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Dancing for Joy?

10 Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me! O LORD, be thou my helper!”

11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,

12 that my soul may praise thee and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to thee for ever.

Psalm 30:10-12

When was the last time you danced for joy? Maybe a long time ago, if ever? I hope not. When I was young, I was fascinated with the dance moves of actors like Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and Donald O’ Conner. They looked so graceful as they moved about the dance floor in perfect sync with their partners. The Psalms speak of dancing as a kind of release of inner emotions of joy. I can just imagine David being so overwhelmed by the goodness of God he just broke out into dancing.

In High School I was what you might call a ‘Social Introvert’. I wasn’t shy about meeting people or talking to strangers, but I was too shy to ask a girl to dance. The thought of possibly being rejected was more than my fragile self-esteem could handle, so I didn’t ask. In fact, I didn’t even go. I can only remember going to three dances in my growing years. The first was in the fifth-grade. That scared me so much I didn’t try again till my Freshman year of High School. I’m not really sure why I even went then. It must have been peer pressure.

The third time was the Jr./Sr. Prom. Since I had a girl friend at the time I felt sort of obligated. I know what your thinking. “How did this shy kid afraid of rejection get a girl friend?” She asked me out. “Whew!” That was a real relief. But even then, those dances were not something that flowed from my inner being. They weren’t expressions of joy.

However, after High School I began to loosen up a bit. I even joined the community theater. And would you believe it? One of the roles I was cast was as a dance instructor. I thought I was really something then. Talk about an ego booster – but it was short lived.

I don’t know if David grew up dancing at festivals or not. I’m thinking he probably did since dancing was a part of the Jewish culture of celebration. Several times in the Psalms we see dancing as an expression of inner joy, like in Psalm 30:11. Scripture even says God will cause his children to dance. Jeremiah the Prophet spoke of time when God would give such inner joy and peace that God’s children would break out in dance…

“The young women will dance for joy, and the men–old and young–will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.” (Jeremiah 31:13 NLT)

In Psalm 30 we not only hear the voice of David praising God for his deliverance from a life on the run at the hands of King Saul (Psalm 30:1), we also hear the voice of Jesus praising His Father for delivering him from death (Psalm 30:3). Furthermore, throughout the Psalm we can sing our own prayer of thanks for the LORD’s salvation.

I was so thankful for being cast as a leading character in that community theater play all those years ago, I almost broke out in dancing. How ironic that a boy who never really danced was cast as a dance instructor. I thought to myself, “Well, this is my chance to really act. I can make it look like I know what I’m doing without really having to dance”.

But then it happened. Not only would I have to learn to actually dance and teach others, my dance partner in the play was the lady doing the choreography for the production. There was no fooling her. I had to move back and forth and turn and twirl as if I was Fred Astaire and she was Ginger Rogers. Well, at least that was the plan. But in life as well as in the theater, things don’t always go as planned.

One evening during rehearsal there was this one move I just couldn’t get. I tried over and over. I had to actually catch the lady in mid-air, suspend her on the side of my right hip as her left arm went round my shoulder, and my right arm went round her waist to hold her up. Then, at the same moment take her left hand as we turned and swirled around in a circle with her leaping off my hip and onto the floor on the other side of where she began. Those were some real ballet moves. It all sounded so graceful. The only problem was I wasn’t strong enough to hold her on my hip.

We always practiced the motions without my actually having to hold her up in rehearsals. Then came dress rehearsal and the great disaster. Not only could I not hold her on hip long enough to complete the twirl, I dropped her on the floor and as she fell she tore ligaments in her arm that was wrapped around my shoulder. Not only was I embarrassed beyond words, we had to re-write the script and cut a few scenes of dances.

I still love the thought of dancing for joy. Even all these years later and knowing I’m not good at at. I still love the thought of a heart so overjoyed it breaks out in dancing. How are your dance moves? Are they filled with joy? If you’re filled with sadness right now, listen to words of the Psalmist as he praises the LORD in verse 11. God wants to turn your sorrow into dancing, and take it from me, if nobody is watching – go for it! Our God is the one audience who will always give you a standing ovation no matter how bad you dance.

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

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The Voice in the Thunder

2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy array. 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, upon many waters.

4 The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

Psalm 29:2-4

I don’t remember being afraid of thunderstorms as a boy. In fact, I actually liked them. I can remember thinking what an awesome display they were of God’s power. Now, as an adult I have to confess to a secret desire to be a storm watcher, but I’m quite sure my wife would not be happy if I were out chasing tornados and measuring hail stones while the family sat at home worrying about my safety.

