The Celtic Christian

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Honour thy father and thy mother

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

I want to revisit Mother's Day. The Bible tells us to honour our father and mother. This is not only a commandment for children, but also for (I would say more especially for) adults with elderly parents. Jesus is quite specific about this when He criticizes the Pharisees for not looking after their parents:

Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.' But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is 'devoted to God,' they are not to 'honor their father or mother' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition." (Matthew 15:3-6)

When we do not take care of our parents financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually we "nullify the word of God". Ouch. Those of us who have children likely pray for them regularly. How often do we pray for our parents?

Please lift this prayer today for your own parents (if they are still alive) and for the parents of us all.

Grace and Peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

PS. If you are in Ottawa, try to attend the National March For Life tomorrow on Parliament Hill.

Dear Lord! Fill our parents with Thy choicest blessings;
enrich their souls with Thy holy grace;
grant that they may faithfully
and constantly guard that likeness to Thy union with Thy Church,
which Thou didst imprint upon them on their wedding day.

Fill them with Thy spirit of holy fear,
which is the beginning of wisdom;
inspire them to impart it to their children.

May they ever walk in the way of Thy commandments,
and may we their children be their joy on earth
and their crown of glory in heaven.

Finally, Lord God, grant that both our father and mother
may attain to extreme old age
and enjoy continuous health in mind and body.

May they give Thee abundant thanks
because Thou bast bestowed upon them the great gift of parenthood.

Amen.

(http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=547)

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821

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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Are you believing the lies?

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

News flash - Satan lies!

Satan has been whispering lies to me for a long time and I have believed him. He has been telling me that I am a failure as a Christian, as a husband, as a father, and as a worker (among other things). He shows me the sin that is in my life and says "See - you still do those things. You will never change. You will never live up to the idea of being a 'real' Christian".

And I bought it - lock, stock and pitchfork.

This morning as I drove to work I was listening to Paul's letter to the Christians in Ephesus. I heard this:

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. (Ephesians 2:1-3)

Then the whispers started: "You are still sinning - you are still dead. You are still gratifying your 'flesh' ".

I begged God to transform me.

He said "I already have."

The next verses in the chapter are these:

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:4-10)

God showed me that although I still sin (for we all fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23), I no longer live to "gratify my flesh". He showed me that I used to look for every opportunity to do just that, to seek every selfish pleasure, but He also showed me how much had changed in my life. How much He had transformed me. He told me not to believe the lies.

Are you believing the lies?

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours today,

Bruce

Gracious God, I acknowledge that You are worthy of all honor, glory and praise. I am thankful for the victorious work of Your Son, Jesus Christ at Calvary for me. I appropriate His victory for myself now as I willingly surrender every area of my life to Your will.

Thank you for the forgiveness and righteousness that has been given to me as Your adopted child. I trust in Your protection and provision daily. I know that your love for me never ceases.

I rejoice in Your victory, my Lord, over all the principalities and powers in the heavenlies. In faith I stand in Your victory and commit myself to live obediently for You my King.

I desire that my fellowship with You become greater. Reveal to me those things that grieve You and enables the enemy to secure an advantage in my life. I need the Holy Spirit's powerful ministry in my life; bringing conviction of sin, repentance of heart, strengthening my faith and increasing perseverance in resisting temptation.

Help me to die to self and walk in the victory of the new creation You have provided for me. Let the fruits of the Spirit flow out of my life so that You will be glorified through my life.

I know that it is Your will that I should stand firm and resist all of the enemy's work against me. Help me to discern the attacks upon my thoughts and emotions. Enable me to stand upon Your Word and resist all the accusations, distortions and condemnations that are hurled against me.

It is my desire to be transformed through the renewing of my mind, so that I will not compromise with the ways of the world, or yield to the enemy's attacks, but be obedient to Your will.

I draw upon those spiritual resources that You have provided me and I attack the strongholds and plans of the enemy that have been put in place against me. I command in the name of Jesus Christ that the enemy must release my mind, will, emotions and body completely. They have been yielded to the Lord and I belong to Him.

Lord, enable me to become the person You created me to be. Help me as I pray to be strong in faith. Show me how to apply Your Word in my life each day. I know that I wear the full armor of God when I am committed to and stand firmly upon Your Word. I want You to have the supreme place in my life.

I surrender myself completely to You, Lord. You are always faithful and You extend Your grace to me constantly, even when I do not realize it. I claim Your promise of forgiveness, cleansing and healing in its fullness. In faith, I receive the victory today that you have already put in place for me. I do this in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior with a grateful heart. AMEN

Don Rogers

(http://www.sw-mins.org/warfare.html)

Monday, May 9, 2011

Prayer for mothers ...

Good Monday morning, my friends.

I know I am a day late with this prayer, but I trust you (and God) will forgive me! I am blessed with a trio of incredible mothers in my life: my own, Elva; my wonderful wife, Rosemary; and her mother, Mary. These are three of the strongest, most beautiful, funniest, and loving women I know.

