Intimate insights 004

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.   (Heb 4:15)

"we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses"

Weaknesses:  
1) want of strength, weakness, infirmity
  1a) of the body
     1a1) its native weakness and frailty
     1a2) feebleness of health or sickness
  1b) of the soul
     1b1) want of strength and capacity requisite
     1b1a) to understand a thing
     1b1b) to do things great and glorious
     1b1c) to restrain corrupt desires

Sometimes it's easy to forget the Master's humanity - His utter humanity and His subjection to all the things we face.  Certainly times and culture can make it hard to connect to specifics - but regardless of the differences His subjection was - well - the same.

When we consider the "weaknesses" the author of Hebrews means it is amazing to think of the Master experiencing them without sin.  But, He did - for our sake He had to.

Father, help me remember my Master's "weaknesses."  He suffered them for me - He overcame them for me.  I can not do the same for Him but I can trust Him to do so in and through me.

I am so weak and frail and my pretense at not being so makes that realization all the more painful and convicting.  

Help me remember that when He said that apart from Him I (we) could do nothing He was not just warning me of pride and self-sufficiency but He was calling me to come to Him as the only source of any ability to do - well - anything, anything at all.

Lord "submitting" is easy - staying submitted is hard.  Let me learn to stay on my knees before You every moment of every day sure that:  apart from You I can do nothing, anything  try to do apart from You is nothing and that with You all things are possible (not certain) but possible according to Your will.

Amen

Intimate insights 004

I have never considered until now the pain Paul (and others) in those early years must have experienced as they were taken away from those with whom they labored, those they loved.  The depth f that distress is just not something I ever contemplated.

Now, I'm beginning to understand what Paul means when he writes:


Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.  (Php 4:1)

It's true - that we are so apt to take for granted and even forget those we love and have been loved by in the Lord.  

When God brings them to mind - especially when parting is a potential - the thoughts and remembrances are both joyous and painful.

Father, thank You for the privilege of loving and bring loved - of teaching and being taught - thank You.  Give me, please, the strength you gave Paul to walk into tomorrow knowing You were there waiting for him.  

Father - make the love and fellowship we have shared with so many be a strength and an encouragement - and if it is not inappropriate - a source of hope and promise in what you are doing and will do.

Father keep us praying and trusting - even as we weep and hurt - only You can - please do.

Amen

Intimate insight 003

pray without ceasing;   (1Th 5:17)

This is one of verses that I fear we have kind of blown off.  Usually we find ourselves being taught that it means to have a constant attitude of prayer.  That's good - really good - but I am beginning to believe it means just what it says, "pray without ceasing!"

I don't mean we are to be on our knees 24/7 - although that might be a great and good thing.  But I wonder if we might see it this way:

"As soon as you cease to need God's provision and mercies, you can cease praying."

In our situation we find ourselves praying - and praying a lot.   I had a lunch date with a dear brother today and before I left Patti prayed for it (he and I).

As our needs mount and our resources don't we pray a lot about it.  But our prayer are changing.  Yes, we pray for Him to lead us to jobs - income - medical care and we are doing all the things one does to facilitate that.  Being grown-ups ;-}

But we are finding that He is showing us more and more things that need to be lifted up.  Relational things, depressing things, fear, old thought pattern, old behaviors - just a multitude of things that go along with tough times.

Yes - our favorite prayer if simply, "Help us Lord Jesus!!!"  But since there is a purpose to all He brings into our lives that prayer may be the biggy - but there is a plethora of smaller prayer - more intimate prayers - more "ouch" prayers that we find ourselves praying.  Hence we hardly "cease" from prayer.

We pray for understanding - but we pray to trust Him even if we don't.  We pray for courage when we get that chill up the spine and emptiness in the belly.  We pray whet we get frustrated.  We pray when we notice the slightest blessing ( i there really is such a thing ;-}.

Prayer doesn't cease - oh, it's not an every minute thing but it is an every need and blessing thing.  We go to prayer often - maybe not long - but often.  Even a simple, "Thank You Lord," is a genuine and acceptable prayer.  it thanks Him and acknowledges His faithfulness.

