Psalm 69:29-32 (New American Standard Bible)
29 ...I am afflicted and in pain; May Your salvation, O God, set me securely on high. 30 I will praise the name of God with song, and magnify Him with thanksgiving. 31 It will please the LORD better than an ox or a young bull with horns and hoofs. 32 The humble have seen it and are glad; you who seek God, let your heart revive.
I love this passage! Though struggling in the difficult things of life, he cries out to God, his creator and says: I'll praise your name, O God and magnify You with thanksgiving. The next thing he says is amazing. ...And it will please You.... It actually suggests that praising Him and magnifying Him with thanksgiving will bless Him more than any religious excercise we may engage in. ...The "sacrifice of praise...the fruit of lips giving thanks...especially when life is hard, blesses our Father's heart.
Father, help us all to give You the things You want most. For me, today, I will praise Your name and magnify You with thanksgiving. As a matter of fact, "seven times today, I will praise you."
Graced,
Mitch
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Prayer...
A favorite book I frequently read from for devotional material is The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. With the recent emphasis at Fellowship on prayer, fasting and looking toward revival, this prayer from the collection was particularly poignant...thought I'd share it with you.
O Thou that hearest prayer,
Teach me to pray.
I confess that in religious exercises,
The language of my lips and the feelings of my heart have not always agreed,
That I have frequently taken carelessly upon my tongue a name never pronounced above without reverence and humility,
That I have often desired things which would have injured me,
That I have depreciated some of my chief mercies,
That I have erred both on the side of my hopes and also of my fears,
That I am unfit to choose for myself,
For it is not in me to direct my steps.
Let thy Spirit help my infirmities,
For I know not what to pray for as I ought.
Let Him produce in me wise desires by which I may ask right things,
Then I shall know thou hearest me.
May I never be importunate for temporal blessings,
But always for refer them to thy fatherly goodness,
For thou knowest what I need before I ask;
May I never think I prosper unless my soul prospers,
Or that I am rich unless rich toward thee,
Or that I am wise unless wise unto salvation.
May I seek first thy kingdom and its righteousness.
May I value things in relation to eternity.
May my spiritual welfare be my chief solicitude.
May I be poor, afflicted, despised and have thy blessing,
Rather than be successful in enterprise,
Or have more than my heart can wish,
Or be admired by my fellow men,
If thereby these things make me forget thee.
May I regard the world as dreams, lies, vanities, vexation of spirit,
and desire to depart from it.
And may I seek my happiness in thy favour, image, presence, service.
...Much to soak in and reflect on. Lord, teach us to pray....
Indebted,
Mitch
O Thou that hearest prayer,
Teach me to pray.
I confess that in religious exercises,
The language of my lips and the feelings of my heart have not always agreed,
That I have frequently taken carelessly upon my tongue a name never pronounced above without reverence and humility,
That I have often desired things which would have injured me,
That I have depreciated some of my chief mercies,
That I have erred both on the side of my hopes and also of my fears,
That I am unfit to choose for myself,
For it is not in me to direct my steps.
Let thy Spirit help my infirmities,
For I know not what to pray for as I ought.
Let Him produce in me wise desires by which I may ask right things,
Then I shall know thou hearest me.
May I never be importunate for temporal blessings,
But always for refer them to thy fatherly goodness,
For thou knowest what I need before I ask;
May I never think I prosper unless my soul prospers,
Or that I am rich unless rich toward thee,
Or that I am wise unless wise unto salvation.
May I seek first thy kingdom and its righteousness.
May I value things in relation to eternity.
May my spiritual welfare be my chief solicitude.
May I be poor, afflicted, despised and have thy blessing,
Rather than be successful in enterprise,
Or have more than my heart can wish,
Or be admired by my fellow men,
If thereby these things make me forget thee.
May I regard the world as dreams, lies, vanities, vexation of spirit,
and desire to depart from it.
And may I seek my happiness in thy favour, image, presence, service.
...Much to soak in and reflect on. Lord, teach us to pray....
Indebted,
Mitch
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Germination
Germination is an interesting process, containing both death and life. Like the new year, the old is cast aside and the new begins. ...Water, soil, and nutrients combined awakens the life inside the seed and the miraculous occurs. From the seed's point of view, germination is not a pleasant process but life is quickened, and penetrating the shell, it emerges.
