Fixing Your Inmost Place

Psalm 51:6
“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.”

David failed catastrophically. He got his neighbour pregnant, murdered her husband and moved her into his palace. He tried to keep it hidden but the crime was always before him (Ps. 51:3). Like a sinister stalker the truth of what he had done shadowed him constantly and took its toll.

As time passed it affected him physically (Ps. 32:3-4), emotionally (Ps. 51:8, 12), spiritually (Ps. 51:3-4, 11), psychologically (Ps. 51:5), domestically (2 Sam. 12:11-12) and vocationally (2 Sam. 12:17-18). It was an acid eating his soul. Eventually it all came out (2 Sam 12:1-13). Only then could the healing begin.

David’s world needed rebuilding. The initial site for that renovation was his “inmost place”. It is the same for you and for me.

Journey to Your Centre
Travelling inward can be a frightening experience. If you do not go there often enough the stuff you find will be unpleasant. It’s like cleaning the fridge at work and finding year old egg salad sandwiches and mould infested pies. Gross!

David’s inner world was mouldy, infested and dark. It was sick to the point that he prayed to God: “do not cast me from your presence”. He felt worthless and even wondered if God might take the Holy Spirit away from him (Ps. 51:11). Many of us have experienced this same inner darkness.

David and each of us need help.

Own Your Darkness
Before help comes there is a hard truth. You have to take the gross stuff (your spiritual equivalent of year old egg salad sandwiches) and bring it out into the open before God. David did this. “I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity” (Ps. 32:5). He confessed to God and to Nathan the prophet.

Confession is inviting God to listen in while you tell yourself the truth. And “truth” is exactly what God desires in your “inner parts” (Ps. 51:6).

David’s experience of confessing was so releasing that he invites everyone to pray the same way he did. If you do, he promises that “when the mighty waters” of judgement rise, they will not reach you (Ps. 32:6-7). Strange as it may seem the way to find God is to go inward and downward (to quote Parker Palmer).

Bring Your Smelly Offering
David’s poetry makes a shocking claim. Every orthodox worshipper in David’s world knew that God wanted unblemished sacrifices for worship. He required new born lambs, never-yoked Oxen, healthy blue-ribbon livestock. The demand was always for the freshest and the best. But suddenly David changes the rules. When it comes to human hearts, it is different!

“The sacrifices of God are a BROKEN spirit, a broken and CONTRITE heart” (Ps. 51:17).

Amazing! God wants me to bring my mouldy spirit and my maggot infested heart and give them to him in worship. He accepts this as an offering when I bring it with a deeply sorry attitude.

This is incredible good news because I have nothing else to bring really!

Welcome God’s Renewal
This journey inward to the dark centre and the hard work of bringing a smelly offering may take weeks and months. It may prove harder than we think. But it leads to a new and beautiful place. It is here, at the “inmost place”, that God teaches us wisdom (Ps. 51:6).

And with that wisdom, if we are willing to receive it, comes purity, security, joy, community, vocation and celebration – all of them abundantly restored (Ps. 51:11-15; 32:5-7).

Is it any wonder David says: “Blessed is the person whose sins the Lord does not count against him” (Ps. 32:2). Here is HOPE!

Questions
Have you experienced the release of confession?
How often do you take the journey to your "inmost place"? What practices help you do this?

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Who Owns the Politicians?

Psalm 47:8-9
“God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne … the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.”

Gaddafi (Libya) looks like he is finished. No sorrow there! Gillard (Australia) looks a little less secure this week than last week. She can’t seem to cop a break these days. Even the High Court is against her. Berlusconi (Italy) is “nauseated” by public life and wants out, or so the wire-tap transcripts say.

All these “kings of the earth” belong to God. Imagine that!

I read my bible this morning and this is what it said (Ps. 47:1)

“Clap your hands, all you nations:
Shout to God with cries of joy.
How awesome is the Lord Most High,
The great King over all the earth!”

That is a powerful statement of faith. It takes some courage to clap for God in Libya, Australia and Italy this morning (and most other places too). We live in a world of challenges and perplexities. Stabilising Libya’s new leadership is no small thing. Sorting out Australia’s immigration policies and fixing Europe’s economics are major challenges.