Were not boasting here - our prayer growth began with our realization of our need and weakness to a depth we had never been led to.  So we shamefacedly  encourage you not to wait until your sensed need for prayer - all prayer - presents itself.  Don't wait to pray on the "trip down."  Start praying at every opportunity for every blessing, mercy, lesson and trial and do not forget the small stuff.  For there is no small stuff.

Pray without ceasing - is a great attitude but it is a more importantly a necessary discipline - activity - whatever you want to call it.  

Father - I live so focused on me and big needs that it is so easy for me to not attend to all the blessings - common and uncommon - that You are constantly providing.  Trials are meant to build our faith and our faithfulness and that demands prayer of all kinds at every opportunity.  
Make me sensitive to that and draw me to pray, refusing to see anything too trivial or common to lift up to You - right then - right there.

Amen

Intimate insights 002

For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. (Psa 51:3)

Too often I've read the whole passage (Psa. 51:2-4ff) and been blessed.  Tonight however I was caught off guard by a statement in a sermon I was listening to.  As soon as I heard the statement this verse came to mind.

With this verse came the realization that my sin is not ever before me - that I have paid poor attention to the faithfulness (of lack of it) in my walk with Him.  It was a visceral blow to suddenly recognize a sinful attitude I had had in the past and never even noticed.

No, I'm not suggesting we go rummaging through the past to discover past sins but rather that we may need to pray for a greater insight and sensitivity toward sin - in our own lives (we already do that with others).

Father, I don't want to be ignorant of my sins nor do I want to continue to generalize them thereby weakening significance in my life.  I ask you to make me mercifully aware of my sin so that although it is indeed ever before me - Your grace and mercy are there as well to lead me to repentance and restoration.  I am so prone to overlook or under regard my sin - it is so easy to do.  Help me Father to be aware and to address my sin in a way that is healthy for my growth and brings glory to You.

Amen

Intimate insights 001

BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.   (Eph 4:26-27)

The word translated "angry" carries the idea of being provoked - perhaps to wrath - perhaps not.

I've come to see that anger, usually, is a secondary emotion.  What I mean is that we are first afflicted with pain or fear and we respond with anger.  It makes sense.  When we are hurt or afraid we want to defend ourselves - so we are provoked.

Being provoked and it being common to become defensive (even offensively so) we will, unfortunately sin.  How do I know that?  Because the second word translated "anger" does carry the idea of, "the kind of severe or violent anger which arises from direct provocation, an aroused anger or seething exasperation." CWSB

We need to deal with the provocation - pain or fear as pain or fear.  Becoming bitter, though easily done, is not a option or response we want to allow to happen.

So we need to deal with that provocation (pain/fear) honestly and openly.  We need to bring it before the Lord for His providence, guidance, mercy and help.

I am learning - painfully :-}  that the devil will grab anything he can to encourage us not just to overt sin but to ignore the wonderful promises and providence of our God.  Nothing can please the devil more than for us to take matters into our own weak ande wayward hands.

That's what I'm learning.  The devil will use anything he can to lead us even a little way from our path.  He will use the fear of failure and the pain of loss and humiliation to get us to take hold of the reins and fight a fight we should never attempt to fight alone.

I am learning this - a dear brother prayed for me the other night and his prayer uncovered my pain and fear and the way the devil was using it to distract and render me weaker than I already was.  What a blessing when God brings His mercy though another - gently and in love.

We, Pat and I, have a hard road (at least it seems thus) and it is easy to be provoked and sin.  We pray often for His protection from the wiles of the devil and the baggage we've not yet surrendered.  We encourage you all to examine yourselves and see if you too are being provoked and let aside from the Way and His mercy and providence.

Father,
I fear too much from this world and hurt too much from things I haven't laid at Your feet.  Release me from those ties I still hold on to and protect me from the wiles and schemes of the evil one.  Help me (us) to trust You more and to come to You even obsessively for Your care and nurture especially in our fear and pain.

Amen

How and who?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. (2Co 1:3-7)

I would ask, How are you comforted and whom do you comfort?

I ask because today I was comforted by a brother who need of comfort is very real and constant.

As a "leader-sheep" we all too often assume we are to be care givers and we forget that we are also care needers.  As we fulfill our calling to care for His sheep we all too often make the mistake of forgetting that we desperately need care as well.

