Dear Lord,
Today, I have committed myself to some true time in prayer with You. So I am going to offer up my thoughts and concerns and then wait silently for You to answer me in some way. Though I am frustrated at the fact that our relationship doesn't seem to be on the same plane as it has been, I am not going to be the one to abandon what is right. And in that I know that You will be the one to come back and embrace me, because I am convinced that it is Your will to be known and loved. And I still love You, so much that I want to hear from You.
My prayer is simple. I want to be fully connected with You and aware of opportunities to live in "The Way of the Lord" everyday. I want the courage to see the uncomfortable places that I might need to help bring Your love to and the strength, belief, and courage again to do it.
And Lord, I pray the same for my community. Starting with my wife, extending through Exodus Community, even to the students that I teach each day. What would a community with courage look like? What could they do? How do I lead without fear myself? I need to speak the truth. It's time for us to do something uncomfortable. Help us to not let fear hold us back.
These are my big concerns. Of course, I could go through situations that I want You to be working in specifically, whether it be sickness within our community, Gideon growing healthily, Courtney finding a part-time job she enjoys, our community honestly facing its problems, our community honestly embracing the potential we have, my basketball team, my students, the tragedies that often surround any group of people. But I have faith that You are working in these specifics.
So let's attack some big things in prayer today Lord. Some big things that I'm going to constantly bring before You for this week (and probably on). Please work on removing the fear from our community. It's insidious, and it has crept in all over the place. Let people see it for what it is, give it up to You, and move on.
Secondly Lord, go after distractions. We are being pulled away from You in so many circumstances. Stop them. Allow us at least some consistent time to be focused. For me it is too much time spent at basketball, thinking about school, and just plain being tired. Give me the energy and the time.
I feel like this is a blabbering prayer God. I'm not sure how focused it was in and of itself. I know You hear it though. Accept it. Be pleased at my efforts to connect and show Yourself to me. Because I love You, I don't want to just leave You here for the day. Go with me. Lead me. Speak to me that You may speak through me.
For I always pray through Christ's name,
Amen.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
It is Good to Wait Silently?
So, I glanced up at my verse in the description today. A thought came to me. What if I wait silently and You never show up?
Okay, so I know the truth in life is that You are always dwelling with us. I know that You will never leave us or forsake us. But there are certainly times when I feel like You are playing hide and go seek. Like, yes, You are somewhere around me but I don't see You, hear You; I'm not experiencing You at all.
Is sitting in silence good then? Because I've found that frustrating. In the world of entertainment, internet, Bible studies, pastor's meetings, iPods, worship music, devotionals, blogging, downloadable sermons, commentaries, etc., if I've chosen silence then I'm probably pretty desparate because silence is usually the least entertaining, least exciting, and least promising of the options. If I'm looking to learn from or about You there seems to be a lot more promise in a sermon, commentary or music than silence. I mean, even just reading the Bible seems like it could be more helpful than silence.
But sitting alone in silence is a theme of Scripture. You come and converse with many while they are alone. Many times they are removed to the wilderness before You speak to them, the wilderness where there are no distractions. Elijah, Moses, John the Baptist; You came to all of them in distraction free environments.
I wonder if Moses was thinking about his sheep while he was before the burning bush, if he was thinking about the people of Israel as he sat with You on the top of Mount Sinai. I doubt it. The sense I get from Scripture is that You were deeply involved with him, engrossing him in Your wonder and the wonder of the plans and commandments that You had for him to communicate and carry out.
As a pastor I identify with Moses. I certainly feel that You have plans and commandments that You would like to see me communicate to my people and for us to then carry those out. But when I sit and wait silently this morning, all I hear is the hum of the computer in the background. All I think about is the stuff I have to get done today. I give it up to You and try to refocus, but there seems little else to focus on.
Maybe it's because I can't get the focus beyond myself. Maybe my time of silence should be more "we" focused. What do You have for "us" not what do You have to say to "me." So what do You want me to communicate?
