Psalm 121

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

"Lord, on this day would you help me lift my eyes.  Sometimes it's the very thing that I need the most help with that I refuse to lift my eyes from.  May this weekend be a string of hours that find me looking to you and knowing your filling."

He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

"Thank-you for never checking out on me.  I count on you watching me and on you knowing about what I can't understand.  I'm kind of like the little child that is always saying, 'Dad watch this.'  I know I don't have to say that to you... but, 'Hey God, I'm facing another day - Watch me!'"

The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

"Lord, I don't know of many things that are really consistent.  You are.  Watching the sun come up on this new day I know you will be with me through it.  Each night I rest knowing you will be with me as I close the day."

The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

"Lord, is it ok that I don't understand why sometimes harms seems to find its way to me?  There is a confident living that you call me to, a confidence in your protection.  I guess I will never know what you have protected me from because I get my eyes on what has been allowed to touch my life.  Help me lift my eyes and see you in faith.  'Both now and forevermore'."

Praying the Word,

Pastor Dave 

Welcome to Spring

There are a lot of things that the wonderful season we are going into involves.  

1. I'm thinking again about cleaning my garage.  For months I've tattooed the excuse, "it's too cold" on my tongue so it was ready to be used when the temptation would arise in my mind.  I have a small window before the, "it's too hot" tattoo comes out.  It's time to do it.

2. The yard projects have mocked me through the winter reminding me that soon I would not be able to hide them under a thin layer of snow.  The layer is gone.  They are not.  Their mocking is louder when it's not muffled by a few inches of snow.

3.  I love walking around the block when there is no ice.  This time is a mixture of exercise, dog walking, and talking with God.  I look forward to a new season of walks.  I love being able to walk.

4.  Trees aren't depressing anymore!  Through the winter the trees in my back yard allow the neighbor's house and ours to seem uncomfortably close.  When I look out my dining room window and ask the neighbor to "pass the salt" it's... weird.  Now that the trees have those green things on them again it gives us a little more privacy.

5. Car warming it over!  I don't have to start the car early to protect frostbite from setting in while I drive to the office.  Did you know most car heaters are programmed to start to work when you arrive at your destination and not before?  I like not having to remember to turn the car on early.

6. New life.  Spring reminds me of life.  It has responsibilities, and even its frustrations (pollen counts), but it screams life into our moments.  God, through His Spirit longs to bring a season of Spring and newness into your life.  The gunk of winter is over (old things pass away) and the hope of spring is here (all things become new again). [2Corinthians 5:17]

A Spring Prayer:

"Lord, thank you for bringing me through the season you have brought me through.  I trust you to lead me and bring a new work into my life.  Cause the pain and sin of yesterday to melt away.  Infuse me with a new warmth that will replace the stiffness that has attempted to render me ineffective.  Plant new seeds of your power that will grow into the pure fruit of knowing the center of your will.

This season is a season of joy because of your work and my surrender to that work.  I give you all of me.  I throw open the windows of my soul to let the breeze of the Holy Spirit force out what is stale and toxic that I have been breathing in.  May this season find me ready for all that you have in store and all that you permit me to face.  May the song that echos through the ages, because of the grace and gifts you have poured out, be heard from the voice of my soul and seen through the activity of my hands and feet.

Praying and Living in Jesus Name."

Welcome to Spring,

Pastor Dave 

Repentance

I've been thinking a lot, reading on, and talking with the Lord, about repentance.  In the 3rd chapter of Matthew John the Baptist confronted the Pharisees and Sadducees who came out to observe what was going on.  He publicly called out their motives to told them to "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance (verse 8)."  

They weren't there to repent or be baptized, they were there to arm themselves with information so they could control the movement of God (my opinion).

So, I've been thinking, what is the "fruit" that gives evidence of a repentant heart?    

Intimacy

I think the result of repentance includes intimacy with God.  When God puts His finger on an area of my life that is standing in the way of knowing Him, and I confess and repent, allowing the work of Christ to cleanse me and the Spirit to empower me - there is intimacy.

I'm known by God, but I can know God too.  When both of those are in place I am experiencing the relationship I was designed to experience.

Joy

There is another fruit that is designed to be in the Christ-follower - Joy.  Repentance opens the flood gates of God's presence which will result in a change of my spirit.  The world may not change a lot, but my view of it will.  

I fear that Christ-followers so quickly sit on the "crabby couch" because they have not had a full taste of turning from what offends the God they serve.