I respect just politicians who serve the people and give of their best in troubled times. But today I am reminded that “God reigns over the nations”. Today I want to clap for God and declare that he is my “refuge and strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble” (Ps. 46:1).

I wonder how often these “kings of the earth” remember that they “belong to God”. That is how Scripture positions all politicians. It is the frame of reference I bring to reading the news. This keeps me from too much worry. It prompts me to pray for politicians. And it calls ME to act for justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.

I noticed two other things this morning as I read Psalms 46 and 47.

This wonderful call to stillness (Ps. 46:10)

“Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

And this invitation to sing (Ps. 47:7)

“God is the King of all the earth;
Sing to him a psalm of praise.”

Here then, is our hope: The kings of earth belong to God! When you forget this, be still until you know again. And when you remember it, sing until others are stirred to join you.

Questions

• What do you worry about when you read the news? How do these Psalms encourage you?
• Do you find stillness and singing useful in the same way David did?
• Please leave a comment.

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Evil Always Gets its Comeuppance!

Psalm 37:1 

“Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong … like green plants they will soon die away.”

It is hard to watch bad people get ahead. It can bring out the worst in us if we are not careful. Sometimes life seems unbalanced and unfair.

When evil people appear to win, David says we can be assured of seven things:

1. Regardless of how it looks at the moment, there is nothing in their lives worth envying. (Ps. 37:1)
2. The power of evil is more frail and temporary than might appear (37:2, 20, 35-36)
3. The perpetrators of evil will be cut off and their power will be broken (37:9, 17)
4. If you react with anger and frustration it is likely to lead to more evil. Choose peace. (37:8, 37)
5. God is “laughing” at the perpetrators knowing that “there day is coming”. You can laugh too. (37:13)
6. Evil eventually turns on its own, it self destructs. (37:15)
7. God delivers the upright from the wicked. (37:23-31, 40)

Don’t despair at the work of evil people. Confront the wrong, pray against wicked acts, weep over the consequences of evil and be an agent of grace. Rehearse the seven realities above and wait for the Lord as you keep his way. “There is a future for the person of peace.” (37:37)

And if you want the best model in the universe, look at Jesus who endured such opposition from evil people. His example will help you not to get weary or to lose heart. (Heb 12:2-3)

Questions

• How do you respond when evil is victorious around you?
• What would you add to this list of seven?
• Please leave a comment.

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Suffering

Psalm 30:11 

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sack cloth and clothed me with Joy.”

Nothing is more common than suffering. Nothing is less wanted either. We need the pain to stop. God promises to transform our pain and he also promises to walk with us until that happens.

Sometimes pain is productive. It brings an immediate reward, like the birth of a child. Such pain is more easily bearable.

At other times pain appears to be pointless. It has no apparent purpose. It gives nothing and seems to take everything. It is Job-like.

While there may be a deeper purpose in our pain this is of no real help while we suffer if we can’t see that purpose. The feelings of forsakenness often overwhelm us. (Ps 22:1)

The bible talks a lot about suffering. There is one constant message. God is there when you suffer and he WILL end your suffering. God will remove your sack cloth (a symbol of bitter mourning). He will end the wailing.

So how is one meant to live while we wait for that to happen? Here are four pre-dance promises from 1 Peter:

• Suffering is only for a little while. “For a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Peter 1:6, 5:10; 2 Cor. 4:17; Rom. 8:18) Compared to the extent of God’s blessings and the depth of his restoration, the troubles we face just now are like a momentary inconvenience.
  
• God genuinely cares. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) Even when you don’t feel his presence act in this way. Throw your troubles to God.
  
• You are not suffering alone. “The family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:9) Pain can isolate you. Hurting people often feel unique. It is not true. Open up to others when you hurt. There is help.
  
• Jesus can teach you how to suffer well. “Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) We celebrate the life of Jesus as a model for ethics. We acknowledge his death as an act of love that takes away our sins. Never forget that he is also the sympathetic saviour who teaches us how to suffer.

Christians are not protected from suffering. In fact we are thrust into it. Christians are instructed to take up crosses. We are invited to join the battle. (Mk. 8:34; 2 Tim. 2:3) We are called to suffer with other people and to confront injustice in this world. We are meant to enter the world's pain for the sake of its hope. But with this we are promised so much more.