I want to sit in silence. The idea of just resting with You and listening seems wholistic and comforting to me. I guess, I just want it to have purpose. I want it to be the relational thing I've always believed it could be, not just me falling asleep while waiting for You to say something. So there must be something wrong.
I'm willing to hear that it is something wrong with me, because it almost has to be. Very doubtful that it is something wrong with You because nothing really can be wrong with You. But I need to HEAR what I need to change. If it is good to wait silently for You, please make some good of it soon.
Okay, so I know the truth in life is that You are always dwelling with us. I know that You will never leave us or forsake us. But there are certainly times when I feel like You are playing hide and go seek. Like, yes, You are somewhere around me but I don't see You, hear You; I'm not experiencing You at all.
Is sitting in silence good then? Because I've found that frustrating. In the world of entertainment, internet, Bible studies, pastor's meetings, iPods, worship music, devotionals, blogging, downloadable sermons, commentaries, etc., if I've chosen silence then I'm probably pretty desparate because silence is usually the least entertaining, least exciting, and least promising of the options. If I'm looking to learn from or about You there seems to be a lot more promise in a sermon, commentary or music than silence. I mean, even just reading the Bible seems like it could be more helpful than silence.
But sitting alone in silence is a theme of Scripture. You come and converse with many while they are alone. Many times they are removed to the wilderness before You speak to them, the wilderness where there are no distractions. Elijah, Moses, John the Baptist; You came to all of them in distraction free environments.
I wonder if Moses was thinking about his sheep while he was before the burning bush, if he was thinking about the people of Israel as he sat with You on the top of Mount Sinai. I doubt it. The sense I get from Scripture is that You were deeply involved with him, engrossing him in Your wonder and the wonder of the plans and commandments that You had for him to communicate and carry out.
As a pastor I identify with Moses. I certainly feel that You have plans and commandments that You would like to see me communicate to my people and for us to then carry those out. But when I sit and wait silently this morning, all I hear is the hum of the computer in the background. All I think about is the stuff I have to get done today. I give it up to You and try to refocus, but there seems little else to focus on.
Maybe it's because I can't get the focus beyond myself. Maybe my time of silence should be more "we" focused. What do You have for "us" not what do You have to say to "me." So what do You want me to communicate?
I want to sit in silence. The idea of just resting with You and listening seems wholistic and comforting to me. I guess, I just want it to have purpose. I want it to be the relational thing I've always believed it could be, not just me falling asleep while waiting for You to say something. So there must be something wrong.
I'm willing to hear that it is something wrong with me, because it almost has to be. Very doubtful that it is something wrong with You because nothing really can be wrong with You. But I need to HEAR what I need to change. If it is good to wait silently for You, please make some good of it soon.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
His Personal Covenant
Lord, we studied on covenant a couple weeks ago up at Amigo Centre. And now in my study through Genesis I come to Noah receiving the covenant, for himself and all mankind, that You will never destroy the earth again (thank You!)
There's an interesting part of this covenant, this agreement between You, Moses, and ultimately all of humainty. Your covenant seems to come as a response to Noah's worship. In the account, You open the door for Moses and the family and they disembark the ark. Then Noah takes the clean animals, which he took seven of each of those, and sacrifices some of each in order to acknowledge You. The account then says that You smelt the sweet scent of the altar, and so You went down and gave Noah Your promise. It is as if Your covenant is a reaction to our right response.
And You initiate it. A covenant defines the way that we relate to one another, the things that we are held to do and the things that You are held to do. It is significant, I think, that You are always the one who defines the covenant. Here with Noah, You don't put extra terms on him. It's as if he has already fulfilled his part of the deal by offering a sacrifice, acknowledging You and thanking You for the work You've just done for him. But the sacrifice doesn't allow Noah to define how You will respond to him. He doesn't get to pick what You will do for him. There's no, "Oh great, God's here to answer my sacrifice. Now, I was needing a big house in which to store all this food, all these animals, my soon to be huge family, could You take care of that for me Lord."