Agreement

Another fruit of truly turning to God and turning from sin is that I agree with God on what is offensive.  For too long we have asked God to agree with us about what is offensive.  If I think it is sin, I assume God does too, and everyone else should also.

I repent because I agree with God about what is sin.  After I do that I need to continue to  align myself up with His heart and His plan.

Confidence

The result of repentance should always plant a growing seed of confidence in my spirit.  A seed that God will grow as He cleanses and matures me.  I should have a firm foundation that is not shaken by "stuff."  "Stuff" doesn't weaken my grasp on God, or His grasp on me.  What I face, I face as a child of God.

I think we need to stop running from and ignoring our doubts and weaknesses and face them through a season of repentance that will bear the fruit of humble confidence.

Learning as I Dig,

Pastor Dave 

Thought list ...

It's time for a thought list again -

Thought 1.  Spring will be fun when it really gets here.

Thought 2.  American Idol most often does not produce someone worthy of the title.  But we love idolizing talent and looks and ignoring what is valuable and worthy of emulation.

Thought 3.  We watched the movie "The Blind Side" and loved it.  I wonder why there are not more stories of investing in people in ways that changes them.  There is a great lesson in this movie of what Christ does for us.

Thought 4.  I think it's interesting that there are people who want to make Ronald McDonald illegal because "he makes kids obese" and there are people who want to make marijuana legal because "it's not dangerous."  Both of them are wrong.

Thought 5.  Politicians should be held to a higher standard of morality and ethics.  A sports star is paid for their ability, a movie star entertains, a political figure takes an oath to represent people.  By definition the political figure should be the one that we trust and respect.            

Thought 6.  Movements grow into organizations and lose the original passion and ability to be flexible and remain true.  They then spend the rest of their existence trying to figure out how to be a movement again... churches too.

Thought 7.  The "great commission" is just as much a command as the "great command."  Disobedience to either is... disobedience.  "Loving God" and "going" with the truth to people, ya, not options for the follower of Christ.

Thought 8.  I've been wondering what miracle God wants to do this summer.  I've got a hunch we should go into the summer expecting God to do something new.  How do you ready yourself for a miracle - repentance.

Thought 9.  Communication isn't anywhere near as much a problem as we claim.  It's a buzz word that we throw out as a way of deflecting the issue in marriages and churches.  I think the problem is really listening.  There is more communication than ever, less listening.

Thought 10.  Genesis 18:13  "Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?"                

Occasionally it's time to let random thoughts find expression so that priorities can be sorted out.  Have you ever just written out the stuff that clutters your mind?  As you look over this list can you see the difference between opinion and truth?  Which of the above most needs to be expanded and more fully explained?

Aware of God,

Pastor Dave  

Grateful for Friday, Waiting For Sunday

I stood next to the cross.  I had just done my job.  As the frenzy of the crowd evaporates, the anger of the Pharisees turns to quiet shame, and the horror of his followers becomes reality - I stand frozen.

I have nailed many criminals to pieces of wood.  I have used my training on torture, my experience as a solider, and my pride as a Roman.  The trio has grown in my spirit until I am little more than a machine that is released on the deserving scum that has infected our culture with crime.

But, the events of this day are different.  They've had many of the same actions, but somehow they are ending in such a different way.  I feel no satisfaction this time.  I can't find justice in the air.  It seems that if the world had it to do over they would have done it differently... at least I would have.

So, now I stand at the feet of the "criminal" Jesus.  I have heard his last words that were void of bitterness.  I have watched as sincere followers wept at the dashing of their hopes and the brutal treatment of the one they loved.  

I'm trying to remember - what was the crime again?  Why did I do what I just did?  

It's my job.

Our culture must be protected from...

"The blood that runs by your feet is for you."  

I looked to see where a voice came from, who had whispered in my soul?  There are many people near by, but none close enough to whisper into my soul.  

"The blood that runs by your feet is for you."

I find myself looking to the man I have executed.  Instead of feeling manly and powerful I am aware of how small and weak I am.  What if I didn't take his life?  What if he gave it to me?  Why would he do that?  I have weapons and strength, yet I am completely  powerless.  Somehow the dead man is stronger than the live one.

"The blood that runs by your feet is for you."

I don't know why, I don't understand how, I'm not sure how this changes anything, but in ways I have a hunch today changes everything.  I have no care of who hears it.  I've got to say it.  I'm not even sure what this means but, "Surely this man was the Son of God."

Grateful for Friday, Waiting For Sunday,

Pastor Dave