Please lift this prayer today for all mothers.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

God our Creator, we pray:

for new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibility ;
for expectant mothers, wondering and waiting;
for those who are tired, stressed or depressed;
for those who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family;
for those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty;
for those whose children have physical, mental or emotional disabilities;
for those who have children they do not want;
for those who raise children on their own;
for those who have lost a child;
for those who care for the children of others;
for those whose children have left home;
and for those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled.

Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender,
and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good,
living not for themselves alone, but for God and for others.

Amen.

(http://www.prayer-and-prayers.info/favorite-prayers/mothers-day-prayer.htm)

Friday, May 6, 2011

What If His People Prayed?

Good Friday afternoon, my friends.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves 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."

The Casting Crowns sing about this in their song "What If His People Prayed?", the words of which I use as a prayer today. Listen along as you pray.

With the general election now behind us, one verse from this song stands out for me:

And what would happen if we prayed
For those raised up to lead the way?
Then maybe kids in school could pray
And unborn children see light of day

Do we pray for our leaders? That they will receive wisdom and courage to make the right choices that affect so many? They have great responsibility to look after the "least of these" and we need to be praying for them.

And God will hear us from heaven.

And we won't have ask Oprah what to do!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captives free
And not let Satan have one more?

What if the church, for Heaven's sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took a stand upon God's promise
And stormed Hell's rusted gates?

What if His people prayed
And those who bare His name
Would humbly seek His face, yeah
And turn from their own ways?

And what would happen if we prayed
For those raised up to lead the way?
Then maybe kids in school could pray
And unborn children see light of day

What if the life that we pursue
Came from a hunger for the truth?
What if the family turned to Jesus
Stopped asking Oprah what to do?

What if His people prayed
And those who bare His name
Would humbly seek His face, yeah
And turn from their own ways?

He said that He would hear
His promise has been made
He'd answer loud and clear, yeah
If only we would pray

If My people called by My name
If they'll humble themselves and pray
If My people called by My name
If they'll humble themselves and pray

What if His people prayed
(If My people called by my name)
And those who bare His name
Would humbly seek His face, yeah
(If they'll humble themselves and pray)
And turn from their own ways?

He said that He would hear
(If My people called by my name)
His promise has been made
He'll answer loud and clear, yeah
(If they'll humble themselves and pray)
If only we would pray

What if His people prayed?
(If My people called by my name)
(If His people would pray)
(If they'll humble themselves and pray)
(If My people called by my name)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Dwell in the soul that longs to be Your temple

Good Thursday afternoon, my friends.

St. Augustine certainly had a way with words. "Dwell in soul that longs to be Your temple". Love it.

Be refreshed by these words today.

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

O Love of God, descend into my heart;
Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling,
And scatter there Your cheerful beams.
Dwell in the soul that longs to be Your temple;
Water that barren soil overrun with weeds and briars
And lost for lack of cultivating.
Make it fruitful with Your dew.

Come, dear Refreshment of those who languish;
Come, Star and Guide of those who sail amidst tempests.
You are the Haven of the tossed and shipwrecked.
Come now, Glory and Crown of the living,
As well as the Safeguard of the dying.
Come, Sacred Spirit;
Come, and make me fit to receive You.

– St. Augustine

(http://makingdisciples.wordpress.com/2007/10/22/morning-prayer-by-st-augustine/)

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

You do not have because you do not ask God

Good Wednesday morning, my friends.

Do you desire a closer walk with God? Do you want greater understanding of the scriptures? Greater wisdom to deal with family or work issues? Greater strength when being tempted? I know I do. Recently it seems more like "going through the motions" than the kind of relationship it has been and should be.

We are told in James 4:2b: "You do not have because you do not ask God". So today let's ask!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

WE BEG the all-merciful Father through thee, his only-begotten Son made man for our sake, crucified and glorified for us, to send upon us from his treasure-house the Spirit of sevenfold grace, who rested upon thee in all his fullness:

the spirit of wisdom, enabling us to relish the fruit of the tree of life, which is indeed thyself;

the gift of understanding: to enlighten our perceptions;

the gift of prudence, enabling us to follow in thy footsteps;

the gift of strength: to withstand our adversary's onslaught;

the gift of knowledge: to distinguish good from evil by the light of thy holy teaching;

the gift of piety: to clothe ourselves with charity and mercy;

the gift of fear: to withdraw from all ill-doing and live quietly in awe of thy eternal majesty.

These are the things for which petition. Grant them for the honor of thy holy name, to which, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, thanksgiving, renown, and lordship for ever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - Saint Bonaventure

(http://feastofsaints.com/stbonaventureprayer.htm)

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Coming Alongside

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

The article below by John Fischer is a great reminder to us of how to reach out to those around us, and point them in the direction of the great hope that we have. Our job is primarily to "come alongside", to be there when they need comfort, direction, or merely love.

Coming alongside

by John Fischer

I am normally not a fan of ten steps to this or five ways to do that. But for one of my recent talks I came up with these six things to remember about being around those who may not yet be Christians, and thought some of you might find it useful.

