Daily Prayer - She saw how we loved

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

 

I keep coming back to this verse: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)

 

Is correct doctrine and theology important?  Absolutely.  But the way we treat others will have a much greater impact on them than what we believe.  Want proof?  Think about your own life - you have been influenced by two types of people: those who hurt you, and those who loved you.  The people who hurt you might have had incredibly correct theology, may have been in church every Sunday, but what effect did that have on you?  Yet the people who deeply loved you may have had very hazy beliefs, may have hardly ever attended church, but did that matter to you?

 

Again, correct doctrine and theology are important.  Important to us, and to our salvation.  But if you want to draw others in, do it by loving them in.

 

I saw the greatest example of this happen this past weekend.  We invited a 20-something year old friend to join us for church.  She is not a follower of Christ.  She saw that our church distributes boxes and boxes of free fruits and vegetables every week to anyone who wants them.  She saw that our little café that sells coffee, tea and muffins donates thousands of dollars every month to charities and missionaries all over the world.  She saw how we loved.  She also heard a strong, theologically sound sermon.  And she loved it all.  She wants to come back this Sunday.  How exciting is that???  She saw how we loved. 

As a good (Maritimer) friend of mine would say: "It's not rocket surgery".

Who are you (and your church) going to love into a life with Christ?

 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

God I thank You that before I existed, you framed my life together, you knit me together in my mother's womb and you ordained every one of my days.  Nothing about me is hidden from you and nothing that I think or say or do is a surprise to you – you know it all.  God I declare that Your word is truth: I was chosen in love to be adopted by you before the world began.

 

Father, I ask You to open my heart and flood it with your light of revelation.  I don't only want to know you, but I want that deep assurance of being known and loved by You that will bring a rest to my soul and will free my heart to love as You love.  God fill me to overflowing with Your love so that as I have freely received I may freely give.

 

God I thank you that in redemption You have purchased so much – the restoration of my total communion with You and the restoration of my communion with others in Your body.  Jesus I declare that the time has come to see your prayer answered that we might be one even as You and the Father are one – that the world might believe.  Let it be unto us according to Your word oh God!  In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen!

 

(http://peichurch.ca/about-scc/links-articles/loving-like-jesus-loved/)

Daily Prayer - What does love require of me today?

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

 

Many, many people outside (and even inside) the Church would say that Christianity is all about rules.  And with good reason. There are the "Big Ten" (Ten Commandments), but scholars count 613 total commandments in the Old Testament.  And it is really easy to focus on the commands and miss the intention of the Commander.

 

Jesus set the record straight on that.  When asked what the greatest commandment was, what did He reply?

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40)

All the Law. Thou shalt not kill.  Thou shalt not commit adultery.  Thou shalt not steal.  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.  Thou shalt not covet what others have.  All of them are covered by this commandment.

 

Shortly before His death on the cross, Jesus reinforced this to His disciples:

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

There is no doubt that Paul studied the words of Jesus for in his letter to the church in Rome he writes:

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not covet," and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10)

Whoever loves has fulfilled the law.  Love IS the fulfillment of the law.

 

Is your faith about keeping the rules?  Or is it about the heart of the One who gave the rules?

 

I wager that at some point today you will have an interaction with someone that you will find difficult to love.  It might be someone you don't know - a cashier, a waitress, a guy driving a big SUV like he owns the road.  Or it might be someone you know very well - a co-worker, your boss, your spouse, your child, your parent.  In the midst of that exchange, could you ask yourself one question: What does love require of me today?

 

Grace and peace and love be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

Jesus, it's a simple concept, but it is so against our nature to live this command out in everyday life.

Holy Spirit, remove our selfish hearts and replace them with your own.

Help us to react in love when we are wronged.

Even down to our thoughts, Lord, renew us with your love.

 

God, there are some of us praying this prayer that haven't experienced the fullness of your love.

You say, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

Holy Spirit, break down walls right now and soften hearts.

