proverbs 19:20-21

I think of knowledge as being in possession of information, of truth.  I think of wisdom as understanding the information and truth one possesses, and recognizing  their consequences and implications.  In this regard, knowledge is not transformative, wisdom is; knowledge can leave us static, wisdom calls us to action.  If I know that winter is coming, but do not understand that the weather can turn brutally cold, then I am unlikely to make sure I have warm weather clothing.  If, on the other hand, I understand the temperature can be life threatening, then I will go through my closet to make sure I am prepared.

This is what struck me about Solomon's request.  Many Israelites who had come before Solomon possessed the knowledge of God's existence, yet it did not stop them from erecting Asherah poles and worshiping other gods.  Solomon asked for both wisdom and knowledge - the possession of the fact that God existed, and the recognition of its consequences and implications; he asked God for a transformative mind.  He wanted to always know the truth, especially of God's existence, and he wanted it to guide his life, his actions, his leadership.  

The consequence of his request?  God granted him wisdom - and because his mind and his heart were first on God, God gave him abundance elsewhere as well.  Because he could put God first, God knew He could trust Solomon with other blessings and Solomon's focus would remain on the giver, not the gifts.  The Psalm today could very well have been written for Solomon's mind and heart - "I say to the Lord 'You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing."

I don't know about you, but I don't handle prosperity and peace very well.  However much I may know that the gifts I enjoy have come from God, my mind gets comfortable with the gift, with the sufficiency, with the calm, that it becomes complacent, and I find myself much more susceptible to temptation and sin.  I pray for the wisdom Solomon asked for and God granted, a wisdom that will focus on the giver, not the gift; a wisdom that will transform the knowledge of God's generosity into action in my life.  

7/19/13

Friday, 7/19/13

Rightful condemnation and undeserved grace

"And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:16-19 NLT)

All I am gonna write today is a quote from a song that we will sing on Sunday:

"Yeah He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves!"

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Thursday, July 18

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013

1 Chronicles 26:1–27:34

Romans 4:13–5:5

Psalm 14:1–7

Proverbs 19:17

 

 

“It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath.  And where there is no law there is no transgression.” (Romans 4:13–15)

 

In Romans 1:18–3:20, Paul systematically demonstrates that both the Jews (those under the Law) and the Gentiles (those not under the Law, but having received the revelation of God’s character through creation) have fallen short of God’s glory.  Here, Paul discusses how Abraham and his offspring alike will receive forgiveness of sin and inheritance of Christ’s righteousness through faith.

 

In Romans 3:20, Paul explains of the Law:  “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”  We may view in the previous readings in Romans and in today’s passage that we respond to reality by coming to trust Christ: in the reality of our fallenness and in the security of God’s promises.  While the world may jeer us for having “blind faith,” we recognize that our faith lies instead in the solid foundation of God’s character, promises, and sovereignty.

 

 

“Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham.  He is the father of us all.  As it is written:  ‘I have made you a father of many nations.’  He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.” (Romans 4:16,17)

 

Abraham’s path of faith and its ultimate destination have a universal character.  Each person from eternity past to eternity future must grapple with God’s existence, the reality of sin, the due penalty for that sin, and his or her response to God’s invitation through Jesus Christ.  The response must come individually; while we may have experienced a taste of the Gospel through our upbringing, we may never inherit our faith.

 

In light of sin’s reality and its deserved punishment through God’s wrath, we all must trust in “the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were t.”  This description speaks to God’s redemptive attributes:  that He may obliterate the debt of sin and our brokenness because of it.  Many times, our human frailty will cause us to question God’s capability to intervene and redeem.  The Evil One would very much wish to destroy the rightful hope in God’s goodness and desire to redeem.

 

 

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’  Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.  Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.  This is why ‘it was credited to him as righteousness.’  The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:18–25)

 

As we struggle through daily challenges, we often face the temptation to give up.  Perhaps this temptation involves a healthy or godly habit that we are seeking to instill or to trust God for our future.  The Bible contains many encouragements to “press on,” “continue,” and otherwise stay on course.  We remain incredibly vulnerable to defeat and surrender.

 

One phrase jumps out to me:  “[Abraham] was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”  Where did Abraham’s strength or the persuasion come from?  From what I may gather here and from life experience, Abraham did not self-originate his faith; rather, the Holy Spirit spoke into his heart and revealed His character to a receptive Abraham.

 

Perhaps this analogy of being “carried along” by the force of God’s character and the direction of the Holy Spirit will help.  I absolutely love bodysurfing:  feeling the power of the waves and the exhilaration of being just in the right spot.  To me, there are a number of parallels in walking with God.  When catching an excellent wave, the bodysurfer has to exert only a little effort in order to achieve the goal of a great ride.  The wave itself provides the power and guidance, while the bodysurfer needs primarily to find the timing and positioning required to capture all that the wave has to offer.  In the middle of the ride, the bodysurfer may sense the expected duration and smoothness of the ride and feel the awesome push of the water.

 

May we position ourselves at God’s feet and, in humility, receive the strengthening and persuasion in our faith that we need on a moment-by-moment basis.