Noah comes in simple acknowledge, You come defining the terms of relationship.
Noah does not offer obedience with expectation of blessing. Noah offers obedience, sacrifice because that is the right thing to do. It seems expectations is what our society, myself often get out of whack. So many times we turn our "sacrifice" and "worship" into activities that demand blessing. The whole reason we enter into a sanctuary or offer obedience to God's word is because we think that God will somehow pay us back. From middle school hopes of God getting the right girl to like us to high school dreams of God helping us win our games because we haven't sinned to adult misguided thoughts of guaranteed financial blessing, or health of children, or whatever because we are making sure we go to church, read the Bible, whatever.
Is it true that You will bless us in personal covenant ways when we do what is pleasing to You? No doubt. But it is all intiated by You, and it is dangerous for us to assume You will answer our obedience, our worship, our sacrifice in the way that we want.
I want to continue to live in sacrifice and obedience. I'd be a liar to say that I didn't want blessings because of it. But You know my whole life. As I worship, please come and define the covenant between You and me. Make some promises and I will too, but on Your terms. And I will always try to continually honor You.
Lord, You see me and You respond.
Lord, You bless me in Your perfect ways.
Help me to not expect my way,
but to respond to You with thanksgiving
for Your perfect way.
Truly, so may it be.
There's an interesting part of this covenant, this agreement between You, Moses, and ultimately all of humainty. Your covenant seems to come as a response to Noah's worship. In the account, You open the door for Moses and the family and they disembark the ark. Then Noah takes the clean animals, which he took seven of each of those, and sacrifices some of each in order to acknowledge You. The account then says that You smelt the sweet scent of the altar, and so You went down and gave Noah Your promise. It is as if Your covenant is a reaction to our right response.
And You initiate it. A covenant defines the way that we relate to one another, the things that we are held to do and the things that You are held to do. It is significant, I think, that You are always the one who defines the covenant. Here with Noah, You don't put extra terms on him. It's as if he has already fulfilled his part of the deal by offering a sacrifice, acknowledging You and thanking You for the work You've just done for him. But the sacrifice doesn't allow Noah to define how You will respond to him. He doesn't get to pick what You will do for him. There's no, "Oh great, God's here to answer my sacrifice. Now, I was needing a big house in which to store all this food, all these animals, my soon to be huge family, could You take care of that for me Lord."
Noah comes in simple acknowledge, You come defining the terms of relationship.
Noah does not offer obedience with expectation of blessing. Noah offers obedience, sacrifice because that is the right thing to do. It seems expectations is what our society, myself often get out of whack. So many times we turn our "sacrifice" and "worship" into activities that demand blessing. The whole reason we enter into a sanctuary or offer obedience to God's word is because we think that God will somehow pay us back. From middle school hopes of God getting the right girl to like us to high school dreams of God helping us win our games because we haven't sinned to adult misguided thoughts of guaranteed financial blessing, or health of children, or whatever because we are making sure we go to church, read the Bible, whatever.
Is it true that You will bless us in personal covenant ways when we do what is pleasing to You? No doubt. But it is all intiated by You, and it is dangerous for us to assume You will answer our obedience, our worship, our sacrifice in the way that we want.
I want to continue to live in sacrifice and obedience. I'd be a liar to say that I didn't want blessings because of it. But You know my whole life. As I worship, please come and define the covenant between You and me. Make some promises and I will too, but on Your terms. And I will always try to continually honor You.
Lord, You see me and You respond.
Lord, You bless me in Your perfect ways.
Help me to not expect my way,
but to respond to You with thanksgiving
for Your perfect way.
Truly, so may it be.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Building Excitement
Lord, reading through Noah's story right now, slowly but surely, I find myself identifying very closely with him in a lot of ways. First of all, the overwhelming nature of what You have asked of me and my community. I mean, following the Way of the Lord, leading an excellent church that models that, and all of my personal responsibilities on top of that is tiring, but...