Fill us all with the fullness of your 1st Corinthians 13 love.

Your love is self-sacrificing and healing.

We receive that love right now.

Let it burn into our hearts and purge them of selfishness and hatred.

In Christ, we are made new right now.

 

Thank you, Jesus. We love you.

 

(http://www.givenlife.com/2011/04/loving-one-another/)

Daily Prayer - A tale of two sons

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

 

Jesus tells several parables in Chapter 15 of Luke's Gospel.  The most famous of these is the Parable of the Lost (or Prodigal) Son.  Luke first sets the scene by telling us who Jesus' audience was:

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:1-2). 

So there are two groups present: first the tax collectors and other "sinners", and secondly the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, who could not understand why Jesus would even want to associate with this first group.  They were offended that He would rather spend time with "those people" than with them. (Isn't it interesting that the tax collectors were so despised they rated their own category apart from sinners?!). 

 

Jesus speaks to both of these very different groups with this parable.  If you recall, there were two brothers in the story: "There was a man who had two sons." (Luke 15:11).  The tax collectors and sinners, and probably you and I, can relate to the journey of the younger son.  At one time we were separated from God but found grace and mercy when we returned.  The last part of the parable, however, was intended as a message for the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. They are represented by the older brother in the story.  Remember what happened when he returned from the fields where he had been working, and found out his father was throwing a party for his sinful, unworthy brother?

The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.  But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

 

"'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' (Luke 15:28-32)

The heart of the God is truly revealed here, and we might find it convicting.  I know I do.  The father says to his older son "you are always with me".  THAT is what is most important to Him, not that we have "slaving" for Him, not that we never disobeyed Him, but that we are in a loving relationship with Him, spending time with Him.  Everything He has is ours, He gives it all to us. Why would we ever resent what has been given to someone else?  The longer we are "back home" with God, the easier it is to move from being the younger son to being the older one.  Let us always remember what is truly important: that God is ALWAYS with us, loves us, and has great things in store for us.

 

See yourself today as a son/daughter in your Father's house and hear Him speak to you these powerful words, "You are always with me, and everything I have is yours."

 

I pray your relationship with God is characterized by unity, surrender, and joy. But if you aren't experiencing intimacy with the Lord, He desires to reveal Himself in a personal way to you. Let go of pride, confess your sin and rebellion, and devote yourself to a relationship with Him. David wrote, "In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever" (Ps. 16:11). Only God can satisfy the deepest longings of your heart. Take time to discover the awesome depth of the Father's love through an intimate relationship with Him. (Charles Stanley http://www.intouch.org/you/sermon-outlines/content?topic=our_intimacy_with_god_sermon_outline)

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

 

Lord, help us to remember that it is not what we do for You that brings you pleasure but rather remind us daily that it is an intimate, honest, and loving relationship with us that You desire.

 

Keep us grateful that we were once lost, but now are found.

 

Help us to treat the many around us who are lost with the grace that we were freely given.

 

Amen.

Daily Prayer - Season and glow

Good Friday morning, my friends.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

 

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16)

Jesus doesn't say "BE salt and light" - He say "you ARE salt and light".  A follower of Christ will naturally be these things, living a life of gratitude for the grace that has been extended to us.

 

Our "good deeds" will set us apart from those around us who do not have a relationship with Christ - family, friends, co-workers, waiters, cashiers, bank tellers (does anyone actually go into a bank any more?), that guy in traffic who just cut you off .  Our actions will point people towards God, and not towards ourselves.  We choose not to do the wrong thing, even when making such a choice makes us stand out.  Someone might feel convicted by our action, and that is a good thing, but they should never, ever feel condemned.  They need to know that we made our choice for our own reasons, because of our own convictions, and that they are free to choose for themselves.  We must be consistent in these actions - that builds up credibility.  Eventually that person may ask you why, and that is an opportunity for the Gospel.  Remember our New Year's resolution to pray for boldness and to have opportunities to tell others the Good News?  The truth, however, is we may never know the effect we have on others.  There are many in my past who have no idea how influential they were.  But regardless of that (or perhaps because of it) we are to continue to be salt and light to those around us.

