Nanny's going home

Sometimes we need the proper context to appreciate the greatness of the Word of God. There are moments in our lives when the truths of God take on new meaning. As I spend time with Lynn’s grandmother in the closing hours of her life. The obvious aspects of mortality seem to stare me in the face. Yet, immortality breaks through. It’s natural to focus on what is seen rather than what is unseen. It’s understandable to obsess over what is happening now rather than what is unfolding before us. But, we have an opportunity to rest in so much more and we find the words that reveal the truth.

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Balance

Tonight in class we discussed balance. Balance is a tough subject. I think in some ways it's tougher to come by now more than ever. In the physical realm, I've never really amazed anyone with my sense of balance. I was never the kid who could dazzle anyone with my skateboarding talents. Nor was I the first kid to learn to pop a "wheelie" on my bicycle. Some of these struggles followed me into my adult life. But, I have learned some lessons relating to balance. In general when I speak about balance, I'm really talking about peace. Think about my opening statements about balance and plug in the word peace. It does seem to me that real peace is hard to come by these days. Why is that so often the case? One of the most graphic pictures of a lack of peace and stability is found in James 1. James paints a picture of a wave that is tossed around the sea by the wind. What is the remedy for such instability? It is faith. Specifically, James speaks of faith in God's ability to answer our prayer for wisdom. Peace comes when we ask for God's help and guidance and then trust God to provide it. Likewise God is our source of balance. God will give us wisdom for the choices we make from day to day.

Devotion

Sometimes it's easy to get sidetracked when it comes to being a Christian. We have this tendency to get caught up in doing Christianity instead of being. A friend forwarded a quote from Oswald Chambers (thanks Craig) that sums it up this way:

"Today we have substituted doctrinal belief for personal belief, and that is why so many people are devoted to causes and so few are devoted to Jesus Christ."

Causes are not bad. Doctrine beliefs are not bad. But, we become weary when our primary devotion is to a cause rather than Jesus. In fact, it is only through our devotional relationship with God that we can be refreshed and renewed for proper engagement in mission. Right thinking alone will not bring an overflow of love from our hearts. The love that we have for our neighbors is dependent upon our loving relationship with our Savior.

Great Devotional Thoughts

We were reading a devotional from Max Lucado's "Just Like Jesus" last night. I really like how he answers a couple of questions that I hear so often. How do I live in God's presence? How can you and I grow familiar with the voice of God? Here's his answer:

Give God your waking thoughts - Before you face the day, face the Father. Before you step out of bed, step into His presence.

Give God your waiting thoughts - Spend time with Him in silence.

Give God your whispering thoughts - Imagine considering every moment as a potential time of communion with God.

Give God your waning thoughts - At the end of the day, let your mind settle on Him. Conclude the day as you begain it: talking to God.

Why Father?

Here are some pre-Father's Day thoughts from Scot McKnight's Jesus Creed:

"The Lord's Prayer begins with Abba, Father. Jesus is decidedly lopsided when it comes to names for God: every prayer of Jesus recorded in the Gospels begins with 'Abba, Father except the famous My God, my God why have you forsaken me?' utterance from the cross...why does Jesus focus so narrowly on Abba as the name for God? God may be YHWH but that sacred name evokes mystery. YHWH may be King, but that term evokes distance. From a long list of names, Jesus chooses Abba. What Jesus wants to evoke with the name Abba is God's unconditional, unlimited and unwavering love for his people. In this name for God we are standing face-to-face with the very premise of spiritual formation: God loves us and we are his children."

Prayer

Recently, I have been reading a book by Scot McKnight called Jesus Creed. It's not a new book, but it's a good read. The short version of the Creed is "love God and love others". McKnight also shares some good teaching about how the "Lord's Prayer" relates to the creed. McKnight's message is about living the words of Jesus. Here's a quote that stuck in my heart:

"Prayer does not stop with the "Amen". It rises to its feet and walks off, with our built up yearning turned into action."

In particular, I like how McKnight describes what happens (or what should happen) when we pray: "built up yearning". In other words, our prayer life should create a fire within our hearts. It is a craving to love God and love others that is difficult to suppress. Too often we do not connect our prayer with our passion to live for God. Perhaps if the yearning is not there, we should pray more. If our prayer does not rise to its feet - maybe it should stay on its knees a little longer. Good thoughts for a Monday. Since it is Monday, I'll go ahead and substitue "sermon" for prayer. The sermon must not end with the "Amen" on Sunday. It rises to its feet on Monday and walks off with a yearning for action.