Here is the blunt advice of Jesus and Paul:

• Jesus “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
• Paul “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)

Suffering is inevitable. But take heart! Rejoice even! It will soon be time to dance. God has overcome the world. Jesus’ Kingdom is approaching. It’s soon time to trade your sack cloth and ashes for Joy and laughter. It is nearly time to dance!

What If Mother Doesn’t Deserve a Day?

Psalm 27:10

“Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.”

I am one of the lucky ones. I have a wonderful mother. My childhood is rich with great memories. I was loved and blessed. Thank you Lord. Thank you Mom!

Now suppose this were not true. I can imagine that I would be negative about Mother’s Day. Perhaps I have no right to offer an opinion (given my rosy situation) but this bible text invites a different response. There is still something to celebrate for those who face Mother's Day with pain.

Consider a few true and false statements.

True. A mother’s nurture is very important and formative. The research affirms the value of cuddles, closeness and maternal love. From the first hours of life these actions imprint upon a child. Mothers have an enormous influence for good or ill upon their infants.

False. If you didn’t get that nurture you’re ruined. Not so! And that is the point of Ps. 27:10. Where parents fail, God does not. He receives the child (or adult) who is abandoned – emotionally, spiritually, literally and figuratively. God can be your mother as well as your father. God can heal and restore.

True. Mothers are uniquely wired to love their children. Yes. Again, the research supports this and the bible teaches it (Isa 49:15). There is a deep abiding bond. And this is what Mother's Day rightly celebrates.

False. It always works out well. No, some mothers have deep mental, emotional or physical dysfunctions that inhibit this bonding-love. A childhood pregnancy, an emotional breakdown, an untimely death, a cult allegiance, substance abuse, and countless unspoken evils can sever the bond, crush hope and unwind innocence. Some people’s childhood is a nightmare.

True. The sacrifice of a good mother deserves praise.

False. Every mother deserves praise.

True. Every mother deserves love.

False. All mothers are easy to love.

Motherhood on earth is not perfect. Some mothers are unwell. Some kid's are wounded. God sees. For those who seek him, God attends, heals, forgives, nurtures and receives the forsaken. God is mother to those who need a mother.

Most mothers however are in pretty good shape. Most kids are OK. And Sunday is a day to celebrate that fact. So here are my brainstormed lists of Mother's Day possibilities.  

List A: If your mother is/was wonderful:

• Celebrate her! Wear a flower.
• Tell her story to someone who will listen. 
• Profile her picture on Facebook for the day!
• Write her a note or card and send it if she is still alive.
• Go to church and thank God for her.
• Remind your siblings and cousins that 8 May is the day!
• Remember her advice and don’t forsake it (Prov. 1:18).
• Breakfast in bed? A present? A few kind words.
• Honour her. (Exodus 20:12)

List B: If your mother is/was NOT wonderful at all:

• Claim the absolute privilege of Ps 27:10.
• Forgive. Let go. Counselling?
• Don’t rain on other peoples’ Mother’s Day.

The above reads well if you substitute “father”. It is pretty much the same deal for both parents. No matter what, the Lord will receive you!

Questions

• What and how will you celebrate this Mother's Day?
• Is there something you need to forgive this Mother's Day?
• Is there someone who needs your support this Mother's Day

Just for Fun:
Enjoy Anita Renfroe singing her tribute to motherhood:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYukEAmoMCQ

How to Talk to God When Life Stinks

Psalm 22:1, 2

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? … I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.”

Psalm 22 is timeless. It always moves me. Today I am thinking of someone else’s pain as I read it. Someone who needs to find a way to talk to God right now when he least feels like doing so.

This whole psalm twitches with raw emotion. It contains a pattern for those who are disappointed with God and still dare to talk with him. Just reading it can be therapeutic. 

Here are my five rules for talking to God when life is really bad.

1. Put everything on the table. Don’t hold back on God. Don’t hide your real worries or mute your emotions. If you think God is unfair, say so. If you are angry, want revenge or wish you could just die, don’t pretend that you can hide this from God. Lament admits what is true even if it is dark. It is not wrong to confront God, but stop short of cursing him.