 

If you are a follower of Christ, it is most likely because someone (or someones?) around you spread salt and light. I will be eternally, and I mean ETERNALLY, grateful to the people who had this influence on me.  And I didn't come quietly.  Kicking and screaming is a better description.

 

Salt preserves. Light shows the way.

 

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

Lord, I pray that we would be the Holy flavor to a world doused with the spice of unrighteousness. 

 

I pray that we would preserve what is righteous, and season the culture around us with the flavor of You. 

 

I pray that we would remain potent with the truth of the whole gospel. 

 

Lord, may the gospel that transformed us, be something that we gladly share. 

 

Help us to be bold in both word and deed, speaking truth and living out it's implications. 

 

I pray that we would be radiant with Your light, and that we would give off a glow that attracts those to You as Savior, Father and Holy King. 

 

I pray that wherever you lead us, that we would be salt and light to a bland, decaying, dark world.

 

(adapted from http://modsquadblog.com/2011/10/31-days-of-prayer-day-10-salt-and-light/)

Daily Prayer - Daily Grind

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

 

Do you wake up every morning just raring for another day of the same-old same-old?  Going to work.  Going to school.  Housework.  Errands.  Appointments.  Kids activities.

 

It is so easy to lose God in the daily routine of life.  We get in a rut, discouraged by the repetitiveness of our activities.  If you find yourself in this mode, perhaps this prayer will help.

 

Grace and peace and fulfillment be yours,
Bruce

 

 

 

Lord Jesus, often the daily grind is not appealing as I awaken each morning to the tasks before me.

 

Sometimes the routine seems endless and I find myself lacking fulfillment in this aspect of my life and yet it requires the majority of my time and focus.

 

Jesus, please help me to find the hidden strength that only comes from seeking You to deal with the negative attitudes that tempt me daily.

 

Help me also to look beyond the immediate to the deeper meaning of each day's task.

 

Above all, help me to keep my eyes on spiritual truths as I meditate upon Your Word and apply its meaning to my life each new day.

 

It is in this faithful practice of placing You at the center of my focus that I can rise above the difficulties that come my way.

 

Restore to me, this day, the joy of Your salvation and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

 

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/a-prayer-for-hope-6/)

Daily Prayer - Frozen hearts

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

 

I don't know what it is like where you are, but when I got up in Ottawa this morning it was -27C.  -38 with the windchill.  As they would say at home "Cold enough for ya?".

 

I found this verse in the Prayer of Azariah (a book of the Apocrypha):

O ye ice and cold, bless ye the Lord:
    praise and exalt him above all for ever. (Prayer of Azariah 1:49)

How appropriate today!

 

But the temperature outside isn't the only thing that can grow cold.  Our hearts, our affection for God, can freeze up.  The prayer below I found quite convicting, but in that conviction I could hear God's still, small voice calling me to greater love.  In that same voice He is calling to you in some way today.  Listen closely.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

O Infinitely Passionate Father,

 

You have created me with the capacity for deep affections — to love, to loathe, to desire, to delight, to excite, to grieve, to laugh, to enjoy, to fear, to be depressed, to be thankful. And you made me this way that I may glorify you by finding you my Supreme Satisfaction and the Fountain of everything delightful.

 

But I confess that my affections for you are often grievously tepid while my selfish interests steam.

 

I am bold to defend my own honor and reputation and often timid to defend yours.
I am quick to satisfy my bodily appetites and often slow to feed my soul with the Bread of Life.
I squander moments devoted to communing with you while carefully protecting moments devoted to banal entertainment.
I am distracted from speaking with you by books that need straightening, email that needs answering, and a bald spot in the yard that needs seeding.
I am easily and foolishly concerned with worldly success and prosperity while languid and unmoved about the greater things of another world!

