Forever Begins NOW! (Week 16 - September 8, 2015)

Here we are at the very last verse of our Summer Song…and what a verse it is! King David said a lot in these final few words. “My mouth WILL speak the praise of the Lord.” There is an emphatic element there that cannot be overlooked. “I will!” Worship happens when we make a conscious choice to ascribe glory, honor, dominion and power to the King of kings and Lord of lords, pouring our hearts out in love and adoration to our God as a conscious act of our will.

What happens when we worship—when we engage our will to exalt the Lord? In Psalm 22:3, David lets us in on an amazing secret: God inhabits the praises of His people, or as some translations put it, He is enthroned on the praises of Israel. However you say it, the meaning is clear. There is a direct correlation between us speaking words of praise and God building His throne among us. If you want to talk about Heaven on earth or Heaven invading earth, you have to begin with worship because worship is the medium through which it all happens.

The idea of “beginning” with worship is compelling because of all the things we do here in our earthly existence, worship is the ONLY thing that will endure, that will continue on into eternity. “…and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.” Since we are going to worship God throughout all eternity, why wait? Forever begins now!

Names/descriptions of God from one of my favorite songs:

You Are Worthy

(Art by Sarah Wagner)

Week 15 - September 1, 2015

I have read Psalm 145 numerous times this summer—often two or even three times per day. I feel as if I know it quite well and can, if pressed, quote much of it from memory. I love the praise and adoration the Psalmist expressed in his writing of this amazing song. Over and over throughout the verses he extols his Creator. But he is not alone…all creation joins in a veritable symphony of praise. It is one of the most uplifting psalms I have ever had the pleasure to read.

And then you come to verse twenty: “The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.” (NLT) In my journal I have listed forty-seven different statements made throughout this Psalm. Now here is the surprise: Out of these forty-seven statements, only ONE could be put in a negative category! Isn’t that interesting?

It got me thinking today, and my pondering led me to analyze my own life—the things I think about and, more importantly, the things I SPEAK about. I was left with this question: Like this wonderful Psalm, is MY speech 46/47th’s positive? Do I encourage people at least 46/47th’s of the time? Do 46 out of 47 people leave my presence feeling good about our encounter?

On our RiverChurch Facebook page we’ve been running what Ron calls a #ReMix of a popular sermon series from several years ago. It was called, “Change The Way You Think.” It was a great series. You should consider listening to some of the episodes. A couple of weeks ago the episode was, “Change The Way You Think: About Your Words.” Your words are powerful. You have the ability to change the trajectory of someone’s life just by what you say. Why not give it a try this week as you flow in and out of your circles of influence. Shoot for 46/47th’s positive speech, but expect to exceed that mark.

Week 14 - The Lord is near!

NEAR

NEAR

NEAR

I live in a city where block walls of six feet and higher enclosing backyards are the norm. In this transient place isolation reigns. Knowing your neighbors is uncommon and it’s downright difficult to be close to them. It is in this context that I find myself focusing on the phrase “The Lord is near…” In a society that thrives on division, where people in cities and neighborhoods increasingly live in seclusion often self-imposed, these words from Psalm 145:18 grab me.

Families and friends may be broken apart or separated by miles but the Lord is near! In Deuteronomy, Moses encourages the Israelites with this knowledge as does the New Testament writer of Hebrews. In fact, Jesus’ final words before He ascended as recorded in the very last verse of the very last chapter of Matthew’s gospel were: “I am with you always…”

I am captured by the line in a song penned by Ben and Sara Lunn: “I’ve got you by the heart and I’m not leaving.” YES, friends...He’s just that near!

Week 13 - Part Two

I have concluded that my idea of “due season” and God’s are vastly different. In my world, I have an app to order a fully cooked meal and pick it up within minutes. I can get almost anything I want delivered to my door within two days. (Actually overnight, if I would spring for the extra money.) There are very few things in my world that are not instantly available. Perhaps part of the reason I struggle with delay in seeing certain Biblical “promises” or prophetic “words” fulfilled is that my instant world is losing its value for “process”. And yet, James 1:4 says “…let the process go on…”

“What is your due date?” A universal question asked incessantly of every pregnant woman. When I was expecting children, I knew my due date, but I also knew that it was only an estimate. I understood that there was a “process” underway to ensure that my baby would be fully formed and developed before making his/her appearance.