2. Hold onto God with both hands. Despite his open challenge to the Divine, David still refers to “My God”. He talks about praising God and makes plans to do so in the assembly. He acknowledges the faith of his ancestors and does not hesitate to address God directly. Job did the same thing. He refused to “curse God and die” as his wife suggested, instead he hung on tenaciously. Jacob wrestled with God’s messenger and would not let go. It bought him a life-long-limp and a place of honour with God. (Job 2:9,10; Gen 32:22-32)

3. State the faith baldly. Speak out what you have claimed to know. Your heart may not be in it. Your inner thoughts may be arguing with you. The evidence may even be stacked against your words. But, speak your faith out loud to God. Let the tension sit there. Don’t try to muster trust you don’t have. Don’t try to reconcile incongruities in your present experience. Just speak the ancient wisdom. If you believed it when times were good, then just say it to God when times are not good. Repeat the creed, even if you're not sure you can believe it today.

4. Stay with it. Lament takes time. Good grieving is slow. As you read Psalm 22 you get the sense that David worked on writing this. He crafted these words with care. Lamenting is like baking, it requires a lower temperature and a longer time. You can’t super charge the process by torching the ingredients. You only get ashes. And so it is with fast action anger towards God. You end up with nothing but spiritual ash. Lament needs to simmer on low heat for longer than is usually convenient. The result may surprise you. It may eventually add gourmet flavours to your spiritual life.

5. Make your requests boldly. Ask God to explain injustice. Ask him to rescue, vindicate, bless or answer you according to your need. Ask him as a really confident child would ask a truly loving parent. His answer is not as important as his solace. This will only make sense when you find it, so seek him …

One aspect of the Psalm I find interesting is its trajectory. It begins with a painful searching question: “My God, WHY?” It ends with a bold and confident shout: “He has done it!” If we practice these five rules of lament, I wager we will come out at the same point as David did.

Questions

• What are the dangers if we talk to God too honestly? Is there a line? Is there a danger in not saying enough to God?
• Have you ever prayed Psalm 22? Would you consider borrowing its language?  

Epilogue

This psalm is famous because Jesus quoted it on the cross (Mark 15:34). He expressed his anguish using the words “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But the whole psalm is tightly linked with Jesus. It says “they pierce my hands and my feet” (vs. 16) and “they divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garments (vs. 18). It even speaks of people hurling insults and saying “He trusts in God, let the Lord rescue him” (vs. 8). Is it any wonder the early church valued this psalm richly? Jesus teaches us, better than anyone ever has, how to lament and what great victory to expect.

Three Cheers for You!

Psalm 20:5

“We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of the Lord. May the Lord grant all your requests.”

It’s all about you! All the shouting and banner waving in this psalm is not about me, it’s about you.

This is a great model for praying a blessing upon another person. It gives me a pattern to pray over someone I love and want to serve. Seven times David asks God to provide in a special way for his friend (probably the King, vs. 9). Look closely at the elements and copy them:

• May the Lord answer you (1a)
• May God protect you (1b)
• May He send you help and support (2)
• May He remember and accept your worship (3)
• May He give you the desire of your heart (4a)
• May He make all your plans succeed (4b)
• May the Lord grant all your requests (5b)

The prayer is extravagant. It invites unreserved goodness to be lavished upon someone else. I can afford to pray with such exaggerated generosity when the focus is not me (Philippians 2:3). I reckon it is therapeutic to want good for someone else.

The prayer leads to a party. When you are victorious, says David, we will shout, wave banners and celebrate wildly with you. I have a prayer list but maybe I should also have a party list, a “shout-for-joy-list”. Who will I pray for like this? Family, associates, friends or even politicians, strangers and enemies? Whose victory could I seek and then celebrate?

Prayers of blessing are probably not prayed often enough. We pray a lot about getting out of trouble but here David is praying for an excess of goodness from God. And, he wants it to fall on someone else. Brilliant!

Questions

• Who is on your shout-for-joy-list? How much prayer have you invested so far?
• Do you feel uncomfortable praying so extravagantly for another person? Explain.

Restoring My Soul

Psalm 23:2,

“He makes me lie down … he restores my soul.”

Nice! God makes me lie down. Sleep, relaxation and rest are wonderful gifts from God. This verse pictures God going around “making” the people lie down (almost sounds insistent). Why would God do that? Because he loves people. And, he knows what restores our souls.