 

And I know that my errant affections are most offensive to you when I hear of the infinite height, depth, and length, and breadth of your love for me in Christ Jesus,

 

Of your giving your infinitely dear Son to be offered up a sacrifice for my sins,
Of the unparalleled love of the innocent, holy, and tender Lamb of God, manifested in his dying agonies, bloody sweat, loud and bitter cries, and bleeding heart,
And all this to redeem an enemy like me from deserved, eternal burnings, and give to me unspeakable and everlasting joy and glory,
And my response is cool, lethargic, and indifferent.
O gracious Father, thank you that your Son's great sacrifice is so great and so sufficient that it pays even for such sins of erroneous affections!

 

But, my affectionate Father, I am humbled to the dust that I am not more affected at what affects you! I repent of being "slothful in zeal"! No more, Father! Make me boil in spirit as I serve you (Romans 12:11)! To be moved by your glorious gospel and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4) is why you gave me affections! Nothing in earth or heaven is greater or more important. 

 

Today, I take to heart your Son's warning: "Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm… I will spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:15–16). Merciful Father, make me hot! Whatever it takes, whatever it costs me, give me the Spirit-salve for my heart-eyes (Revelation 3:18) so that I may see what is Real, believe what is True, treasure what is Valuable, and forsake what is worthless.

 

In the name of Jesus, your glorious Son, the Pearl of Great Price, amen.

 

This prayer was inspired by and adapted from a portion of Jonathan Edwards's book, Religious Affections (the last three paragraphs of Part 1).

 

(http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/a-prayer-for-a-lukewarm-heart)

Daily Prayer - How can we not love Him back?

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

 

Western culture today seems intent on rejecting God.  They insist we do not need God.  Yet in spite of this, God continues to love His people.  Just read this passage from the Old Testament prophet Hosea and see if there isn't a parallel with the world we live in:

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. But as the saying goes, "The more they were called, the more they rebelled." They never stopped offering incense and sacrifices to the idols of Baal.

 

I took Israel by the arm and taught them to walk. But they would not admit that I was the one who had healed them. I led them with kindness and with love, not with ropes. I held them close to me; I bent down to feed them.

 

But they trusted Egypt instead of returning to me; now Assyria will rule them. War will visit their cities, and their plans will fail. My people are determined to reject me for a god they think is stronger, but he can't help.

 

Israel, I can't let you go. I can't give you up. How could I possibly destroy you as I did the towns of Admah and Zeboiim? I just can't do it. My feelings for you are much too strong. Israel, I won't lose my temper and destroy you again. I am the Holy God- not merely some human, and I won't stay angry.

 

I, the Lord, will roar like a lion, and my children will return, trembling from the west. They will come back, fluttering like birds from Egypt or like doves from Assyria. Then I will bring them back to their homes. I, the Lord, have spoken! (Hosea 11:1-11)

 

"For God so loved the world..."

 

Indeed He does.  How can we not love Him back?

 

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours,
Bruce

 

Heavenly  Father, I invite You to make Yourself at home in my heart.

 

Send my roots deep into the soil of Your marvelous love.

 

Grant me the power to understand its scope—its width, length, height, and depth.

 

Allow me the privilege of experiencing and recognizing that love every day.

 

And Lord, as You teach me more about Your love for me, please fulfill the promise that accompanies a deeper understanding of this gift—fill me with the fullness of life and power that comes from You alone.

 

In Jesus name, amen.

 

(http://www.gracefox.com/2012/11/05/a-life-changing-prayer-about-gods-love/)

Daily Prayer - Soak in His love

Good Monday morning, my friends.

 

Some days our self-esteem can take a beating.  During periods of our lives "some days" can be "most days" or even "every day".  This happens when we listen to the voice in our head that says "you aren't good enough", "you are useless", "you are ugly".  It happens when we look to those around us for approval and self-worth.  We (and I really mean we - this message is truly for me as well as you) need instead to look at the worth Jesus places on us.  He chose to be born into this world to save you and me.  Because He loves you and me.  "For God so loved the world ..."