This is so much like the Word of God. Jesus gave us the parable of the sower, seeds and soil. Without water though, germination is not possible. What the water is to the seed, the Spirit of God is to His Word. When the two come together in the human heart (Word and Spirit), a miracle happens...Life! Two forces cooperating in a willing human heart, predisposed by God to produce new Life, Christlikeness, a rebirth of the lost or compromised image of God.
The beautiful thing about this wondeful miracle is that it is not for just a few "special" people. It's for everyone who will let it happen in them. Our Father has no favorites. His promises are true and available to all who will hear and present themselves.
The Psalmist says, "O taste and see that the Lord is good!" When was the last time you sat down and supped (dined) with Him to rediscover the delicacies and wonders of His person, and experienced the miraculous transformation and new life that can come as you present your heart to His glorious forces? I highly recommend it. You can't go wrong, for the Psalmist says' "...In Thee...they trusted and were not disappointed."
Adapted from Ken Gire's book "The Reflective Life"
Blessings,
Mitch
This is so much like the Word of God. Jesus gave us the parable of the sower, seeds and soil. Without water though, germination is not possible. What the water is to the seed, the Spirit of God is to His Word. When the two come together in the human heart (Word and Spirit), a miracle happens...Life! Two forces cooperating in a willing human heart, predisposed by God to produce new Life, Christlikeness, a rebirth of the lost or compromised image of God.
The beautiful thing about this wondeful miracle is that it is not for just a few "special" people. It's for everyone who will let it happen in them. Our Father has no favorites. His promises are true and available to all who will hear and present themselves.
The Psalmist says, "O taste and see that the Lord is good!" When was the last time you sat down and supped (dined) with Him to rediscover the delicacies and wonders of His person, and experienced the miraculous transformation and new life that can come as you present your heart to His glorious forces? I highly recommend it. You can't go wrong, for the Psalmist says' "...In Thee...they trusted and were not disappointed."
Adapted from Ken Gire's book "The Reflective Life"
Blessings,
Mitch
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Busy?
Thought you'd be encouraged by these adapted and expanded thoughts from Ken Gire's book "The Reflective Life"....
Today, more than any time in history, the plates set before us are filled with all sorts of good things. Modes of transportation can take us anywhere we want to go (even off road). We have great books and mags (and now mobile DVD) to keep the ride from ever getting boring. We have sports, nice clothes to make us more attractive. We have TV, movies, the theater to entertain us, tools, electronic gadgets and computers to make us more efficient. Vacations, educational opportunities, social events, volunteer organizations, small group meetings and even church to make our lives richer...more meaningful...?
With all this filling our lives, why aren't we fulfilled? Maybe it's because life is like an all-you-can-eat buffet...it looks good going through the line, but when we're finished eating, everything has lost its taste...instead of feeling satisfied, we're bloated!
Sometimes less is more, and sometimes a few well-prepared servings are more satisfying, ones we have time to chew...savor. The scripture calls this supping. Enjoying a meal in small bites, savoring even the subtlest of spices and the flavor lingers long after we've finished (especially if it had lots of garlic in it... : ) Jesus did invite us to sup with Him....
We can't savor anything, if we're stuffed, if we're heaping serving after serving onto our schedule. What would happen if we put planned pauses into our lives enabling us to maximize the "servings" of our day...began to be more selective about what we add and remember, that at some point, when we add something, we have to take something away...always, "good" and "better" should give way to "best".
Let me encourage you to begin adjusting your "menu". You might find you're more "fit" to live the life God intended.
Indebted,
Mitch
Today, more than any time in history, the plates set before us are filled with all sorts of good things. Modes of transportation can take us anywhere we want to go (even off road). We have great books and mags (and now mobile DVD) to keep the ride from ever getting boring. We have sports, nice clothes to make us more attractive. We have TV, movies, the theater to entertain us, tools, electronic gadgets and computers to make us more efficient. Vacations, educational opportunities, social events, volunteer organizations, small group meetings and even church to make our lives richer...more meaningful...?