So, welcome to another weekend. Time to recline a little. And isn’t it fantastic that what I thought was laziness could possibly be divine privilege. Now, how can I tell the difference?

Bad Rest verses Good Rest, four thoughts.

1. Conclusion verses intermission. I no longer think of rest as reward for finished work. Most of my pastoral work never finishes. Instead, I think of God’s “making me lie down” as the appropriate intermissions along the way. This helps me in two ways. (a) I rest in the middle of a task. (b) And I start tasks I can’t finish before break time. If I always wait until I can say: “Done!” I won’t get the rest I need and I won’t start the exhausting projects. Rest does not nourish if I am just procrastinating, nor is it only available when my to-do list is done.

2. Selfish verses soulful. This Psalm describes a very fruitful reason for rest – a restored soul. People with healthy souls are good to be with. It helps me to think about my reclining (in “green pasture”, by “still waters” or more likely in my easy chair) as nourishment for my inner person, not a reward for everything I did this past week. If I focus on myself I am likely to be either (a) bitter thinking that I “deserve” more or (b) guilty thinking that I don’t “deserve” this rest and should really be working. The starting place is wrong. Rest is about soul-renewal not self-reward.

3. Collapse verses care. Rest at the end of a massive marathon is often accompanied with illness. Sometimes my holidays have been like that. Falling in a heap every few months is hardly soul restoring. Good rest is frequent, measured, unremarkable, fun and noticeably restorative.

4. Career climbing verses vocation. The tiredness of competitive career climbing is soul destroying. The weariness of obedience is not. Regular rest will heal the second, only a life change will heal the first.

Sam Farmilo Preached recently at NewHope (click here to watch) and shared two insightful "versions" of Psalm 23. I hope you enjoy them! My prayer is that God will preserve me from the dysfunction of version one and instill the joy of version two in my life.

PSALM 23, ANTITHESIS

The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest.
It makes me lie down only when exhausted.
It leads me to deep depression.
It hounds my soul.
It leads me in circles of frenzy for activity’s sake.
Even though I run frantically from task to task,
I will never get it all done,
For my “ideal” is with me.
Deadlines and my need for approval,
they drive me.
They demand performance from me,
beyond the limits of my schedule.
They anoint my head with migraines.
My in-basket overflows.
Surely fatigue and time pressure shall
follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the bonds of frustration forever.

Marcia K. Hornok, PSALM 23, ANTITHESIS

PSALM 23 Japanese Version

The Lord is my Pace-setter, I shall not rush;
He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals.
He provides me with images of stillness,
which restore my serenity.
He leads me in ways of efficiency
through calmness of mind,
and His guidance is peace.
Even though I have a great many things
to accomplish each day,
I will not fret, for His presence is here;
His timelessness, His all importance,
will keep me in balance.
He prepares refreshment and renewal
in midst of my activity,
By anointing my mind with His oils of tranquility.
My cup of joyous energy overflows,
surely harmony and effectiveness
shall be the fruits of my hours,
for I shall walk, in the pace of my Lord
and dwell in His house forever.

Toki Miyashina, Japanese version of the 23 Psalm

Questions

• How do you distinguish good rest and bad rest?
• How open are you to God "making" you lie down? 
• How do you know when your soul is "restored"?

Epilogue

And another thing. If regular rest can restore my soul (the more real and enduring part of me) image what "sleeping in Jesus" can do. (1 Thess. 4:14)

Image Sourced: http://cuteoverload.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/lazy-frog.jpg (Thanks Pete!)

Something to Sing About

Psalm 13:6

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.”

Today I made a list. It was easier and quicker than I expected. And more rewarding too!

The List

After reading Psalm 13:6, an idea occurred to me. A good way to prepare for worship tomorrow might be to list ways in which God has been good to me. So, I opened a blank page on my computer and typed the heading “Something to Sing About”. I began to make a numbered list. My initial goal was 20 or 30 items. I thought it might take 15 minutes.

I quickly achieved 50 items. It took, maybe 5 minutes. I noticed a few things as I made my list.