 

Here are some more examples of how God tells us of His love:

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

 

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

 

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— (Ephesians 2:4-5)

 

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:9-11)

 

How about some Old Testament examples:

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

 

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)

 

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14)

 

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. (Proverbs 8:17)

 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

Soak in His love today.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

 

 

Father, we know that in ourselves we are nothing, but in You, we are made complete.

 

Our identity is found in Christ and that is the basis of our self-worth making us valuable and capable of worthy service through Christ who dwells within us.

 

Help us not to be consumed with thoughts of how the world views us, but to think soberly with good judgment so that we do not look to the wrong source for approval or imitate that which deglorifies Christ.

 

Through Christ Jesus our Lord we pray.

 

Amen.

 

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/a-prayer-for-sound-judgment/)

Daily Prayer - Negotiating?

Good Friday afternoon, my friends.

 

Do you have peace with God?  Do you feel AT peace with God? 

 

If not, then perhaps you are still negotiating with him about your sin vs. works. 

 

For me the negotiation goes something like this: "God, I don't do nearly as much of the bad stuff I used to do, I go to church every Sunday (OK, most Sundays), I go to my Bible study group, I write these amazing daily prayer emails - You HAVE to accept me now!" 

 

Maybe yours is "God, if You will just help me to start/stop doing _______________ then I will do/not do ________________."

 

Sometimes we all feel that our failures, our sin, prevent us from approaching God.  We think our sin makes us unworthy to ask anything of Him in prayer.

 

What we fail to remember in these moments is the promise God made to us; a promise sealed in blood.  When humans make such a promise, both parties confirm the promise by cutting their palms so that when they shake hands, their blood is mixed (and all the women go "uuuggggghhhhhh!" - more of a guy thing, I guess!). But when God made His promise, confirmed His promise, only His blood was shed.  He took full responsibility for it - we do not have to contribute anything. We do not have to negotiate anything.  "Peace to men on whom his favour rests" (Luke 2:14).  And His favour rests on those who accept the forgiveness offered to them.

 

If we are honest, I believe we would all confess that there are times we do not feel at peace with God.  Those are the times to remember the Cross and realize once more the incredible gift of grace we have been given.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours.
Bruce

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I am lacking Your perfect peace.

 

Please help me to turn my heart and mind toward You.

 

I know that I am involved in a spiritual battle and that the enemy seeks to destroy the peace I can have with God.

 

Forgive me, Lord, for seeking peace apart from You and strengthen me according to Your Word.

 

Amen.

 

(http://www.rasalam.com/www.prayer-ministry.com/peace.html)

 

Daily Prayer - Spread some flavour

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

 

Do you want to be in the will of God today?  I believe you can be so with the wonderful prayer below.  You are the salt of the earth - spread some flavouring today.

 

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours,
Bruce

 

 

 

Father, I want the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart to be pleasing to You this day.

 

I pray that my conversation is uplifting so that I build others up rather than tear them down.

 

Just as salt is tasty to food, making it more pleasant to eat, I pray that my dialogue is wholesome, making conversation pleasant and beneficial to those who listen.

 

Because of Your redemptive work in my life I am blessed and highly flavored with the preserving salt of Your holy Word.

 

I want to spread the message of Your salvation to others so that they are snatched from the evil one and their lives are preserved for this life and the next.

 

We pray this in the name of Jesus.

 

Amen.