With all this filling our lives, why aren't we fulfilled? Maybe it's because life is like an all-you-can-eat buffet...it looks good going through the line, but when we're finished eating, everything has lost its taste...instead of feeling satisfied, we're bloated!
Sometimes less is more, and sometimes a few well-prepared servings are more satisfying, ones we have time to chew...savor. The scripture calls this supping. Enjoying a meal in small bites, savoring even the subtlest of spices and the flavor lingers long after we've finished (especially if it had lots of garlic in it... : ) Jesus did invite us to sup with Him....
We can't savor anything, if we're stuffed, if we're heaping serving after serving onto our schedule. What would happen if we put planned pauses into our lives enabling us to maximize the "servings" of our day...began to be more selective about what we add and remember, that at some point, when we add something, we have to take something away...always, "good" and "better" should give way to "best".
Let me encourage you to begin adjusting your "menu". You might find you're more "fit" to live the life God intended.
Indebted,
Mitch
Monday, January 14, 2008
Seeds...
God is always speaking, "planting seeds" and He uses all of life to do it. As a matter of fact life can be very eloquent...and when we least expect it. My prayer for us all is that we become attentive and sensitive to His voice. Solomon says it this way in Proverbs.
Wisdom shouts in the street,
She lifts her voice in the square;
At the head of the noisy streets she cries out.
At the entrance of the gates in the city, she utters her words. (Prov. 1:20-21)
Does not wisdom call,
And understanding lift up her voice?
On top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
Beside the gates, at the opening to the city.
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out.
"To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
O naive ones, discern prudence,
And, O fools, discern wisdom." (Prov. 8:1-5)
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
For he who finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord." (Prov. 8:34-35)
The voice of wisdom may call from anywhere. It calls us to a different way of living. In the Hebrew, the word for wisdom means the skill of living or as another writer says" "wisdom is the information that makes life work...sucessful...effective. Oh that we all might cultivate the ability to see and hear wisdom displayed before us..."Open the eyes of my heart, Lord...I want to see YOU!"
Indebted,
Mitch
Wisdom shouts in the street,
She lifts her voice in the square;
At the head of the noisy streets she cries out.
At the entrance of the gates in the city, she utters her words. (Prov. 1:20-21)
Does not wisdom call,
And understanding lift up her voice?
On top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
Beside the gates, at the opening to the city.
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out.
"To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
O naive ones, discern prudence,
And, O fools, discern wisdom." (Prov. 8:1-5)
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
For he who finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord." (Prov. 8:34-35)
The voice of wisdom may call from anywhere. It calls us to a different way of living. In the Hebrew, the word for wisdom means the skill of living or as another writer says" "wisdom is the information that makes life work...sucessful...effective. Oh that we all might cultivate the ability to see and hear wisdom displayed before us..."Open the eyes of my heart, Lord...I want to see YOU!"
Indebted,
Mitch
Monday, January 07, 2008
A Great Passage for the Week
Soak in these healing and replenishing words from His Word...be blessed.
I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay.
Thou wilt make known to me the path of life;
In Thy presence is fulness of joy;
In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.
(Psalm 16:7-11)
Great week to you all!
Full to Overflowing,
Mitch
I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay.
Thou wilt make known to me the path of life;
In Thy presence is fulness of joy;
In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.
(Psalm 16:7-11)
Great week to you all!
Full to Overflowing,
Mitch
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Great Perspective for the New Year
I found these thoughts in the writings of Mother Teresa. I've decided to keep them visible to me as a constant reminder in '08.
People are often unreasonable and self-centered - FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives - BE KIND ANYWAY.
If you are honest, people may cheat you - BE HONEST ANYWAY.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous - BE HAPPY ANYWAY.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow - DO GOOD ANYWAY.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough - GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. IT NEVER WAS BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY. Mother Teresa
Happy, blessed and prosperous New Year!
Mitch
People are often unreasonable and self-centered - FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives - BE KIND ANYWAY.
If you are honest, people may cheat you - BE HONEST ANYWAY.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous - BE HAPPY ANYWAY.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow - DO GOOD ANYWAY.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough - GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. IT NEVER WAS BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY. Mother Teresa
Happy, blessed and prosperous New Year!
Mitch
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)