Bonfires

I recently had to wrestle with a forgiveness issue. I was hurt and deeply disappointed by someone. I went back and read again something that James MacDonald had written while he was on a sabbatical. The quotes below really struck a chord with me. Especially what his friend wrote about in our imperfections we sometimes, “Drag our weirdness into situations.” Can anyone but me identify with that statement?

James’ excerpt: Kathy and I have had a lot of time to walk and talk and process so much that has happened. The praises go with you all the days of your life but the pains have to be left behind. Week by week Kathy and I have been talking and praying about a ‘bonfire.’ It won’t be a literal one but we will be gathering up all the ‘hard parts’ and our relational disappointments in a very focused way and entrusting those to God as we head out into a new season of joyful fruit bearing for God’s glory. I encourage you to have a ‘bonfire’ too if you need one, they are so important and life giving. A recent email paragraph from a friend said it well.

• We live in such an imperfect world and we are such imperfect people that it is no wonder we drag our weirdness into situations. When it seems impossible or unfruitful to attempt to unscramble the complexities of life I have learned the peace and profit of turning it over to our Lord and keeping focused on the joy of all that lies ahead with malice toward none.

Isn’t that an excellent word? Even as closets and garages need seasonal cleanouts so do our hearts from hurts and disappointments. I intend to ask the Lord what needs to go on the bonfire so I can keep focused on the joy ahead with malice toward none. Does anything need to go on your bonfire?

Blessings,

The Basin and the Towel

Attracting Grace

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." James 4:6 NASB

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time. 1 Peter 5:5-6 NASB

We have not one but two Scriptures in the New Testament to let us know the value of humility and the consequences of pride. I started genuinely asking God to show me how to walk in greater humility. After several weeks I told my husband, “A large part of humility must entail understanding what is none of my business.” I would be going about my day and find myself wondering why a person was doing this or that. For instance a friend was in a financial pinch and yet owned a horse. My internal dialogue was mulling over why in the world they didn’t sell it because surely that wasn’t a priority. They never seemed to do anything with the horse other than feed it. As clear as a bell, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “That’s really none of your business.” It wasn’t. They hadn’t asked me for my great wisdom, and I certainly didn’t have enough information to be forming an opinion on what they should do. My concern was good, but needed to be straightened out. God showed me that pride sits on its perch and judges. Humility gets on its knees and prays.

I need to be reminded of this daily. Do you?

MY PRAYER: Lord, you clothed yourself with humility. You came to serve and to save not to judge. John 12:47 Help me to get off pride’s perch and down on my knees. In Jesus’ name, amen.

MY CONFESSION: You resist the proud, but give grace to the humble. I choose grace. I stand on Your Word!

The Courage of Our Heroes

"Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 NASB

"War is an ugly thing but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feelings which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." —John Stuart Mill

Today is Memorial Day. I just heard the testimony of Col. Leo Thorsness. He was an Air force pilot shot down over North Vietnam. He was held captive in the Hanoi Hilton for 6 years. For 18 days he was tortured non-stop before being held in solitary confinement and intermittent torture for 3 years. Then he was put in a group cell with 42 other American POWs. They tried to hold a church service by gathering together and reciting the Lord’s Prayer. They had just started when the guards came in and violently broke it up. The next week their highest ranking officer asked the men if they were committed to having a church service. He asked them all individually if they were committed. (Each one knew what it was to be tortured so they were aware of what was possibly in store for them.) Each one made the commitment. Their commanding officer said that when they hauled him away then the next ranking officer was to take his place leading the prayer until none of them were left if necessary.

The next Sunday they gathered with the commanding officer leading them in prayer. They barely got our “Our Father,” when the guards broke in and violently snatched him away. Immediately the next ranking officer took up the prayer with “who art in heaven,” and he was beaten and dragged away. In all the confusion the 3rd officer took his place “hallowed be Thy name.” By this time the prisoners were shouting the prayer over the violence and commands of the guards. When they laid hands on the 5th ranking officer suddenly out of the chaos came a deep stillness and the guards stopped beating and dragging them away. They decided what they were doing wasn’t working. From that Sunday forward those men held their church service without interference. That privilege came with a cost they were willing to pay. I have to ask myself am I made of such stuff. The Apostle Peter thought he was but his flesh failed him. Through the love, example and power of His Lord he did become the man he thought he already was.

I get a glimpse of why the Apostle Paul asks us to, “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:3 I believe the church of Jesus Christ is in desperate need of good soldiers. I was made free spiritually by the exertions of the Lord Jesus Christ who laid down His life for me. I have been kept physically free by the exertions of the American servicemen and women who have laid down their lives. I am profoundly grateful for both. Their examples inspire and humble me to stand and if necessary die for what I believe in.

MY PRAYER: Father, thank you for sending your Son to set us free. Thank you for the men and women who have laid down their lives for our liberty. Help us to follow their example and help us to thank them at every opportunity.

MY CONFESSION: For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.
2 Timothy 2:10

Loving God Loving Each Other - Gaither Vocal Band

FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'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 22:36-40 NIV

Pastor Joe Guglielmo said something about this passage that impacted me deeply. Remarking on verse 40 he said, “I love this verse, and here is why. If our vertical axis with God is right, if we love God supremely, then our horizontal axis with man will be in line also. Do you see the picture that emerges from this? It is a cross - all that God has said through the prophets and the law hangs on the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary!”