 

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/01/11/a-prayer-for-being-the-salt-of-the-earth-2/)

Daily Prayer - Obedience

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

 

Occasionally I get a note from one of you telling me that a particular message "struck home", or saying "God spoke to me" through the message.  Even for those who have not sent me with such a message I suspect that occasionally these missives connect with you or you wouldn't continue to read them.  I am sure that much of the preaching you hear in church, or passages you read in your Bible also seem to have a direct bearing on your life. Every time I read the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5-7) I feel convicted by something Jesus says, whether it is about praying or giving, anger=murder or lust=adultery, the Holy Spirit points to something in my life that is keeping me from a deeper relationship with God.  It is a wonderful thing to have the God who created the universe communicating with us in this way. But feeling that conviction and actually doing something about it are two completely different things.  The first, quite frankly, is useless without the second.  Jesus says as much in these very familiar words at the end of His sermon:

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. (Matthew 7:24-27)

James restates this in his own blunt way: "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them" (James 4:17).  It is SIN. Ouch.

 

The more we hear God's word and feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and do not apply them to our lives, the more danger we put ourselves in.  "But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48)

 

We have been given much.

 

So if you have had that feeling of God speaking directly to you through scripture or sermons or messages like these, and you haven't been heeding those words, you might want to stop reading your Bible, stop going to church, or click on the "Unsubscribe" link below.  They are putting you in danger of severe punishment.

 

I know it's not about being perfect; that's not my point.  But if you know right now in your heart the issue God has been trying to deal with in your life, then maybe right now is the time to surrender it. This is the time to ask Him to help you do something about it.  I promise if you do, you will experience a deeper relationship with the One who loves you completely.

 

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me."  (Revelation 3:20)

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

Father, as we thank You for Your eternal Word, we have much to confess. 
We have not always treated it as Your Word. 
We have not always approached it in humble obedience. 
Sometime we have neglected it altogether; at other times we have read it half heartedly with our minds on other things;
worst of all, there have been those times when we have read it thinking that we would, through such reading,  gain brownie points in the Book of Life.  

 

Father, we know that Your Word is intended, both directly and indirectly, to get inside our heads,
to deal with our souls and to form a life that is congruent with Your will as You have made it known through Your Son Jesus.

O God, forgive us for our failure to internalize Your truth and to let it form and fashion us into a people that are well pleasing unto You. 
Help us, O God, to take You seriously when You cry: "Is not my Word like a fire and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces."
 
God of love and mercy, give us an appetite for Your Word such as was expressed by the prophet: "When Your Words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my hearts delight." 
Only then will the reading of Your Word produce in us, the purpose for which You have given it to us. 
Only then will it enter our souls as food enters our stomachs, spread through our blood and produce in us the Christ-likeness which makes us truly Your people in word and deed. 
 
This is our prayer offered in the name of Jesus.   

 

Amen

 

(http://www.biblecoachonline.com/obedience%20to%20the%20word.html)

Daily Prayer - Take shelter

Good Friday morning, my friends.

 

There is no doubt that some of the pain and suffering we experience in the world is due to our own bad decisions.  Equally true is that there are some events that bring grief and trouble over which we have no control.

 

We do know that God is always in complete control, and even thought we cannot see what He sees, we trust that He is using all of this to transform us into the likeness of His Son.

 

Seek Him out; ask for forgiveness if necessary; and take shelter under His wing.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

 

 

Father, we know that life is full of ups and downs for everyone, even the most diligent spiritual warrior.

 

Help us to work through these jolts of the unexpected and unwelcome interruptions that bring sadness, disappointment or a change of perfect plans.

 

It's how You work Your purpose in our lives as we overcome and work through major obstacles that affect us.

 

We seek to remain steadfast, moving forward in our Christian walk as we experience the inevitable heartaches of life.

 

At times we bring about our own grief and troubles because of our ungodly actions.

 

We thank You for Your forgiveness in these matters.

 

You enable us to get up, take off the sackcloth, and brush off the burnt ashes from doing things our own way.

 

And You give us fresh resolve to trust and obey You through Christ Jesus our Lord in whose name we pray.

 

Amen.

 

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/a-prayer-for-going-on-after-adversity/)

Daily Prayer - A community of grace

Good Thursday morning, my friends.

 

Do you have a place of grace where you can confess your sins, be prayed for, and healed?

 

James 5:16 says "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

 

Is yours a pious faith community or a community of sinners?