When the Praetorian Guard was established in Rome one question predominated, "Who guards the guardians?"  This is no different from what we as comfort and care givers need to be asking of and for ourselves.

I have come to realize that it is all too easy to think that as a leader-sheep I need to be above the fray.  God has made it plan to me that this is a cruel deception and a very real danger.

Oh, I can feed myself but comforting myself  and doing it well is just not effective if it is even possible.  

I have found that I need others who from the comfort they have found in Him - pass that comfort on to me.  I have found that it is a type of pride to see myself as a giver only and not a needer.

Father,

I thank you for the comfort You sent today through my brother.  I thank you for the tears I shed in thanks and gratitude.  i thank you for the boldness of my brother's prayer the the depth to which it touched needs I has not seen.  

Father, keep this lesson in my ,mind and heart.  Keep me from isolation and pride.  Keep me open to the comfort You have for me from my brothers and sisters - AND enable me to be open and honest about my need and grateful for its being met.

Thank You for establishing Your people and for the comfort You provide from one to another.

Amen

Consider - pray - wait.

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.  (Act 2:42-47)

Consider -

The Core:

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The Conditions:

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

The Community:

And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.

The Consequences:

And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. 

The "plain things are the main things and the main things are the plain things"  Alistair Begg

No, not a "flow chart," "recipe," or "formula."    But we can't ignore it and we must pray about it and seek His direction to emulate it.  I can't see what the harm could be.

Father,

Your Body needs You - of course, it always has and always will.  But perhaps now, in more modern forms of old things we need to see our need more clearly and more simply.  Perhaps Father we need You to guide us back (or forward) to the example we see here.  We struggle to "do" and "be" but too much in n reaction to our world an d perhaps not enough in response to You.  I don't know - so I pray!

Amen

Yes!

Nothing trivial!

I'm finding myself spending a lot more time in prayer than I have in years.  And I'm beginning to come to a place where I do not think we can ever pray too much and therr is nothing too trivial.

I can remember early in my walk having a smug feeling for folks who prayed for things like parking places, washers, and other common and simple things.  

I've discovered that there is perhaps a bit of, "I don''t need God for this," or "this is too little for God to care about in that old attitude.  Yes, this is a confession that I somehow had it in my head that there was God's sovereignty and providence and then there was ours.  It was an attitude that held that there were just some things God didn't care about - or was too big to exert Himself for.  I've had to examine and evaluate and repent of that - working on it daily.

When Jesus speaks of God's provision and interest in birds and flowers and hairs on our head He makes it plain that nothing is trivial when it comes to His Lordship and love for His creation.  Parking places, cars running well, washers breaking down are perhaps not of as great a concern to Him as they are to us BUT if they can affect His children he is concerned.

I've yet to find a scripture that enjoins me to, "not bother God with this or that."  Indeed, it's quite the opposite.  We are called to take everything --EVERYTHING  - to Him.

Yeah - it may feel silly and we may feel it is a trivial thing but it is the little foxes that spoil the grapes.  It can be the proverbial straw that crushes the camel.  

His love for us is without limit or condition.  His provision for us encompasses everything in our lives, not just what we think of as, "the biggies."  What harm could there be in praying
about everything in our lives.

Just a simple example.  It was a bad day for me  I was struggling.  I was on the way to the 'Bou and began to be bummed that they might be crowded and that parking would be a pain and that I wouldn't get my favorite "spot."  Stupid huh?  Well, I got there and got a good parking place and my "spot" was open.  This was a real "Wow" for me.  I felt blessed.  He heard and said, "Yes."

Am I nutz to think He was acting?  I can't maintain a healthy view of His sovereignty and at the same time engage in considering coincidence.  What may be a small thing in the whole of salvation can be a big thing in the moment.  

Peter writes:

1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Question,  What part of "all" do we not get?  "All," means, "ALL."  Right?  

Are we "bothering" God when we take everything to Him?  OOuch - that's a dangerous idea.    

It may seem odd at first but I encourage you to yield to the impulse or desire to pray no matter what the issue.  Take everything to Him - thank Him for everything whether you "prayed for it or not.  Please don't consign Him to being just "the God of what I can't do."  Please don't make Him the Gd, "who only cares about the big stuff."