I've just really been having a great week. And it's all little things. A great teaching meeting on Monday night, the students enjoying the eclasses I've made this week, a good focused day of teaching on Wednesday, holding my wife in labor rehearsal on Wednesday night, hearing that Bryan is moving and excited about the response for Sunday's gathering...they're not huge but they are hugely encouraging.
So I come to this part of Noah's story where he has been afloat for 150 days or whatever, and finally the ark comes to rest on a mountain. It wasn't a huge thing, but how excited must Noah have been. Things were finally starting to move in the right direction. He maybe was nearing a turning point where things would start to move as he had imagined them. Leaving the ark, renewing family life and beginning again to populate and work the earth. The end of floating was the first step in that direction, and that small thing had to be hugely encouraging.
I feel I'm in that mood right now. I know that this isn't theologically deep today, like I've been trying for over several days, but this just warmed my soul. And I know that perhaps this is where I'm at right now. With whatever happened the last two months, I have felt like I (we) have been floating. Now, I feel like we've found anchor. Now I expect to just wait and wait while You clear the rest of the land for us, preparing the way for whatever we embark on, and then open the door and tell us to go to it. It's exciting and I'm glad to be moving forward.
I love You, Lord. Help my life to reflect that joy today.
I've just really been having a great week. And it's all little things. A great teaching meeting on Monday night, the students enjoying the eclasses I've made this week, a good focused day of teaching on Wednesday, holding my wife in labor rehearsal on Wednesday night, hearing that Bryan is moving and excited about the response for Sunday's gathering...they're not huge but they are hugely encouraging.
So I come to this part of Noah's story where he has been afloat for 150 days or whatever, and finally the ark comes to rest on a mountain. It wasn't a huge thing, but how excited must Noah have been. Things were finally starting to move in the right direction. He maybe was nearing a turning point where things would start to move as he had imagined them. Leaving the ark, renewing family life and beginning again to populate and work the earth. The end of floating was the first step in that direction, and that small thing had to be hugely encouraging.
I feel I'm in that mood right now. I know that this isn't theologically deep today, like I've been trying for over several days, but this just warmed my soul. And I know that perhaps this is where I'm at right now. With whatever happened the last two months, I have felt like I (we) have been floating. Now, I feel like we've found anchor. Now I expect to just wait and wait while You clear the rest of the land for us, preparing the way for whatever we embark on, and then open the door and tell us to go to it. It's exciting and I'm glad to be moving forward.
I love You, Lord. Help my life to reflect that joy today.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Sometimes
God, You are so good. Sometimes it is refreshing and interesting and downright exciting to read the Scripture and find all sorts of new things going on within it. Last night as we studied at Exodus, I was so invigorated by the study and all that we learned. I mean, we were able to look at the most boring, random, confusing passage of Scripture we've dealt with and were shown a beautiful side of You, the side of overwhelming grace. I am so thankful for that and the meeting last night.
Other times, I try to jump in and my brain is shot, or things don't jmp out to me or... I don't know. This morning seems to be one of "those" times, where I read about Noah getting into the ark and I'm like, "Uhh..." You have showed me some interesting things (the continual role of water in deliverance, or to be delivered from) but it doesn't seem to be as lifestyle impacting as I always hope for.
Maybe that's because I still need to be focus on the obedience part from last week, maybe You are not quite ready to move on. And I can deal with that. I just pray, whether I am learning new things today or that You will show me new things tomorrow, that I will be following You. Seems like a simple journal entry today, a reminder to myself and from You. But hey, if I've got to stay focused and obedient, I'll take simple.
Other times, I try to jump in and my brain is shot, or things don't jmp out to me or... I don't know. This morning seems to be one of "those" times, where I read about Noah getting into the ark and I'm like, "Uhh..." You have showed me some interesting things (the continual role of water in deliverance, or to be delivered from) but it doesn't seem to be as lifestyle impacting as I always hope for.