 

Read and consider these words from the great 20th century theologian and martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

He who is alone with his sin is utterly alone.  It may be that Christians, notwithstanding corporate worship, common prayer, and all their fellowship in service, may still be left to their loneliness.  The final break-through to fellowship does not occur, because, though they have fellowship with one another as believers and as devout people, they do not have fellowship as the undevout, as sinners.  The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner.  So everybody must conceal his sin from himself and from the fellowship.  We dare not be sinners.  Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous.  So we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy…In confession the break-through to community takes place.  Sin demands to have a man by himself.  It withdraws him from the community.  The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation.  Sins wants to remain unknown.  It shuns the light.  In the darkness of the unexpressed it poisons the whole being of a person.  This can happen even in the midst of a pious community.  In confession the light of the Gospel breaks into the darkness and seclusion of the heart.  The sin must be brought into the light.  The unexpressed must be openly spoken and acknowledged.  All that is secret and hidden is openly manifest.  It is a hard struggle until the sin is openly admitted…The expressed, acknowledged sin has lost all its power.  It has been revealed and judged as sin.  It can no longer tear the fellowship asunder.  Now the fellowship bears the sin of the brother.  He is no longer alone with his evil for he has cast off his sin in confession and handed it over to God.  It has been taken away from him.  Now he stands in the fellowship of sinners who live by the grace of God in the Cross of Jesus Christ.  Now he can be a sinner and still enjoy the grace of God.  He can confess his sins and in this very act find fellowship for the first time.  The sin concealed separated him from the fellowship, made all his apparent fellowship a sham; the sin confessed has helped him to find true fellowship with the brethren in Jesus Christ…If a Christian is in the fellowship of confession with a brother he will never be alone again, anywhere… (Life Together pp. 110-13)

 

Do you have a safe place to confess your sins, to cast them off, to be prayed for and healed?  A community of grace is essential for a healthy spiritual life.  If you don't have it, you need to find it.  I urge you to share this message with one or two others whom you believe want (or need) this kind of community and see what God does.

 

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:6-10)

 

Grace and peace and healing be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

God of Grace,

We are deeply aware of the sin in our lives. 

We are aware of the darkness of our hearts.

Help us to walk in the light, to shed the darkness of sin by confessing it to one another.

Heal us through our confession, cleanse us from unrighteousness.

Give us life - life in abundance - in a community of grace.

In the unmatchable name of Jesus we pray.

Amen.

Daily Prayer - Go fishing ...

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

 

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."  These were the words Jesus used to call His first disciples (Matthew 4:19). Notice that He did not say "you will become fishers of men" but rather "I will make you fishers of men". 

 

If you are a follower of Christ then you, like me, are probably eternally grateful to the person who had the courage to speak to you about Jesus and invite you into that relationship.  Why then are we so reluctant to share it with others?  Why would we rather cut bait than fish? (Please excuse me, my Maritime roots are showing.)

 

Well the answer is easy: fear.  I can't tell you how many times I have sat with a friend or loved one and wanted to share the love of Christ with them but just could not work up the courage.  I just couldn't do it.  Can anyone relate?

 

So how do we overcome our fear?  I think we need to go back to those words Jesus spoke to Peter, Andrew, James and John:  We need to allow Him to MAKE us fishers. We need to pray for that.  When Peter and John were released from prison after being arrested for "fishing" in the temple (Acts 4), they prayed "enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness" (Acts 4:29).  We need to pray for this too - pray for boldness in sharing the message of hope with a lost world. 

 

But boldness does not mean loud and obnoxious.  It means courage.  What I do every day here is not boldness - you are happy (hopefully) to receive these messages and there is little danger of rejection or persecution in what I do.  Boldness is inviting your sister to church when she is in the midst of crisis.  Boldness is having coffee with a friend and asking a questions like "so what do you believe?", opening the door to a conversation about Christ.  Boldness is sharing the plan of salvation with an aging relative who has been walking apart from Christ for decades.