Let Him be the Gd who cares so much He doesn't just know how much hair you have but has counted and created each and every one of them.

We sing, "Crown Him Lord of all."  Let's take that to heart and expect Him to be the Lord of all.  Nothing is trivial!

Father - let me open my life to yu.  Protect me from the lie that You're not really interested in parking places or favorite tables or old cars, etc.   Let me let loose of coincidence and acknowledge that You are Lord of all and therefore I should, can and may bring it ALL to you.

Amen 

The main and plain things - thoughts on worship.

The Fellowship of Believers
Acts 2
 [42] And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [43] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. [44] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. [45] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Verse 42 provides us with a great foundation for our fellowship.  The Word, One another, the Lords Table and Prayer.  

I consider these, as A. Begg would say, "main and plain," things.     

The key to worship is Him.  Certainly we can expect to benefit from it but the focus must be His honor and glory.  It is a unique time, a unique experience.  It is His honor and glory we are to express as well as experience - not our own.

Too much of many "worship" times are focused on our "getting" something out of it.  I'll be  bold enough to say that if that is the purpose we come for, we come wrongly.  Getting something out of worship should only be a potentiality, not a purpose.

This is a hard thing but a good thing.  Worship is what we give in response to what we have received.  

I have no problem with gathering to express our joy and our move and our blessedness.  there are times when we need to do this in common.  But let us not call that "worship," even though it can be worshipful.  We can celebrate and share and this is a good thing but when we gather to worship there is a single focus and there needs to be a certain seriousness and formality, closer boundaries.

Whether it is dry or dull says more about us and our mis-directed expectations than it does about what we are actually about.  This is why the Puritans encouraged the preparations of the mind and heart prior to worship.  They encouraged using Saturday evening as the time to set our minds and hearts on Him - His honor and glory.

There are quite practical ways of doing this especially is such a "busy-ness" culture as ours.      To give an example, some folks designate 6pm on Saturday as the time when the preparations begins.  Clothes are laid our.  Bibles and notebooks located and set out and a time of prayer and reflection are taken.  Many cease to engage in entertainments (DVRs are a blessing).  But since worship is unique and "other," a time and ficus on preparation is a lovely thing to set aside.

Worship is not just another entry in Outlook or our Daytimer.  It is not just another thing we do.  It is THE thing we do on His day to honor and glorify Him.  It can not be "casual" though it need not be uncomfortable.  It is our hearts and minds that need to be prepared - much more so than lunch or other activities.

The early believers we committed to worship as worship.  Everything else, though worshipful, was just everything else.

Worship needs order and a certain amount of predictability.  As I say, if it is dull and unprovoking, that says more about us than about it.   

Just some thoughts for us to consider.  Worship is not "fellowship," nor is it entertainment and certainly not a rodeo.  It is a solemn gathering of His people for a sincere and single focus on Him.  Every component must direct us to Him and His sovereignty, majesty, honor and glory. 

We have somehow been diverted to the point that many "worship" services are more entertainment and manipulations.  This is not good - not healthy - really, not worship.  It is not a non-option for fellowship - praise and common celebration is a good thing - but worship is a whole different thing.  We come to Him for Him.  We come humbly, repentantly, gratefully and openly - to Him - for Him.  What we "take away" says a great deal about what we believe, how we understand the "faith."

Just my thoughts - yours would be welcome!  

Father, by the power and influence of Your Spirit, create in me a sense of holy awe, redemptive fear and submission to You as I approach Your Day and Your worship.  Take my mind off of me, off of the world and enable me to bow in reverence and adoration so that worship - formal Lord's Day worship, become a unique time of focusing on Your glory, majesty, honor and glory.