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I Chronicles 24-26:11, Romans 4:1-12, Psalm 13:1-6, Proverbs 19:15-16

I Chronicles 24-26:11, Romans 4:1-12, Psalm 13:1-6, Proverbs 19:15-16

 

            I don't consider myself very musical, but there is always a song going on in my head.  Many times D will ask me what I'm thinking about and I will start singing him a song…then he will smirk and roll his eyes at me.  He calls my music "Nikkie music" that many of you have never heard of.  One of my favorite indie folk musicians is Neko Case.  I have dragged my loving husband to her a shows a couple times.  The best part is that I will sometimes catch him whistling one of her songs (even when it's against his own will J )  When I am feeling whiney at home and need attention, this song will echo in our home,

"And when we're older, and full of cancer

It doesn't matter now, come on get happy

'Cause nothing lasts forever

But I will always love you

 

Don't forget me, please don't forget me

Make it easy, only just for a little while

You know I think about you

Let me know you think about me too"

 

Psalm 13, written by David,  is a song dedicated to God and divided into three parts.  It starts out as a heart heavy cry of loneliness and anxiety.  "How long…" is asked four times.  David is struggling with a feeling of separation from God, that he is absent, His voice is not being heard by David.   He expresses a battle against himself, and his thoughts.  It is a battle against an enemy.  As I mentioned, he questions God, for "how long???" 

 

In verse 3 the tone shifts from desperation to seriousness…a prayer.  He calls on to God with a heart of petition.  He asks for answers, but he also asks for "light to my eyes."  He prays that his eyes may see.  He shares his concern with his enemies.  This is a heartfelt prayer that continues to change.

 

He concluded this short Psalm with confidence and praise.  He declares he will TRUST… not that his enemies will be overcome, that justice will be served, or that protection is there.  The one thing that David truly trusts is God's UNFAILING LOVE.  This creates a heart that REJOICES in God's salvation….being saved by God.  He reacts by singing to the LORD because he has been GOOD to me.

 

The last five days have looked much like the first part of this Psalm.  Question to God..looking for His presence, looking for His face, and we have all wrestled with our thoughts, sorrow in our hearts, and sorrow in our streets.  Our own enemies have triumphed.  We ask God, "How long will this go on?"  Maybe God is asking us, "Are you willing to wait?"  We must ask God to transform these thoughts that we wrestle with into thoughts of prayer and petition.  As Christians, as the body of Christ I pray that at the start and end of everyday we trust in God's unfailing love; That our hearts rejoice and that we will sing.   I have included a song by Shane and Shane that captures this Psalm.  The verses are these words put to music.  The chorus that they have added at each break is a declaration, "I will wait on You." 

http://youtu.be/P87pOV-tdq0 

 

July 16

1 Chronicles 22-23

Romans 3:9-31

Psalm 12

Proverbs 19:13, 14

1 Chronicles 23:2-5 He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. The Levites thirty years old or more were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand. David said, "Of these, twenty-four thousand are to be in charge of the work of the temple of the LORD and six thousand are to be officials and judges. Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose."    Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.    In his last years as king, David made preparations for the temple of the Lord to be built by his son Solomon. He gathered 38,000 Levites and gave them assignments. Building and maintaining the temple were monumental tasks that required a lot of materials, hard work, and coordination. David had a desire to be the one who built this temple for the Lord. But we read that God told him that it would not be so. It was God's plan that Solomon be the one to build His house. This must have been so disappointing for David.   I am amazed at how David responded to this news from God. He could have easily felt self pity, isolated himself, or refused to have anything to do with the temple. But he didn't. His heart longed to please God, even if that meant letting go of something he desired. He spent the last years of his life preparing for the construction of the Lord's temple, a temple he would never live to see.   I started to think about how easy it is for me to forget the reason behind why I do anything. Colossians 3:17 says that no matter what I do or say, I need to do it for God. How different would my days be if I held on to this verse all the time? Waking up in the morning, driving to work, answering the phone, cleaning my house, taking care of my dog (which recently included cleaning skunk spray off of him!), talking with my family, neighbors, and friends, cooking dinner, playing keyboard at church, writing a blog entry for a Bible reading group... all these things are opportunities for me to bring glory to God. If that is my motivation, then even if I encounter something that is difficult, disappointing, or hurtful, then I will have the strength to keep going.   I encourage you to think about what motivates you. If it's anything other than God, than you are setting yourself up for disappointment. But if you do everything in the name of the Lord, then no matter your circumstances, you will find fulfillment and peace in Him.

 

 

Monday Blogpost - Psalm 11 [Protection]

Monday, July 15, 2013 [Protection] – Psalm 11

1     I trust in the Lord for protection.  So why do you say to me, "Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!

4     But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven.  He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.

7     For the righteous Lord loves justice.  The virtuous will see his face.

The events of the recent days in Sanford, Florida have called for the country to reflect deeply on many different things.  Some question the legal system and cry out for justice.  Others maintain that justice was upheld and cry out for the nation to move on with life.  Some have determined that the best way to defend one's-self is to have a firearm at the ready. And yet there are others that have committed their protection to the Lord, much like this psalmist.