Because of the finished work of Christ, I am at peace with God and I am free to love and believe Him. God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Romans 5:1-5 I don’t have to force myself to love Him or others. The presence of the Holy Spirit produces fruit and the first fruit listed in Galatians 5:22 is love. He gives us what we need for a life that is pleasing to Him. He doesn’t make demands and then dispassionately stands back and watches our struggle to obey. Peter tells us in his 2nd letter that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Then he encourages us in light of all God has done to apply diligence in our walk of faith. This is where the rubber meets the road, where we work out what He has worked in. How do we do that?

Matt Chandler, the pastor of the Village Church in Texas gives some good advice. “Ask yourself what inspires you? What stirs your affections for Christ? Make a list:
(this is a shortened version of Matt’s)

1. Early mornings and hot coffee
2. The writings of John Owen
3. Listening to my wife sing
4. The book of Hebrews
5. Sermons by John Piper
6. Angst-filled music

"I also wrestled with and paid attention to what robbed me of affection for Christ. What, when I was doing it or spending time around it created in me an unhealthy love for this world? The first list was a strange one because the majority of things that robbed me of zeal for Christ and His mission were morally neutral things. " It looked something like this:

1. Watching too much TV and spending too much time online
2. Staying up late for no reason
3. Following sports too closely
4. Being physically lazy
5. Empty conversations (talking for hours about nothing)
6. Idleness

Matt’s insights have been a tremendous practical help to me. I hope they will be to you as well. Let’s pay attention to those things that cause our hearts to burn with a holy fire and those things that threaten to extinguish that flame. His Holy Spirit will enable and equip us.

MY PRAYER: Lord, help us to give you what you fully deserve…our mind’s attention and our hearts affection. Help us to focus on those things that move us closer to you. Help us to put aside those things that promise much but leave us empty. In Jesus’ name.

Darlene Zschech & Hillsong - Call on Jesus

A Man Like Us

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:17-18 NIV

Do we really believe that Elijah was a man just like us? Have you noticed that the Bible doesn’t gloss over even the greatest heroes weaknesses? They are laid out for all to see. We have a tendency to put those who appear on the pages of Scripture in a specialized category in our hearts and minds. We shouldn’t do that. They were people, in their human nature, just like us. Ultimately God wrote them into His story and that is what gives them and us our significance. At some point in time God called them into a relationship with Himself. The depth and quality of any relationship depends on communication. He talks to us through his Word and prayer. We respond to Him through conversation…we talk to God… that is what prayer is. It is simple and profoundly important. We really don’t need to complicate it. We don’t need formulas or big theological words.

I love this quote by Rick Warren: Imagine I walked in the door one evening and my kids said: "O, almighty procreator of our family. How wonderful thou art, who sovereignly deposits our allowance to us. Oh, the majesty of thy wonderful self! We beseech thee to come eat dinner with us." I'd check their temperatures to see if they were sick! I don't want to hear that. I want them to say, "Hey! Dad's home. Good to see you, Pop!" I'm not saying to be flippant in prayer, but that's how you make contact with God. You just talk with him in a genuine and heartfelt way."

Elijah was very specific in his request and we should be also. When I was a young a mother I heard a sermon that really challenged me to teach my children to pray for specifics and not just in generalities. The pastor was very pointed in his analysis of why parents are hesitant. We don’t want our children to be disappointed if God doesn’t answer, so we foster low expectations with non-specific requests. He stepped on my toes, but more importantly he convicted my heart. I asked the Lord for opportunities to encourage my children to pray for specifics. Of course He came through.

My daughter overheard my concerns that the lack of rain was hurting our large garden. Big brown eyes looked earnestly into mine and said, “Mommy, let’s ask God to bring rain today.” I swallowed hard because I knew that there was no rain in the forecast all week. We joined hands and prayed that God would bring the needed rain to our garden. She happily and confidently went outside to play in the bright cloudless day with her brother. I had my own prayer session asking God to deal tenderly with her young faith. Imagine my delight when a couple of hours later the kids were dashing to the front porch to get out of rain shower that was falling as the sun shone almost as brightly as her little face. There was no doubt in her mind or mine that the Lord of the universe had stooped to hear and to answer her request. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Of course my daughter had to grow in her relationship to God in prayer. She had to learn patience and perseverance and how to stand on His promises. But I would say she learned one of the most important aspects up front…when you pray say….be specific. The Lord hasn’t changed He still asks, “What do you want Me to do for you? Matthew 20:32 Remember to say, “Thank you.”

MY PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the privilege of bringing all our concerns to you in prayer. Help me to be clear, help me persevere and help me to have high expectations because of who You are.

MY CONFESSION: I will be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving I will let my requests be made known to God. Your peace will guard my heart and mind. I stand on Your word! Phil. 4:6-7

Having Done All...Stand

To me this so clearly illustrates what Peter says about the devil being a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. This is a cougar but the methods are the same. The cat caught the cub separated from its mama, rolling around taking life easy and the predator seized the opportunity to pounce. This little cub panicked and tried valiantly to escape but clearly was no match. When it finally came down to it...the cub had to take a stand and fight for its life.

We are told in Ephesians 6 to be on the alert and clothed with our God-given protection. Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Eph 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. We are also told in James 4:7-8 to resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Just like this little cub we are no match. But when we do what our Father commands by taking our stand and resisting we can know that rising up behind us is the full authority and protection of our Shepherd, the Almighty. The enemy will flee and we can run to the One who will comfort and heal us. He's saved my scrawny neck countless times. How about you? Do you need to stop running in a panic and take a stand?

MY PRAYER: Convict me when I'm running scared to stop, submit myself to you, and take my stand. Father, you have promised that as we submit to you and resist our enemy that he will flee from us. I am dressed in your righteousness alone and that scares my enemy. He doesn't see me...he sees you. You are awesome and you are mighty to save. In the Name above all names.