 

And yes, there is fear.  But we need to remember that God is the playwright in this amazing drama, that He is in charge, and that He has invited you and I to play a part.  Before the disciples prayed for boldness, they acknowledged this:

they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them (Acts 4:24)

Sovereign Lord.  Large and in Charge.  Make us bold.  Make us fishers of men.  You want a New Year's resolution?  Pray for boldness every day and watch for the opportunities God provides to make you (and I) part of His story.

 

 

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours,
Bruce

 

It's been a setup, Lord.  I've been told by many not to speak.  My ideas have not been mainstream.  My spiritual insights have often been stretching to those who heard them.  My boldness slowly corrupted over a lifetime.  You are the only true healer of timidity.

 

I draw close to You to rebuild what has decayed.  Make me into a confident child of the kingdom.  Put Your words in my mouth.  Give me opportunities to test them out so that I can know that they work by experience, not hear-say.  Make my speech sharp as an arrow.  Let my words be clear, not cobwebbed.  Help me be direct and true, sincere and Spirit directed.

 

When bold, Lord, I will be like You.  I will attract others or repel them.  I will be popular or ridiculed.  I will be loved or hated.  When You spoke, they said You had a demon.  They insulted You and called You an illegitimate child.  They pulled out all the stops to discredit You.  I should not be surprised if boldness brings severe reactions.  Give me grace.

 

When I am timid with Your testimonies, forgive me.  When I am bold to say You are the Christ, the only way to God, empower me.  I follow Your lead, Lord.  When rejected, You ran to Your Father.  When I am rejected, I run to You.  You are my great High Priest; touched by my every weakness.

 

Satan would celebrate when my mouth is shut up tight.  Open it, Lord.  Make me eloquent with the mystery of the Gospel.  When You do, some will believe when You open their eyes.  Others will crusade against You, and me.  When I am rejected, live through me.  You told the truth and most hated You.  Then You gave Your life for them.  Only Your Spirit can fuel such a life in me.  Amen

 

(http://christinewyrtzen.com/2012/08/08/prayer-for-boldness/)

Daily Prayer - Adjusting course

Good Monday morning, my friends.

 

So the Christmas tree is gone.  The decorations are packed away.  The turkey is history.  The presents are hung in a closet or stored in a cupboard.  Now what?

 

For me, the joy and peace I was experiencing in the lead up, the Advent, to Christmas seem like a faint memory.  There is an after-Christmas blah that has set in. The question is "why"? 

 

Well, in my case I would say that it falls under the adage "if you are feeling separated from God, it's not because God moved".  In other words I have drifted away from Him.  As the old hymn says "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love".  In any relationship, communication and time together are critical to a healthy, mutually beneficial fellowship.  When we are talking about God, that means time in prayer, time reading and meditating on His word.  In prayer, God comforts me with the message that He is still in charge, that I can count on Him to prosper me and not to harm me (Jeremiah 29:11).  In reading and meditating on His word, God makes amazing promises to me, promises He will keep, and He shows me a way of living that not only pleases Him, but also makes my life more fulfilling.  So today I adjust my course, setting a tack back to the One who sustains me, the One who has done everything for me.

 

How about you?  How are you and God doing today?  Do you need to spend some time together?

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Bruce

 

 

 

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
  Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
  Call for songs of loudest praise.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
  Wand'ring from the face of God;
He, to save my soul from danger,
  Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
  Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter,
  Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee.
Teach me, Lord, some rapturous measure,
  Meet for me Thy grace to prove,
While I sing the countless treasure
  Of my God's unchanging love.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;
  Prone to leave the God I love:
Take my heart, oh, take and seal it
  With Thy Spirit from above.
Rescued thus from sin and danger,
  Purchased by the Savior's blood,
May I walk on earth a stranger,
  As a son and heir of God.

 

Robert Robinson, 1757

 

(Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/319#ixzz2HIOzQmAR)