In Galatians 4:19 the Apostle Paul speaks of travailing in birth for his spiritual children “…until Christ is formed in you…” Perhaps you’ve been in a “waiting room” for what seems like an interminable amount of time. If that is true, maybe this scripture can be the friend that waits with you—the friend that reminds you that your time of waiting—this time of “process”—is productive with a value that cannot be fully measured in the moment. A friend that encourages you with the truth that something is being formed in you that is worth waiting for.

“…and you give them their food in due season.” If you haven’t yet received your “food”...maybe, just maybe, it isn’t anything you’ve done wrong or God punishing you for some unknown, unconfessed sin... perhaps instead, it’s just not your “due season”.

Week 13 - August 18, 2015

“The eyes of all look to You…”
It would be hard to come up with a more beneficial posture. In fact, King David declares in the Psalms that because of this posture he is unshakeable and will be rescued from any trap his enemy might set. The passage goes on to say You give them their food and You satisfy desires.

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 Chronicles 20:12b) King Jehoshaphat, in a time of national terror assumed the posture that brought miraculous victory for his nation.

One of my favorite short stories is “The Great Stone Face” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In this story a young boy named Ernest is absolutely captivated by local folklore/prophecy stating that a native son will be “the greatest and noblest personage of his time” and he will be recognized by his resemblance to “The Great Stone Face” that towers over the village. As a result of his fascination, Ernest spends countless hours studying the face that time carved from the stone. Person after person is thought to be the answer…but inevitably displays character flaws that disqualify them from fulfilling the conditions of the prophecy. The story takes us from Ernest’s childhood to “seniorhood”…and throughout all his years the one constant in his life has been his unwavering focus on the “Great Stone Face”. The story ends with Ernest, standing at the base of the towering rock formation, delivering a sunset sermon to the village people. One by one the people begin to realize with utter incredulity that Ernest, their very own native son who has spent his life looking at the “Great Stone Face”, is himself the exact likeness and true fulfillment of the long awaited prophecy.

I submit to you that while there are many incredible benefits to keeping our eyes focused on God, the very best one would have to be that in fixing our gaze on Him…we become like Him.

SUSTAINED! Week 12 - August 11, 2015

YEAR: 1992

PLACE: Barcelona
EVENT: Olympic Summer Games

Derek Redmond was Great Britain’s hope to medal in the 400-meter sprint. He took his place and started well but 150 meters into the race Derek tore his hamstring. He stumbled and fell to the ground in pain…but then something happened that propelled him to Olympic legend. Derek stood and waved off the men coming with a stretcher as he began to hobble toward the finish. About that time a large man pushed his way through the crowd of spectators, past security all the way to Derek. It was Derek’s father.

“We’re going to finish this together!” he declared as he wrapped his arms around his son. And finish they did…with a standing ovation from the 65,000 cheering fans.

“The Lord upholds all who fall.” “The Lord helps the fallen.” “The Lord supports all who are falling.” “The Eternal sustains all who stumble on their way.” Whatever translation you read, the picture is the same: Our Father is right beside us, holding us tightly, making sure we reach the finish line.

Are you stumbling in your race? Are you in pain? Are you on the verge of giving up? The Father stands ready, willing and able to come throw His arms around you and carry you to victory.

FAITHFUL! (Week 11 - August 4, 2015)

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Words, words, words… In a culture where words are abundant but their value is nil, isn’t it great to come across Psalm 145:13b?

The Lord is FAITHFUL in all

His WORDS 
and KIND in all His WORKS.

(ESV)

God is not some politician promising the sun, moon and stars; a slick salesman guaranteeing more than his product could ever deliver; nor is He a starry eyed bride/groom reciting vows that they will struggle to honor. Although these last two lines of verse 13 are not found in some ancient manuscripts, the concept of a God who is completely, irrefutably and steadfastly faithful permeates the Scriptures.

Do you have “words” from The Father that you long ago relegated to a box in your “Closet Of The Unexplainable?” Do you have promises you have buried under a frustrating stack of unanswered prayers that we are all so prone to maintain? Retrieve them! Dust off those words, shine the light on those promises and declare over them that “HE is faithful in ALL His words,” for “He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it.”