I lived through a troubling event similar to what happened in Sanford.  It happened back in April of 1990 when an African American teen in my hometown of Teaneck, New Jersey was shot and killed by a white police officer.  Riots and protests ensued – people were angry.  The event divided the town instantly and changed the entire community forever.  Since the officer was acquitted and exonerated at the end of the trial, many of us young black teens had a fear of police officers, the very people we should have trusted to protect us.  This was a real fear.

Before my brother or I would leave the house, my dad and mom would remind us:  "Keep a prayer on your lips."  They recognized that we were going out and needed protection – protection that they couldn't provide for us.  But they knew that God would protect us; that if we called on Him He would answer (Isaiah 65:24).  They understood the name of the Lord to be a strong tower that the righteous run into and are safe (Psalm 18:10).

Twenty-three years later I can say with confidence that "I trust in the Lord for protection."  Not knowing what tomorrow may hold in store for me, "I trust the Lord for protection."  I need the Lord to protect my heart, my mind, and my body.  I desperately need to abide under the shadow of the Almighty because the reality is that our world is a violent place.  But with all of this world's violence, "the Lord, Who is in His holy temple, still rules from heaven."  There is not a thing that occurs that is outside of God's ability to control.  He watches over us and knows everything that happens in our lives (Psalm 121:5).  My faith compels me to believe that "God's got this" as well as everything else that concerns us (Psalm 138:8).  

Lord, help us to humbly trust You for our protection.  Since You see everything, and rule over everything, give us the courage to trust You with everything and to receive Your peace.  In Jesus' Name – Amen!

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The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. (Psalm 18:10, NIV)

The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.  (Psalm 121:5)

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! (Isaiah 65:24, NLT)

The LORD will work out his plans for my life--for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me. (Psalm 138:8)

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"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26)

Kenny Sullivan

(201) 218-0751

שלום

July 14

 USA Today carried an article on the priorities of the Gen Y.  Gen Y's are people 18-25 years old.  When asked what their top life goal was, the answer was clear and resounding: They want to be rich and famous. 

 

81% get rich.

51% become famous.

30% help people who need help.

22% be leaders in their community.

10% become more spiritual.

 

God received 5^th place and 10% of their priorities.

 

1 Chron. 17:1  After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent."

 

The first question we must ask is, why would the creator of heaven and earth need a place to live? Couldn't God just speak a word and make an eighteen-room mansion appear anywhere on earth?  Of course he could, but he chooses to see how much of a priority this would be in David's life.

The same is true today. God doesn't dwell in a building of mortar and stone anymore; he resides in our hearts. The question is how much time, attention, money and effort we are committing to making him feel welcomed in our hearts. Are we putting in endless hours of work and effort to build our physical homes while ignoring our hearts? According to the research in USA Today that is exactly the case. We are living in the lap of luxury while ignoring the far greater spiritual priorities.  There is nothing wrong with living in a nice house, so don't go out and damage your home after reading this! The concern for us is spending so much time and energy houses that will not be standing in 50 years while ignoring our spirits which will be alive for all eternity. 

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

July 13 - I don't want to be one of those who "doesn't get it".

1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36

Romans 1:18-32

Psalm 10:1-15

Proverbs 19:6-7

I don't want to be one of those who "doesn't get it."  I want to be in on the joke, I want the inside scoop, I want to know what is going on.  I want to get it.  

Today's OT reading was a long one, and for all that was said about David, the person that struck me most was Michal, daughter of Saul, who say David dancing and celebrating, and "she despised him in her heart."  In 1 Samuel 18 we read that Michael was David's wife.  She must have loved David - she protected him when her father wanted to kill him.  And yet in today's verses, and in 2 Samuel 6, we see she did not like it.  NIV notes on 2 Samuel 6 suggest she didn't appreciate the significance of the event, and resented David's public display as "unworthy of the dignity of a king."  She didn't get it, so she applied her own interpretation to it.

Today's NT reading talks a lot about a people who do not get it, a people who have lost relationship with God and have, in its place, built up traditions and rules and laws of their own.  These are a people who, "although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him..." And so, "although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being..."  And the consequences of God's rejection, and His replacement with man as supreme being, were severe, the justification of sexual impurity prominent among those consequences.  Also part of the package - wickedness, evil, greed and depravity, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossips, slander...not something we would wish on our enemies on their worst day.  Did they do this because they knew it was wrong?  I can't imagine they did; rather, I suspect that, having lost their connection with God, they came to believe this right.  In this way, there are churches able to justify gay marriage as "equal opportunity", and there will be people who will try to justify lynching a man acquitted in an unpopular verdict as "racial equality".  

In the face of such difficult situations, where earthly heroes find themselves at a loss (Dwayne Wade twitter comment: how do I explain this to my kids???), how do we respond?  How lucky are we to be able to cry out to God "Arise, Lord!  Lift up your hand, O God.  Do not forget the helpless." and "But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted, you consider their grief and take it in hand.  The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless."  We have a God to turn to, one we can count on, who will handle these situations in His perfect love, wisdom and strength.  And we can take heart, if we have a relationship with Him.  If we get it.

Which is why I don't want to be one of those who "doesn't get it."