• The more I wrote the more ideas I had 
• As the list grew longer my spirits lifted higher
• The more specific I got in listing things the more fun I was having
• It was much easier than I thought it was going to be

Expanding the List

But what I achieved next actually surprised me. I took the first item in my list of 50 and expanded it in a second list. The item was “Happy up-bringing”. In less than five minutes I typed 25 ways in which “God has been good to me” during my dependent years. I was surprised how easily this list flowed. Then I took one of the things on that sub list (“learning American Sign-Language”) and very quickly listed another 16 sub-sub “God’s-been-good-to-me” notations.

While doing this I started to remember things long forgotten. For example: the big Bible that my deaf friends gave me on my 16^th (?) birthday and the way my world-view began to mature when I first visited new deaf friends in their homes. My gratitude was elevated. And then I remembered that I was counting leaves on only one small twig of a rather huge gratitude tree. Indeed, God has been good to me!

So, am I just a lucky guy with lots of good in my life? Perhaps, but I did one more thing to explore this assumption. Psalm 13 is not all happy singing. It also contains lament: “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Ps. 13:2) Singing comes at the end of this Psalm, not the beginning.

Improving the List

I took a very negative thing in my life and wrote it down as a heading. Then I tried to list ways in which “God has been good to me” through that experience. This was harder. It took more time. I even resisted the exercise a little. But within ten minutes I had a list of 12 items. Re-reading this list I have to say it has greater insight, depth and value than the other lists. It doesn’t have the free-flowing fun of my first 100+ items but it will certainly reinforce Sunday’s singing. Even in my pain, God has been good to me!

Singing the List

I am now a little bit more prepared for worship tomorrow. Time spent meditating on God’s goodness to me has elevated my joy and opened my heart. I always enjoy singing to God. Tomorrow I will enjoy it just a little more.

Questions

• What is on your list? How has God been good to you?
• Have you had an experience similar to mine? Or perhaps a different experience? 
• What helps you prepare for worship? 

Enjoy Ron Kenoly singing "He's Been Good to Me":

 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w8JZLQiXEE)
Purchase at: http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/hes-been-good/id408682639?i=408682727 

Deliver My Lips from Evil

Psalm 12:3

"May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue"

I like to talk. Mostly this is good. I can use the gift of talk to serve God. But talking can also be a highway to failure. There are many ways to sin while talking.

I am not the first to recognise this. David understood it (Ps. 5:9) as did Solomon (Prov. 17:20), Isaiah (Isa. 3:8), Jeremiah (Jer. 9:8), Micah (Mic. 6:12) and James (Jam. 3:6).

My Danger

The Psalmist has an interesting insight (Ps. 12:1-8). The problem, as he sees it, is ownership – who owns my lips. It is easy to mistake location for possession. They are on my face, so they must be mine. Taken to its prideful conclusion we have the following boast: “We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips – who is our master?” Ps 12:4 (NIV)

Do I own my lips? One solution is to give them away. I can give them to God. As my creator he has a claim on every part of my life. I can yield my talk to God in prayer.

And second, I can give them to other people whom I love. (I am promoting a metaphor; don’t ask your soul mate if she or he wants your lips, they’ll think you’ve lost the plot!)

I can potentially change my behaviour by thinking of my lips as borrowed. 

Do you know that sensation you get when the dentist freezes your gums. Your lips feel fat and numb. It is as if they don’t belong on your face. What if that were adopted as a way of life - not a physical sensation, but a spiritual decision? They are not my lips. They are on loan from God and I use them to serve Him and other people.

My Resolve

Here is where it gets practical for me. I don’t promise to succeed always, but my best intentions are expressed in what follows. I resolve to:

1. Talk less. This would produce some great side effects. More time to think, less pressure to speak, more opportunity to listen and above all, less chance to sin unawares. “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.” (Proverbs 17:28)

2. Not lie. Lies erode trust, undermine friendship, sow seeds of deep pain and rob us of community. “Everyone lies to their neighbour…”, says Ps 12:2 with sorrowful resignation. This angers God. I purpose to speak the truth (in love Eph 4:15) as an act of obedience to God and service to others.

3. Not boast. I don’t mind celebrating my achievements. I have a healthy pride in my kids. I’ll tell you what I love about my church. But there is a line here somewhere. I know when I cross it. I don’t want to be one of those people who “boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage” (Jude 1:16). David’s prayer in Ps 12:3 gets my attention: “May the Lord cut off … every boastful tongue”. Not pretty!