Maybe that's because I still need to be focus on the obedience part from last week, maybe You are not quite ready to move on. And I can deal with that. I just pray, whether I am learning new things today or that You will show me new things tomorrow, that I will be following You. Seems like a simple journal entry today, a reminder to myself and from You. But hey, if I've got to stay focused and obedient, I'll take simple.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Overwhelming Obedience
Lately I've been terribly bogged down by the weight of all the different things going on in my life. When I start listing out all the different things that I should be doing, I just end up wanting to go to sleep. So in reading more about Noah today, I identify with what he must have been feeling after chapter 6, verses 14-21:
So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.
"Yea, no, excellent God, oh, yea, I can do all that, no problem. Now, cypress wood, where would I start to find that. Maybe after I take a short nap." I mean seriously, Noah is given way too big of a task for one man to carry out on his own, just in building the ark. Then he is also given the task of filling the ark with animals and because he needs to keep them alive, food for the animals. Wow. It stresses me out just to think about Noah having to do all that.
And what's my favorite way of dealing with the stress of too much to do? I avoid it. I avoid doing the things that I have to do all together. I've got papers that need to be graded sitting all around my classroom, I need to work on an offseason tennis plan, I need to talk to Exodus Community pastors about being more intentional, more excellent, I need to be more excellent as a pastor myself by spending more time in the Word, by getting more involved with the individuals in our community, by becoming more involved with individuals not in our community, by challenging our current pastors and leading the church. Whew. I didn't even add in there yet that I need to prepare for Gideon coming, or the teaching that I'm doing, or the middle school basketball season starting in a week.
Now, maybe the difference is that Noah was directed in his tasks by You. They were specific things that You wanted him to accomplish. I can't imagine that Noah had a whole lot of anything else going on besides what You called him to. That's what enabled him in the end to have this said about him:
Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:22)
All that huge stuff, big ark and zookeeping, that You directed him to do and this is all we're told? That seems entirely too simple. The emphasized point here though is that he did what You asked him to, just as You asked him too. No comment about him being overwhelmed, ridiculed, questioned, tired, busy, not having enough time for family, etc. Those things may have happened, but the important part, the written part of the story is that Noah did what You asked.
So what are You asking from me? I've been struck lately with the sense that we, the pastors of Exodus Community, have shyed away from really giving more time and making things more excellent in any way because of our lack of time. I see that excuse for myself and say, "um, that's an excuse, not a reason to not do what God is prompting you to." Plain and simple, something must be done about the time crisis. Otherwise, You aren't going to remember me with a simple "Matt did everything just as I commanded him."
So what sacrifice has to be made? I willing to give it all up, even the good. What do you want and where do I start?
And hopefully You'll make it that simple.
So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.
"Yea, no, excellent God, oh, yea, I can do all that, no problem. Now, cypress wood, where would I start to find that. Maybe after I take a short nap." I mean seriously, Noah is given way too big of a task for one man to carry out on his own, just in building the ark. Then he is also given the task of filling the ark with animals and because he needs to keep them alive, food for the animals. Wow. It stresses me out just to think about Noah having to do all that.
And what's my favorite way of dealing with the stress of too much to do? I avoid it. I avoid doing the things that I have to do all together. I've got papers that need to be graded sitting all around my classroom, I need to work on an offseason tennis plan, I need to talk to Exodus Community pastors about being more intentional, more excellent, I need to be more excellent as a pastor myself by spending more time in the Word, by getting more involved with the individuals in our community, by becoming more involved with individuals not in our community, by challenging our current pastors and leading the church. Whew. I didn't even add in there yet that I need to prepare for Gideon coming, or the teaching that I'm doing, or the middle school basketball season starting in a week.
