Ascribe Glory to the LORD

Ever been in a situation where you just don't seem to have the desire to worship God anymore? Simple solution: don't try. As human beings, we are given the privilege of free will--to act and respond. Hence, we simply cannot outwardly express our worship to God if it does not exist inwardly. For example, if a water bottle is empty, one cannot pour a single drop of water from it unless he first refills it. Therefore, instead of trying to muster "water" from your "empty bottle," try to fill your empty bottle with His Word and let worship overflow as a natural response to Him!

Psalm 29 centers on calling the Israelites to ascribe glory to the Lord. In efforts of leading the Israelites to worship, David provides a context in which the Israelites can respond. Verses 3-9 are an account of the power and awesomeness of God's voice. The voice of the Lord is over the waters, thunders, is powerful, is full of majesty, breaks the cedars, makes Lebanon skip like a calf, flashes forth flames of fire, shakes the wilderness, makes the deer give birth, and strips the forest bare (Ps. 29:3-9). In essence, David is trying to remind the Israelites that God is and will forever be enthroned over all things because He is the King of all kings. By His voice alone, God is able to make His will come true!

In response to God's omnipotence and God's sovereignty as revealed in His Word, let us meditate upon His majesty and allow worship to naturally flow out of us--to ascribe glory and strength to Him, to ascribe to the Lord glory due his name! 

(Revelation 4:11) “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

God is on His Throne

Any time there is a vote cast and tallied for or against someone or something, there will be losers and winners. None of us like losing at anything! Whether your candidate(s) won or lost we are all invited to consider a proper perspective within the larger picture. As Christians, we pray for God's will to be seen. We ask for His blessing on this nation. We ask that He would mature the Church in America so that we would have greater impact for Jesus Christ in the world. Sometimes we pray narrowly for God to grant specific requests and other times we pray in general for God to bring about His Kingdom work in His way and time. When God's method is different than what we expected, it can disappoint and create confusion. The solution is for us to "pan out" so that we can see more of what God sees. 

Is it possible for God to use unrighteous means to accomplish righteous goals? This thought troubles us, as it did Habakkuk some 2600 years ago when God told him that the Babylonians were His disciplinary tool of choice. The prophet could not believe that God in His holiness would use unrighteous means to accomplish His sovereign work. He asked the Lord why violence, evil deeds, misery, and injustice went unnoticed: "How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look,   I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. (Hab. 1:2-4)"

God's answer to him is also for us today according to our Convocation speaker today. Tim Lee shared from this text to give us hope and the challenge not to quit. We were told to stand taller, stand for Israel, stand for the unborn babies, and stand for what is righteous! I would add, stand for biblical marriage, stand for the trustworthiness of God's Word as error free, and stand for absolute truth. God is able to work His plan in many ways that we have not even thought of. God knew what the election results were before FOX News did! He is not worried today. It is all in His plan...will you find peace in Him? 

"The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." (Hab. 1:5)

We must pray for this nation that God would have mercy on us and bring spiritual reform to His people. "And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right." (2 Thess. 3:13)

"But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him." (Hab. 2:20)

People-Oriented Christianity

As a type-A personality with a slight case of OCD, my need for organization and to-do lists sometimes hinders my spiritual walk. Thus, when God called me to step out of my comfort zone and travel to a foreign country for an internship, I experienced a lot of stretching. Through living in a people-oriented culture, God opened my eyes to how callous I had become.

American culture is pretty cold. We like our personal space, and we don’t want other people sucking valuable time slots from our already busy schedule. We smile and nod and say, “Oh yes, we’ll have to get together sometime,” but we don’t prioritize relationships enough to follow through. Time is money, after all.

At church we check our watches as our stomachs rumble and we wonder how much longer the pastor is going to keep us. We wipe noses and change diapers and wonder when in the world those parents are going to pick their kids up. We avoid the “talkers,” like the plague and when they do catch us, we smile and nod as we back toward the door with an apologetic, “Well, I’ve got to go now…”

In this world of electronic distractions and technological multi-tasking we are caught up in the busyness of life. We have forgotten how to truly listen, focusing 100% of our attention on one person, looking them in the eye, and really hearing what they are saying. We have forgotten that people are more important than to-do lists, and relationships are more imperative than appointments.

Christ was never too busy for people. Although he sometimes withdrew to rest and recharge, He always charged back into the fray. For three consecutive years, Christ was surrounded by people pushing and pulling, demanding His attention and His talents. How tired He must have been! Yet He knew what was truly important: people. Let us follow Christ’s example and love as He loved. 

--C. Wilson

Knowing God vs. Seeing God

We live in a day when electronic communications rule. We have the ability to email, text, tweet, Facebook, blog, Skype, etc. (does anyone know what a pager is?). I did not get text capability until about two years ago, thinking I wouldn't like it...now I don't know how I got by without it! I thought it would damage my ability to know how to have meaningful conversations on the phone, let alone have quality face to face conversations. But I have since discovered that texting can enhance our communication options. (I still believe time spent together is priority and that we should practice quality phone skills!)

Working in the Prayer Center, I am able to communicate with many people using digital tools. It truly helps as I try to encourage as many people as possible in a meaningful way. At the same time I also realize that it can appear somewhat impersonal to have prayer with/for someone through e-mail or text. I would much rather sit with the person, look at their face, experience their emotions, and allow them to receive a touch of God's love through my being with them personally. 

We would all agree that a relationship has a better chance of developing into one of quality as people have more time spent with each other. Chances are you know the people sitting next to you in class better than the average student who sits across the room. Clearly there will be levels of friendship within any group of people simply because we cannot spend the same amount of time with everyone. How well do we really know people? Do we simply know something about most of our friends?

Louie Giglio shared with us today that there is a difference between information and revelation, that knowing about someone or something is not the same as knowing them intimately and personally. Many of us know a great amount of information about God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We have experienced a few really cool spiritual moments. We know about Sanctification, Justification, Redemption, Atonement, Glorification, all of the Omni's, Heaven, Hell, Rapture, Millennium...you get the point! The question on the table is: Has God revealed Himself to you personally? Did you find yourself without words to speak when you realized you were in the Creator's presence? Have you experienced what it is to worship such a holy, awesome God? For the men out there - have you ever been overcome with tears that you couldn't explain? Ladies, have you experienced His arms wrapping around you and the security of being in His grasp? When you walk into His throne-room, is it familiar territory? 

God wants to reveal Himself to us, but He will not do so if He knows we are not longing for Him to do so! Will you allow God to "ruin" you as in Isaiah 6:5  “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”  Let's not limit our relationship with this great God to "digital communication." Let us seek an audience with Him and allow Him to invade our space in all of His Glory...we will never be the same again!

His Grace is Enough

Psalm 40

I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry,
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock,
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord,
and put their trust in him.

I can almost see the end of the semester coming! Where there will be no more homework, or exams, but Thanksgiving and Christmas! However, the last part of the race is always the hardest one for most of us! I am praying for you readers that we can finish this race strong! I am glad that we can always turn to Jesus when we are weak and tired. I pray that you can find wisdom and strength in Him today :)

His grace is enough!

Praying,
Joey, Prayer Manager