Amen

Be prayed for -

I just want to take a little of your time to encourage you to get prayed for.  I know, sounds kind of weird.  But it is not only part and parcel of the life of the Body but it brings with it surprising blessings.
I had a dear brother pray for me today.  We talk on the phone a couple of times a week keeping one another accountable and encouraging each other.  Today he said he wanted to pray for P and I.  So, over the phone, he did.
OK, when this happens you kind of think you know what's going to be said - right?  Well, not always.  As I listened to his prayer I grew more and more amazed at his words.  It was perhaps the deepest and clearest prayer I've ever had prayed for me.
Oh, he toughed the tough stuff and the needs but then it seems the prayer became deeper.  I won't go into details but I found myself deeply touched and greatly convicted.  He prayed for things I wouldn't have thought of - for needs I had not examined - for things I just skimmed in my prayers.
Was God leading his prayer?  I can see no reason to think otherwise.  Actually I have good and grateful reasons to believe God's hand was in it.  No, it was not a weird prophecy prayer.  Rather it was a prayer that cut right to the chase and it cut deeply.  It was a wonderfully wounding and strengthening prayer.  I was, as the British say, "gob-smacked."
Do you have someone who can pray for you and with you deeply?  Is there someone with whom you don't flinch when their prayer goes deep? 

Let me encourage you to ask God to bring into your life brothers and sisters who will pray for you deeply an for who you may do the same.  Certainly we can and should do much to encourage and help one another - but prayer is the greatest thing we can and may do - let's pray we find the people and places for which to do it.

Father, don't let me be afraid of seeking deep and pointed prayer from my brothers and sisters.  Bring me those with who and for whom I may pray openly and honestly and who will reach into my heart and lift up my needs as well.  Father let us not avoid Your throne of grace, the opportunity to seek You and Your provision for one another.

Amen

In search of, well, simplicity?

The Fellowship of Believers
Acts 2
 [42] And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [43] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. [44] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. [45] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

I attended seminary in the hey-day of the "church growth" movement.  Not to bore you with details but the movement was a mix of loose doctrine and a modicum of marketing.  Being the hard-headed sou I am I just couldn't buy it.  Acts 2 just kept getting in the way.  So instead of doing the MDiv. thing I opted for an MA in Church History in a desire to see how the Lord had grown His church through the centuries.

Now I am not proposing some "new" insight or doctrine or method!  God has always had His way of growing His church.  I simply believe we see it simply and clearly in Acts 2.  

Now, order is good.  Our God is a God of order.  The church has her boundaries and expectations laid down in scripture - clearly.  But I can not find in scripture where the church is to be an institution (although it has structure, etc.)  

I believe that regardless of culture or circumstance we can take Acts 2 as the schematic for the church - both in form and function.  Really, it isn't about "the church" as a building, organizations or institution - it is about the church as people - redeemed people serving Him and they serve one another.  Out of this, Acts 2:46&47 we see God adding to the number of the redeemed --  Adding them to the "living breathing body" we see in Acts 2.

This is not some shot at the common church.  But it is a search for a more simple and basic way to be.  This is NOT some anti or pro thought or belief but rather a suggested alternative that is clearly presented in scripture.

I am simple convinced that when the church is the church, God will add to her.  He desires a safe place, a healthy place and perhaps a simple place to plant His baby sheep where they will be cared for and nurtured.  

Yes, in our culture we are very much a "consumer" society and perhaps the church has strayed from what He wants to what we want.  PERHAPS!!!!  

None-the-less I am asking you for your thoughts as they would be invaluable and a blessing.   

For years this passage has haunted me - I'd even say called me to pray for and pray hard for the church and it's members.   We don't need to rediscover or redesign anything - it's done right here in Acts and played out in the epistles.

What are your thoughts?  What are your insights?   Does this passage "touch" something in your heart?  Do you sense a longing for such an association, such a fellowship.  

I'm convinced that God can bring this "model" (?) into being anywhere - even in existing bodies.  It will demand a re-thinking and a re-ordering of priorities and function but would that really be hard but them is it really supposed to be easy?

Again - this is NOT some anti-whatever rant.  Just a suggestion that we consider this passage (and others) as we think  about the church.

PLEASE -even anonimously - let me have your thoughts.  You can even email me at sheepdog.ms@gmail.com

Father, open our hearts and minds to Your word that we might have the courage to look at Your church from Your word.  Make Your Spirit mighty in our lives not to bring criticism but rather a freshness and fearlessness to seek to be, as a body, all You would have us to be - especially that we would desire to become a place where You will add those You are saving.

Amen