Now, maybe the difference is that Noah was directed in his tasks by You. They were specific things that You wanted him to accomplish. I can't imagine that Noah had a whole lot of anything else going on besides what You called him to. That's what enabled him in the end to have this said about him:
Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:22)
All that huge stuff, big ark and zookeeping, that You directed him to do and this is all we're told? That seems entirely too simple. The emphasized point here though is that he did what You asked him to, just as You asked him too. No comment about him being overwhelmed, ridiculed, questioned, tired, busy, not having enough time for family, etc. Those things may have happened, but the important part, the written part of the story is that Noah did what You asked.
So what are You asking from me? I've been struck lately with the sense that we, the pastors of Exodus Community, have shyed away from really giving more time and making things more excellent in any way because of our lack of time. I see that excuse for myself and say, "um, that's an excuse, not a reason to not do what God is prompting you to." Plain and simple, something must be done about the time crisis. Otherwise, You aren't going to remember me with a simple "Matt did everything just as I commanded him."
So what sacrifice has to be made? I willing to give it all up, even the good. What do you want and where do I start?
And hopefully You'll make it that simple.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Standing Between God and Man
So, Sunday at Exodus Community was "Kingdom of Priests" day, in which we were trying to stress the importance of every believer to be a priest to the community surrounding them. And the basic job of the priest is to be one who stands between God and man.
So, I've got this idea that I need to do that. It's funny though, because as I start to go to You with the concerns for others that I have, I realize that their are only a select few in my community that I know really well. It makes me feel bad at relationships, and I realize that something I have to come before with is to improve my people skills, my conversation skills, my noticing of others, and my emptying of myself.
What do I need to stand in for those in Exodus Community? Why are they seeking You today? What should they be seeking You for? What do You want them to know? What do You want us to do?
On Sunday I talked to the group about Moses running up and down the mountain, to talk to the people and to talk to You. You kept calling him up and then sending him down to tell the people something new. Sometimes I feel like I'm running up and down the mountain because I can't remember everything that's going on. For example, I'll pray for Gideon and Courtney, then for Joel's message, and then for the Community in general, and then "Amen." I start getting on to whatever I have to do next and then I'm like, "Oh yeah, Kim needs prayer for her class." Then I start to pray for that and end. Then I remember that we should also pray for the covenant agreement we're preparing, and for the worship, and for Courtney's job. Then my brain moves outside the Community to the rest of my community: my students, my sisters and brother, friends from college, tennis players, etc.
How do you be a priest for the people you know? I'm working on that. What's the result of being a priest for the people you know? Overwhelming tiredness seems to be the answer right now. The amazing thing is that You've already prepared an answer for that. "And My Presece will go with you, and I will give you rest." That's Exodus 33:14, a great verse. Maybe I should make that my "life verse." As we try to be standing between You and others, taking their concerns, sins, problems, even joys before You, we are emptying ourselves out and getting worn thin. You, LORD God, You must go with us and allow us to rest.
LORD, of work and of rest,
Let us stand before You in blessing,
Let us go from You to deliver blessing,
And let us return again to find rest.
In the name of the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
So, I've got this idea that I need to do that. It's funny though, because as I start to go to You with the concerns for others that I have, I realize that their are only a select few in my community that I know really well. It makes me feel bad at relationships, and I realize that something I have to come before with is to improve my people skills, my conversation skills, my noticing of others, and my emptying of myself.
What do I need to stand in for those in Exodus Community? Why are they seeking You today? What should they be seeking You for? What do You want them to know? What do You want us to do?
On Sunday I talked to the group about Moses running up and down the mountain, to talk to the people and to talk to You. You kept calling him up and then sending him down to tell the people something new. Sometimes I feel like I'm running up and down the mountain because I can't remember everything that's going on. For example, I'll pray for Gideon and Courtney, then for Joel's message, and then for the Community in general, and then "Amen." I start getting on to whatever I have to do next and then I'm like, "Oh yeah, Kim needs prayer for her class." Then I start to pray for that and end. Then I remember that we should also pray for the covenant agreement we're preparing, and for the worship, and for Courtney's job. Then my brain moves outside the Community to the rest of my community: my students, my sisters and brother, friends from college, tennis players, etc.
