I ran across this in my reading this week in Leonard Ravenhill's "Why Revival Tarries". I leave his God-thoughts with you.
...If John Knox had prayed, "Give me success!" we would never have heard of him; but he prayed a self-purged prayer - "Give me Scotland, or I die!" - and his prayer scored the pages of history. If David Livingstone had prayed that he might split Africa wide open, as proof of his indomitable spirit and skill with the sextant, his prayer would have died with the wind of the forest; but he prayed, "Lord, when will the wound of this world's sin be healed?" Livingstone lived in prayer, and literally died upon his knees in prayer.
For this sin-hungry age we need a prayer hungry Church. We need to explore again the "exceeding great and precious promises of God." In "that great day," the fire of judgement is going to test the sort, not the size of the work we have done. That which is born in prayer will survive the test. Prayer does business with God. Prayer creates hunger for souls; hunger for souls creates prayer. The understanding soul prays; the praying soul gets understanding. To the soul who prays in self-owned weakness, the Lord gives His strength. Oh that we were men of like prayer as Elijah - a man subject to like passions as we are! Lord, let us pray!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I Understand!
American author and humorist Mark Twain wrote: "It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand." It takes only a casual reading of the scripture to realize there is much about that Book and the God It reveals, that remains a mystery. But on every page, there's much that is understood, and the focus of our thoughts today.
Just yesterday morning in my own study time, after several days of pouring over three verses that I couldn't understand, I resorted to a commentary for possible insights. The resource didn't help much. Regarding the three verses in question it said, and I quote exactly: "These verses are difficult". Nothing else! Actually, I laughed out loud when I read it and moved on.
The verse that really "bothered" me preceeded this and it says: "Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; it is oil on my head; do not let my head refuse it." I don't need a commentary to understand what this is about. As a matter of fact, I'm kinda scared to look at one for fear of what else it might reveal!! Oooh!! The brokenness, humility and riveting fixation on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our Faith, that these few and simple-to-understand words demand.
I have a few more I could share with you, but if you're like me (not intending to project that at all on anyone...notice the word "if"), just this one's enough for a while! I've got to agree with Mark Twain. Ignorance is bliss, but with understanding comes responsibility and accountability and ...honestly, before a Holy God, that sounds pretty serious.
Think with me for a moment...what would happen if we took seriously only 10% of what we do understand and ordered our lives accordingly (as the Psalmist says, "...in the fear of the Lord")?
You may be there and doing even better, and in that, God and I applauds you! I suspect that for many of us though, there's room for improvement.
What verses are you understanding that bother you? Let me commend them to you and you to them so that the Hand of God, that is able, can be facilitated in the eternal work of the Kindgom...The King and His reign in you first, then, to a lost world desperately needing to see and experience God Life.... In a culture where authenticity is scarce, this could be so refreshing. It's "expensive"...but the payback is pretty phenomenal.
It reminds me of a favorite quote of St. Francis of Assisi: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel, and if necessary, use words...."
Amazed,
Mitch
Just yesterday morning in my own study time, after several days of pouring over three verses that I couldn't understand, I resorted to a commentary for possible insights. The resource didn't help much. Regarding the three verses in question it said, and I quote exactly: "These verses are difficult". Nothing else! Actually, I laughed out loud when I read it and moved on.
The verse that really "bothered" me preceeded this and it says: "Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; it is oil on my head; do not let my head refuse it." I don't need a commentary to understand what this is about. As a matter of fact, I'm kinda scared to look at one for fear of what else it might reveal!! Oooh!! The brokenness, humility and riveting fixation on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our Faith, that these few and simple-to-understand words demand.
I have a few more I could share with you, but if you're like me (not intending to project that at all on anyone...notice the word "if"), just this one's enough for a while! I've got to agree with Mark Twain. Ignorance is bliss, but with understanding comes responsibility and accountability and ...honestly, before a Holy God, that sounds pretty serious.
Think with me for a moment...what would happen if we took seriously only 10% of what we do understand and ordered our lives accordingly (as the Psalmist says, "...in the fear of the Lord")?
You may be there and doing even better, and in that, God and I applauds you! I suspect that for many of us though, there's room for improvement.
What verses are you understanding that bother you? Let me commend them to you and you to them so that the Hand of God, that is able, can be facilitated in the eternal work of the Kindgom...The King and His reign in you first, then, to a lost world desperately needing to see and experience God Life.... In a culture where authenticity is scarce, this could be so refreshing. It's "expensive"...but the payback is pretty phenomenal.
It reminds me of a favorite quote of St. Francis of Assisi: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel, and if necessary, use words...."
Amazed,
Mitch
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Moments of Tears
We humans can cry for all sorts of reasons...happy, sad, frustrated, angry, pain, fear or when we vicariously experience anothers misfortunes.
Though all tears are made of the same thing (salty water), they can have many different meanings.
Any word you look up in the dictionary, though spelled the same, can have different definitions. Take the word run...it is something your feet do, but your nose also can run (a river as well) and there can be a run of salmon or a run on the bank...a home run...all different.
...Tears are the language of the soul, their meaning determined by their context or the memories that prompt them. Tears have a way of taking us back in time, giving attention to memories or other events that need healing, forgiving, understanding or simply honoring by our grateful remembrance.
They are hard to define, yet much more expressive than words. They are difficult to hide behind because what we weep over reveals who we are. Tears can reveal our true identity, often kept from others like a deep secret.
Among all these things, tears renew our soul, they restore us to one another and sometimes even redirect the course of our lives. Sometimes God harnesses the power of tears in moments of revelation...about us, about other people, and about God Himself. A great teacher once said, "...the quickest way to the will is through the emotions." I believe this is a profound and true statement. God is too wise to use emotionalism to change us, yet as our Creator, He understands the role they (and tears) play in the rehabilitation of our souls.