4. Filter my words for the sake of God’s work. It is a sobering thought that we will give account on the day of judgment for every careless word spoken (Matt 12:36). "Is this helpful?" is a good test to apply before I speak.

5. Help the needy find their voice. The groaning of the needy stirs God to action (Ps. 12:5). Rather than use my lips to get my way, I should “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute” (Prov. 31:8). Perhaps this is one reason why I have these “lips-on-loan” from God.

6. Hear and repeat God’s words. “The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace…!” (Ps. 12:6) My words are usually not. I would like to be a conduit of God's communication.

7. Learn in silence. There is a time to be still and much can be learned in that silence. (Ps. 46:10, Eccl. 3:7)

My lips are a powerful gift. My tongue has great capacity. The same is true for you! It is wise that we choose to give these away - to God and others whom we love. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21). Resolve to use that power well.

 

Questions

How do you keep your talk in check? 

What have you resolved to do concerning your lips and tongue?

And just for fun ... 

Veggie Tales, Silly Songs with Larry: "I Love My Lips"

You can check out this and other Veggie Tale products at Big Idea.

Help Me Jesus!

Psalm 5:2

"Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to you.”

How do you bracket the day? What comes first? What comes last? Recommendation: Simple prayer.

It doesn't have to be a long prayer to be effective. For me, a heart-felt word with God has enormous power to focus my thinking and shape my day. Some days it is just a sentence.

A good model for starting and finishing the day is the manuscripts of J.S. Bach. When he wrote music he would often begin by writing the initials J.J. at the top of the page. It stands for "Jesu Juva", Latin for "Jesus help me". He understood his dependence on God.

Then at the end of the finished composition he would write S.D.G (Soli Deo Gloria), "To God alone be the glory". He made each piece of music he wrote an offering to God. I want to make each day I live an offering.

God gives me a clean sheet each day. What a privilege. I want to write my life on it with Jesus Help and offer it to God's glory. 

The truth is, some days I start with a rush and end with a sigh. Some days I wake up worried and drop into bed frustrated. But on my best days, I start with prayer and end with prayer. Jesus' help me! Glory to God! 

A prayer sandwich. It's a productive way to bracket my waking hours. 

Question

Do you have daily rituals of prayer that help you? Share them with me.

10 Reasons I Love to Read the Bible

Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Today is Valentine’s Day. Around the world poems will be written in celebration of romantic love. I hope you get one. But I doubt anyone will write a Valentine’s poem for the Bible.

I revisited a poem today that is exactly that – a 3000 year old celebration of God’s words – Psalm 119. Someone worked very hard to design this. The 176 verses form an acrostic using all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in groups of 8. It is a labour of love and genius.

I’m no poet! Ask my wife. So instead of lyrical verse, I will offer a list to celebrate my love for God’s words. Here are my 10 top reasons for reading, reflecting, blogging about, and engaging with, the good book.

I love my Bible because …

1. It loves me. I liked a girl in High School who never liked me back. It ended! I wrote to a pen pal who never wrote back. It ended! But I read the Bible and it gives back. It loves me. That is why I keep reading it and why I choose to blog about it. The more I invest in reading and studying the Bible the more it yields. In my experience “Scripture is God-breathed”, it lives and it loves. (2 Timothy 3:16)

2. It feeds what is good about me and attacks what is vile. It is tonic for my character. The Bible confronts my weaknesses and remolds me. It inflates my best self with a breath (Spirit) that is not my own. Any particle of the Bible that I hide away in my thinking can change me for the good. (Psalm 119:11, 133)

3. It expands my capacity. Because I read the Bible I am wiser, more compassionate, better equipped to lead, and more focused in what I do. This is not a boast; it is an admission of what I would be without God’s gift. Years of reading expand the mind and fuel healthy aspirations. (2 Timothy 3:15).

4. It fosters a relationship I do not deserve. The Bible is God’s dialogue with me. A friendship is forged from the substance of its pages. I experience forgiveness and spirit infilling as I read. Some mornings I feel like an Emmaus Road traveler – my “heart burns within” while he talks with me and “opens the Scriptures” to me? (Luke 24:32)

5. It is useful. I have a business consultant friend who says that all his best material comes from the Bible. I know a counselor who uses her Bible knowledge in her professional career to achieve profound results with clients. My experience is the same, it lights my path. (2 Timothy 3:16)

6. It surprises me (in a good way) again and again. The Bible is about everything. It discusses philosophy and miracles, nations and character, love and death, spirit and pain, angels and sex. Everything is here, it is a fruit salad. What is more, the Bible has incredible depth. I can read an old verse on a new day and find things I never noticed before. Each chapter is like the face of a close friend, it doesn’t change, but then, it is never quite the same either.