How do you be a priest for the people you know? I'm working on that. What's the result of being a priest for the people you know? Overwhelming tiredness seems to be the answer right now. The amazing thing is that You've already prepared an answer for that. "And My Presece will go with you, and I will give you rest." That's Exodus 33:14, a great verse. Maybe I should make that my "life verse." As we try to be standing between You and others, taking their concerns, sins, problems, even joys before You, we are emptying ourselves out and getting worn thin. You, LORD God, You must go with us and allow us to rest.
LORD, of work and of rest,
Let us stand before You in blessing,
Let us go from You to deliver blessing,
And let us return again to find rest.
In the name of the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Completeness
As I study the flood story, there are lots of interpretations and facts and commentary that state things that I already know to be true, or that seem inconsequential, Lord, in actually living the text. For example, there is the fact that the words "the whole earth" could have been more limited than the actual whole earth, because the writer would not have known how large the earth really was and could just have been talking about the flooding of all they knew. That's an interesting little thought, but what am I going to do with that. It's kind of cool to think about how language can communicate different ideas, but there is very little there to apply.
So instead of the larger flood narrative, let me start with a small, pre-diluvian detail (how 'bout them big words?!).
"Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth." Genesis 6:9-10
The thing here Lord, is the way that Noah is described. First of all, righteous and blameless. So he lived a life of good deeds. While obviously this doesn't mean that his life was sinless (we later find him drunk after the flood) but that there was a certain high moral quality to his life. Doing right must have been important to him, certainly in Your comparison of him to everyone else.
The third statement in how Noah is described is that he walked with You. It indicates some sort of relationship with You. In addition to his life of good deeds he also took time to spend with You. Noah's life, apparently, could be summed up by what later Jesus calls the greatest commandments. Noah loved God (walked with You) and loved others (was righteous and blameless).
I find it interesting then that there are three descriptors about Noah (righteous, blameless, and walked). In ancient language the three is a number indicating completeness. His relationship to You is complete, it contains every facet and attribute needed. I'm sure that is why You decided to start over with him. I'm sure that these are the characteristics that You love to see when You start anything with anyone. The completeness of one's character spills over into whatever they are doing.
Even with Noah's sons, you see this continual mention of threes, as if re-emphasizing it. Noah has a relationship with You that is complete, he has a complete family. He is ready to be used.
So, how about me? This is how I'd describe me: intermittently complete.
There are certainly times when I am being blameless before You, periods that last from hours to weeks. Just like I assume with Noah, this doesn't mean that I'm perfect, but that there is a high moral quality to my life and my days are oftened defined by others, not selfishness.
There are times when I walk with You, and then there are long stretches when I do not. But how can I really be ready to use if I am not complete and much more consistent? Certainly, life is the struggle to stay in connection with You and Your way. Can You give me the strength to struggle? Even beyond that, all of us who lead at Exodus Community need this type of completeness. A walk with You and and unselfishness of action. can You help us? Will You?
I ask these questions for I am ready and willing to be used, to lead forth for You. But I know that only You, and within the contexts of a relationship with You, can my weakness be taken and made complete. I pray that You will complete me.
Lord, who is Yourself a complete three-in-one,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
I pray to You.
Lord, who is Yourself completely holy,
not selfish but good,
I pray to You.
Lord, who is Yourself completely seeking
relationship with man,
I pray to You.
Complete me in Your holiness,
empty me of selfishness,
prepare me for Your service.
Complete me in our relationship,
seek out my companionship,
prepare me for Your service.
Complete me, as I hold Your thoughts
close to my heart and hands,
let me live and not forget.
Amen.
So instead of the larger flood narrative, let me start with a small, pre-diluvian detail (how 'bout them big words?!).
"Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth." Genesis 6:9-10
The thing here Lord, is the way that Noah is described. First of all, righteous and blameless. So he lived a life of good deeds. While obviously this doesn't mean that his life was sinless (we later find him drunk after the flood) but that there was a certain high moral quality to his life. Doing right must have been important to him, certainly in Your comparison of him to everyone else.
The third statement in how Noah is described is that he walked with You. It indicates some sort of relationship with You. In addition to his life of good deeds he also took time to spend with You. Noah's life, apparently, could be summed up by what later Jesus calls the greatest commandments. Noah loved God (walked with You) and loved others (was righteous and blameless).
I find it interesting then that there are three descriptors about Noah (righteous, blameless, and walked). In ancient language the three is a number indicating completeness. His relationship to You is complete, it contains every facet and attribute needed. I'm sure that is why You decided to start over with him. I'm sure that these are the characteristics that You love to see when You start anything with anyone. The completeness of one's character spills over into whatever they are doing.
Even with Noah's sons, you see this continual mention of threes, as if re-emphasizing it. Noah has a relationship with You that is complete, he has a complete family. He is ready to be used.
So, how about me? This is how I'd describe me: intermittently complete.
There are certainly times when I am being blameless before You, periods that last from hours to weeks. Just like I assume with Noah, this doesn't mean that I'm perfect, but that there is a high moral quality to my life and my days are oftened defined by others, not selfishness.
There are times when I walk with You, and then there are long stretches when I do not. But how can I really be ready to use if I am not complete and much more consistent? Certainly, life is the struggle to stay in connection with You and Your way. Can You give me the strength to struggle? Even beyond that, all of us who lead at Exodus Community need this type of completeness. A walk with You and and unselfishness of action. can You help us? Will You?
I ask these questions for I am ready and willing to be used, to lead forth for You. But I know that only You, and within the contexts of a relationship with You, can my weakness be taken and made complete. I pray that You will complete me.
Lord, who is Yourself a complete three-in-one,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
I pray to You.
Lord, who is Yourself completely holy,
not selfish but good,
I pray to You.
Lord, who is Yourself completely seeking
relationship with man,
I pray to You.
Complete me in Your holiness,
empty me of selfishness,
prepare me for Your service.
Complete me in our relationship,
seek out my companionship,
prepare me for Your service.
Complete me, as I hold Your thoughts
close to my heart and hands,
let me live and not forget.
Amen.
Monday, October 1, 2007
This is a Difficult Text
Lord, it's always interesting to open up Your Word, but it is sometimes confusing. Or, well, straightforward but not seeming to say anything. Say anything useful for living anyways. I know that seems pretty harsh, but it's the truth. Like I said, I want to be completely honest.
So today I stumble across Genesis 5 in my studies. It's a geneology from Adam to Noah. Ten generations, guys that lived a long time and had lots of sons and daughters. Many of them are godly and are said to have walked with You, both from the text we see Enoch is like that and in the blessings of longevity that many of these 10 men receive.
Maybe it is because I am tired, but my reaction here is like: "Okay, they were fruitful and they multiplied. These numbers of ages are probably significant, but since nobody really seems to know why, then I'll just leave them. So what else is there?" I know I'm complaining like a little child, but what is the point here?
For the time being, I guess I'll just file this passage away in my mind and move on. Perhaps the significance of the line will show up as I go through the rest of Genesis.
So today I stumble across Genesis 5 in my studies. It's a geneology from Adam to Noah. Ten generations, guys that lived a long time and had lots of sons and daughters. Many of them are godly and are said to have walked with You, both from the text we see Enoch is like that and in the blessings of longevity that many of these 10 men receive.
Maybe it is because I am tired, but my reaction here is like: "Okay, they were fruitful and they multiplied. These numbers of ages are probably significant, but since nobody really seems to know why, then I'll just leave them. So what else is there?" I know I'm complaining like a little child, but what is the point here?
For the time being, I guess I'll just file this passage away in my mind and move on. Perhaps the significance of the line will show up as I go through the rest of Genesis.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