Sadly, we do have someone in our house who is afraid of storms, our little dog Gibby. Not all dogs are afraid of storms but many are. Veterinarians believe dogs can feel storms approaching by changes in the barometric pressure, and that there are painful frequencies in the atmosphere during storms that only they can hear.

In Psalm 29 we read that David was not afraid of storms. In fact, I think he was a storm-watcher. Can’t you see him looking out at the thunderclouds, seeing the glory of the Creator in them. He hears the voice of the LORD in the thunder and sees Him reigning over the flood waters. St. Paul tells us that nature reveals the creator God to those who have eyes to see (Romans 1:20). Seeing the power of God displayed though nature brought a feeling of strength and peace to David. He knew the LORD was in control.

What are the things that shake your faith? The Word of God teaches us nothing should shake our faith in the LORD. As the Prophet Isaiah said…

“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you.” Isaiah 54:10 ESV

When the storms come, someone in the family always picks up little Gibby and soothes his fears. Know the faithful love of God is always with you no matter how the storms of life may rage. He is there to pick you up and soothe you. Next time the winds blow and the rains fall, look for Him in the thunder clouds of your life.

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

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Facing Our Fear

To thee, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the Pit.

2 Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to thee for help, as I lift up my hands toward thy most holy sanctuary.

 Psalm 28:1,2

Can you remember back to when you were afraid of the dark? I can. Probably most children are afraid of darkness when they are young. The darkness covers everything in a shroud so that we can’t see anything. I can remember being terrified of some kind of “boogeyman” I imagined would come out from under my bed at night when I was about 4 or 5 years old. I would always cry out for help hoping my mom or dad would come to my rescue.

Psalm 28 speaks about the “Pit”. This is a recurring theme in several Psalms, as well as other scriptures. The Pit is sometimes translated as “Hades”, or the place of the dead. In today’s Psalm we see Jesus facing His very human fear of death. I suppose we can’t completely relate to the fear of death until the very words are pronounced over us. Like in a doctor’s office, when we are told with certainty we are about to die. Jesus not only knew His death was impending, He knew exactly how He would die – and it was horrifying.

Of course, we all know we are going to die someday, but if we are healthy that seems somehow remote. As Jesus lived out His ministry, the specter of the cross loomed larger and larger over his thoughts. He knew one day soon He would stretch out His arms to be nailed to the cross, and die. In the stark reality of those thoughts, the Psalmist helps us to hear Jesus cry out for help to His Father. Until Jesus’ resurrection, there was no coming back after death. The Pit was a place of permanence.

Psalm 28 can be sung as a prayer of our coming resurrection, even as it was prophetically for Christ’s. The ancient creeds of Christianity teach us to look for the resurrection of dead and life everlasting…

“We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen” (Nicene-Constantinoplitan Creed 325AD-381AD)

As a child, in my fear of the dark, I needed comfort. Of course, my two brothers who slept in the same room with me would always tell me to shut-up, but what I needed was the comfort of my mother or father – and they always came to my rescue.

Eventually I learned not to be afraid of the dark. I learned that God was with me everywhere, even in a dark room. What fears do you have today? Maybe you fear the darkness of feeling alone, or perhaps even the knowledge of your own impending death. Know that Jesus is always with you. He will rescue you from your pit of fear and darkness…

“…And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NLT)

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

image credit: https://harukadarkios.wordpress.com/2014/03/15/fear-of-darkness-what-phobia-is-it/

 

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Dwelling with God

4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

 Psalm 27:4

If you could ask the Lord for one thing, just one thing, what would it be? I used to play a game with friends when I was young where we would ask each other the one thing we wanted more than anything else. The answers were usually something like wealth and fame, or to live forever. Clearly we had some pretty superficial dreams.

However, as I grew and matured I began to ask myself, “What good would it do me to have all the money in the world if I didn’t have love?” I would be miserable. I had a comfortable life. I wasn’t suffering, but I knew something was missing. I can still remember when I found what my heart was really longing for.

Money can buy a lot of things, but it can’t buy true love. True love by it’s very definition is God. St. John tells us, “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). To want all the money and fame possible in this world is a most selfish wish, and it’s where we start in this life. In our fallen state of sin, we are attached to the world and detached from God.

As we grow and learn in this life, we become conscious that someone other worldly is out there calling to us. That someone is God. From before we are born He is seeking us. His divine providence has orchestrated things such that we humans have encounters with Him in this world. To encounter the beauty of nature is to encounter the goodness of our Creator. However, the greatest and fullest of all encounters is found in the person of Jesus Christ. God took on human flesh to become our kinsman redeemer.