1) Assume everyone is searching for God. Why? Because everyone is. We were created this way. God has purposely frustrated humanity by creating us with eternity in our hearts, yet with an inability to fathom what that is or what it means (Ecclesiastes 3:10-11). He has done this so that we might reach out for him and find him though He is not far from any of us for in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:27-28).

2) Come alongside. This is really the crux of it all. Just walk alongside people and enter into their lives. Listen. Talk. Laugh. Cry. Find out where you can contribute and what you can learn. There's something to give and something to receive in every relationship.

3) Point. You don't tell someone what the truth is; you point to it. "There it is over there," or "Here it is in my life." This is why we need to learn to identify truth in the context of the world around us. Truth isn't religious. You don't have to get into a certain posture to see it. It's not something that hasn't been there all along.

4) Find out what people already know before you set out to tell them anything. Don't ever think you have to clear the table and start over. This is why it's so important to listen first. Find out what's already on the table that you can use.

5) You don't have to tell everything you know. Just the next thing.

6) You don't have to correct everything someone says that is wrong. You are not the protector and defender of truth. You don't have to decide where to draw the line. You don't even have to be concerned if someone may be walking away with the wrong idea. You are not that smart anyway because you don't know what's in someone's head. As long as they have something to think about, that's a good thing.

And now here's the one final thing that makes all this possible. It is the most important of all. (This is the one thing that makes all six of these make sense.) We don't save anybody, convince anybody, "win" anybody to Christ or close the deal. All that is God's business. The Holy Spirit is doing this all on His own terms and timetable. We are not salesmen, marketing reps, counselors or prosecutors. We are just friends who come alongside.

(http://www.fischtank.com/)

All of that does not relieve us of our responsibility to "go and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19), but it does give us a better perspective on what our role is in that mission!

Grace and peace to you be multiplied,

Bruce

Father, hear us as we ask You to rescue the lost from the domain of darkness and bring them into the kingdom of Your Son. You alone can draw and enable them. You alone can send Your Holy Spirit with power to convict them of the sin in their life and their need to repent and believe in Your truth--that Jesus is the only way to You, that He alone is the way, the truth and the life.

Father, we ask you to forgive the sins of the lost. We come in Jesus' name to demolish the strongholds in their minds that those sins have allowed. We come in the authority of Jesus' name to overcome the power of the enemy in their lives, to ask You to bind evil spirits away from them in the name of Jesus and the blood of the Lamb through the word of our testimony.

We come against the blinding of their minds and ask that You send someone to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light; help us to be willing to go. Father, don't let their hearts be hardened, but open their hearts to receive Your truth. Rip away any veil that covers their hearts, any false teaching that confuses their minds. Help them to hear your Word with power and conviction as the Word of God and not the word of man. Give them understanding, so that Satan will not be able to steal Your Word from their hearts.

Father, help them see their need for a Savior, to know they must confess their sins, repent and believe--or they perish. Help them choose Your mercy and Your gift of faith, to believe with their hearts and confess with their mouths, Jesus is Lord. We ask in Your will, that not any should perish. In Jesus' name, amen.

Kaye Johns

(http://www.learntopray.org/print_materials/messages/d16/d16-20.htm)

Monday, May 2, 2011

Eternal perspective

Good Monday morning, my friends.

We are called to live life with an eternal perspective, but, if you are anything like me, you find it so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day struggles that it is difficult to even see ahead to tomorrow, let alone eternity! Jesus said these words to his disciples, and they are meant for us too:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." (John 14:1-4 )

Jesus has prepared a place for each and everyone of us in His "Father's house". And He will come to personally escort each of us there! Contrast that future with whatever you are facing today and allow God to help you lay down your burdens (once more) and take up His yoke which is easy and His burden which is light (Matthew 11:30).

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Father, we too easily misplace our affections on that which lasts only a season, instead of that which is for eternity.

We thank you for our temporal dwellings; for the comforts they provide, for the joys we experience under our own roof.

And yet we look forward to a new day when we leave behind our perishable body here on earth and are promoted to our home with the Lord Jesus, where we will fully realize the worth of our heavenly citizenship.

We so look forward to a new heaven and earth where we will live among the righteous for all eternity.

And it's all because of Jesus, for which we give thanks! Amen.

(http://adailyprayer.wordpress.com/tag/eternity/)

p.s. Don't forget to vote today in the federal election! Use this little story as a reminder (thanks, Brother Bob!):

While walking down the street one day a "Member of Parliament" is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the MP.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises....

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'

The MP reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 'I don't understand,' stammers the MP. 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.

What happened?'

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning.. ...

Today you voted.'

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Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Honour thy father and thy mother

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Are you believing the lies?

Monday, May 9, 2011

Prayer for mothers ...

Friday, May 6, 2011

What If His People Prayed?

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Dwell in the soul that longs to be Your temple

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

You do not have because you do not ask God

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Coming Alongside

Monday, May 2, 2011

Eternal perspective

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