Some of the healthiest people I know are people who have grown comfortable with their tears...mind, will and emotions, the totality of our soul functioning as God intended.
Adapted
Amazed,
Mitch
Though all tears are made of the same thing (salty water), they can have many different meanings.
Any word you look up in the dictionary, though spelled the same, can have different definitions. Take the word run...it is something your feet do, but your nose also can run (a river as well) and there can be a run of salmon or a run on the bank...a home run...all different.
...Tears are the language of the soul, their meaning determined by their context or the memories that prompt them. Tears have a way of taking us back in time, giving attention to memories or other events that need healing, forgiving, understanding or simply honoring by our grateful remembrance.
They are hard to define, yet much more expressive than words. They are difficult to hide behind because what we weep over reveals who we are. Tears can reveal our true identity, often kept from others like a deep secret.
Among all these things, tears renew our soul, they restore us to one another and sometimes even redirect the course of our lives. Sometimes God harnesses the power of tears in moments of revelation...about us, about other people, and about God Himself. A great teacher once said, "...the quickest way to the will is through the emotions." I believe this is a profound and true statement. God is too wise to use emotionalism to change us, yet as our Creator, He understands the role they (and tears) play in the rehabilitation of our souls.
Some of the healthiest people I know are people who have grown comfortable with their tears...mind, will and emotions, the totality of our soul functioning as God intended.
Adapted
Amazed,
Mitch
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Heaven or Hell, Our Choice
What kind of God would send people to hell?
This is not an uncommon question but it betrays a perverted idea of who God is in the minds of those who ask it, not the true God who is.
The God of the Bible does not send anyone to hell! On the contrary, He has done everything in His power to keep people out of that terrible place.
This is what Jesus Christ is all about!
Over the gates of hell is a man on the cross...Jesus, the Son of God, whom God sent to prevent people from going to hell.
One must ignore that man on the cross and squeeze past Him to get into hell!
God has done everything in His power to keep us out of hell...but it would have been immoral of God not to prepare a place for those who refuse to go to heaven!
Eternity in the city of God is for all who desire it - who seek it - who want it! Hell is for those who choose otherwise. One goes to hell by choice...his own!
"All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isa. 53:61)
"For our sake, God made him who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God". (2 Cor. 5:21)
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!" (Acts 16:31)
Our kind-hearted God has provide the way and offered us a choice! Give Him Praise!
Adapted from "Perspective" by Richard Halverson
God Bless You!
Mitch
This is not an uncommon question but it betrays a perverted idea of who God is in the minds of those who ask it, not the true God who is.
The God of the Bible does not send anyone to hell! On the contrary, He has done everything in His power to keep people out of that terrible place.
This is what Jesus Christ is all about!
Over the gates of hell is a man on the cross...Jesus, the Son of God, whom God sent to prevent people from going to hell.
One must ignore that man on the cross and squeeze past Him to get into hell!
God has done everything in His power to keep us out of hell...but it would have been immoral of God not to prepare a place for those who refuse to go to heaven!
Eternity in the city of God is for all who desire it - who seek it - who want it! Hell is for those who choose otherwise. One goes to hell by choice...his own!
"All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isa. 53:61)
"For our sake, God made him who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God". (2 Cor. 5:21)
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!" (Acts 16:31)
Our kind-hearted God has provide the way and offered us a choice! Give Him Praise!
Adapted from "Perspective" by Richard Halverson
God Bless You!
Mitch
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Thank You!
Looking back over the last week and a half, I first want to say a very heartfelt "Thank You" to all of you who sent e-mails, encouragement via FaceBook, cards, food and other tokens of your concern and declaration of your prayers for my family, in the recent loss of my Dad. The prayers were felt in amazing ways and still, I'm speechless regarding the things that transpired in it all.
First let me comment on the phrase, ..."the loss of my Dad". Yes, lost in the sense that he is absent in a way that prevents us from talking and sharing physical life together. But no, it that he's not lost...we know exactly where he is and that all of us, if time tarries, will make the same trip he made when he closed his eyes in an ICU unit in Spring Hill, Florida and opened them in the presence of God.
Things we all know, were strongly remembered to us this week, some of the basics that make this life work well. Here's a few of them:
Life is short...live it well!
Life lived according to God's blueprint works and brings the benefits He promised.
God is indeed God and works wonders for those who trust him.
He is to be trusted, not necessarily understood.
Heaven is a very real place.
Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do, no matter what.
Friends, family and fellow believers are the greatest gifts in this life and we are rich in them.
Jesus is the greatest thing (Person, Friend) that has ever happened to us.
And...Today is all we have. Carpe Diem...make the most of the present, sieze the day!
Give Him Praise!
Indebted,
Mitch
First let me comment on the phrase, ..."the loss of my Dad". Yes, lost in the sense that he is absent in a way that prevents us from talking and sharing physical life together. But no, it that he's not lost...we know exactly where he is and that all of us, if time tarries, will make the same trip he made when he closed his eyes in an ICU unit in Spring Hill, Florida and opened them in the presence of God.
Things we all know, were strongly remembered to us this week, some of the basics that make this life work well. Here's a few of them:
Life is short...live it well!
Life lived according to God's blueprint works and brings the benefits He promised.
Hard things work for good in us and will draw people together, if we'll let them.
God is indeed God and works wonders for those who trust him.
He is to be trusted, not necessarily understood.
Heaven is a very real place.
Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do, no matter what.
Friends, family and fellow believers are the greatest gifts in this life and we are rich in them.
Jesus is the greatest thing (Person, Friend) that has ever happened to us.
And...Today is all we have. Carpe Diem...make the most of the present, sieze the day!
Give Him Praise!
Indebted,
Mitch
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