7. It grows my hope. I listen to a short news cast each morning. Rarely does this lift my spirits. My Bible reading, on the other hand, allows me to see the world differently. As I slow down and think about what I am reading it lifts my hopes and changes my perspective. (Rom 15:4)  

8. It is brilliant literature. For generations it has inspired song writers, poets, politicians, educators, entrepreneurs and artists. Even if I didn’t think it was true, the Bible would still be valuable as a work of artistry. Its beauty feeds my spirit.

9. It connects me with the cosmic, the eternal and the supernatural. The Bible tells a BIG story. The cast includes angels and the geography contains a Heavenly City. Always, the Bible presents a view of reality beyond what ears and eyes can grasp. Those who read it, like those who wrote it, are often “carried along by the Holy Spirit”. Who knows where this Wind will take me. (2 Peter 1:20, 21)

10. It answers the Black-Eyed Peas. I can’t commend everything they perform, but I do enjoy the song “Where is the Love?” The lyrics (2003) ask a question that resonated with Aussies pushing the song to #1. If you are really looking for an answer, spend some time exploring the Bible. It tells us where the love is! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc

You will have additional reasons for reading the Bible. My hope in blogging is to stir up enthusiasm for God’s word and inspire others to read, reflect and obey the Bible. So, share your reasons with me.

Questions

• Do you have a favorite verse? I would love to hear your comments.
• If you enjoy reading the bible, what reasons would you give?

Evil, Break Its Arm

Psalm 10:15

Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness.

David’s prayer does not sound very loving. Taken out of context it is bad religion! Yet, he voices a thing we all feel. Where is the justice? Psalm 9 and 10 talk about evil. They describe the reality faced by all of us and the reaction of one Godly man. I find this helpful.

Description of an evil person (Ps. 10:2-11)

• Takes advantage of the weak
• Boasts about his perversions
• Has no interest in God
• Is proud about all his achievements
• Is sickeningly self assured
• Cannot be trusted
• Doesn’t care who he hurts
• Thinks God doesn’t notice

Description of a prayer against evil (Ps. 9:13-14; 19-20; 10:1,12-18)

• I am persecuted at the gates of death
• Lift me up so I can praise you at the gates of heaven
• Wake up God!
• Don’t forget the weak
• Why? WHY?
• You see our pain, now act.
• Make evil people feel the hurt and fear they inflict, stop them.
• Make wicked people answerable, judge them.
• You are King forever, show us
• You DO hear
• You DO encourage
• You DO defend
• So, we hope for the end of ALL terror.

Description of God’s victory over evil (Ps. 9:3-10; 15-18)

• Enemies of the good stumble and perish
• These enemies fall into their own trap and die by their own designs
• The RIGHT wins!
• The community of evil is destroyed
• The memory of that community is blotted out
• The needy are remembered
• A new government is established
• This government is strong and acts with perfect justice
• This government provides refuge for the oppressed
• This government is established forever under God

Description of David’s praise when evil falls (Ps. 9:1-2, 11-12)

• Whole hearted
• Vocal
• Emotive
• Musical

Description of this Psalm

• It is a lament
• It is attributed to David
• It is a poem in two parts – Ps 9 and Ps 10
• The verses follow the Hebrew alphabet in order – it is an acrostic with some exceptions (that's how we know the two psalms belong together).
• It starts with praise (9:1) and ends with hope (10:18) – this is the posture of faith in the face of evil
• The question “Why?” is not answered
• The question “When?” is not answered
• The question “Who?” is partly answered
• The question “What should I do?” is answered
• The question “Does God care?” is answered forcefully, "YES!"
• I must be careful to let the psalm judge me as well as others
• Reading it when I feel worried or depressed about evil helps me

Questions

How do you respond to this two part Psalm?

How does it encourage you? Challenge you? Change your thinking?