Psalm 27 is the song of the Church calling out to God in faith and love. The psalmist begins (verses 1-3) in faith knowing that the LORD (Jesus) is his light and salvation. No one and nothing can harm him, because he knows he is the LORD’s most prized possession. Such knowledge leads the psalmist to ask only one thing of the LORD – to dwell with Him forever (Psalm 27:4).

I will never forget the Good Friday service when I realized how much Jesus loved me. I had heard His story all my life, but I hadn’t fallen in love with Him. But that Good Friday I was sitting in a darkened church experiencing what was called Living Pictures of Easter. As I watched a live man playing the role of Jesus, stripped, beaten, and hung on a cross, I felt in my heart what I had always known in my head – He died for me.

That night I found the real meaning of love, and my only response was to love Him back… more than ever. Loving Jesus Christ more than anything or anyone is the purpose of our lives. Our journey to such a relationship is like a pilgrimage on which we move from one holy place to another encountering the Living Christ through the events of our lives. The psalmist knew he could always count on the LORD to deliver him, no matter the danger (Psalm 27:5-12).

When we open the eyes of our hearts to the love of God that surrounds us, to the providential care of His will for our lives, we find ourselves in sweet communion with Christ. He led me to that Good Friday service, and He wants to lead you to a special encounter as well. It’s in those special encounters we realize that with Christ in our lives we have all we really need. Then we can be strong and courageous. Then we can say with assurance, as did the psalmist, “I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!” (Psalm 27:13)

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

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Pure & Blameless?

6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go about thy altar, O LORD,

7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all thy wondrous deeds.

Psalm 26:6,7

Dove soap may leave you with softer, smoother skin after washing, but it leaves a nasty after-taste in your mouth. I was about 10 years old when my mother caught me playing a game with friends we were visiting in Colorado. The game was to say as many dirty words as you could, and for each word the other guy to your right would slug you in the arm. The more you cussed, the more you got hit. Pretty stupid, isn’t it? Well, the other kids talked me into playing, and sure enough, I got caught.

My mother didn’t hear the horrible things the other kids said, she only heard me as she came up behind us without being noticed. Moms are good at that sort of thing. I actually thought I was winning the game as the kid next to me began to hit me harder and harder, and faster and faster. He was actually trying to get me to shut up, as he saw my mother approaching. I thought I was going to lose my left ear as my mother grabbed it and pulled me off to the bathroom to wash my mouth out with soap.

Don’t you just hate how you feel when you know you’ve let the Lord down in your sinful behavior? I’m glad Jesus doesn’t wash our mouths out with soap, once was enough for me. Yet, how many times since then have I failed to honor God with my mouth in other ways? St. James reminds us our mouths should be vessels of honor…

“From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:10)

And, Jesus tells us what comes from our mouths is what comes from our hearts…

“…it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” (Matthew 15:11)

In Psalm 26 we hear the voice of Jesus proclaiming his innocence before the LORD’s Altar and having washed His hands before God. While Jesus is the only one who can claim such innocence before God, we too are called to be “blameless” before our God…

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Ephesians 1:4)

Through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, imparted to us by God to cleanse our hearts and make us pure and blameless, we too can pray as Jesus did in Psalm 26. We too can “sing aloud a song of thanksgiving”, and “love the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy glory dwells.” Our prayer in Psalm 26 should be to wash our hands before the LORD’s Altar, which means to repent, and to say, “But as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.” (Psalm 26:11).

Nothing in me felt pure that day in Colorado, not even my mouth after all the Dove soap. In fact, I felt dirtier than ever for falling to such peer pressure. What about you? Is your heart pure before God today, or does your heart convict you? Won’t you take your conviction to Jesus and let him wash you? Jesus will do better than just washing your mouth out with soap, He’ll cleanse you through and through. Repent and He will make you holy and blameless before Him.

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

image credit: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Mom-Arrested-for-Washing-Kids-Mouth-With-Soap–64112132.html

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Which Way Do I Go?

10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Psalm 25:10

Life is full of pathways and some are the wrong way. Knowing how to choose your pathways in life is critical. I remember when my wife, Rhonda, and I were in Ft. Worth, Texas for a conference. We were newly weds having only been married about a year. You know, young and in love and thought we knew all about life. One day, during the conference, Rhonda laid out by the Hotel roof-top pool a bit too long and didn’t use any sunscreen.

By nightfall she was miserable. She was sunburned so badly she stayed in our room in misery while I attended the evening service. When I got back to the room, she was in such pain I knew I had to go out and get her some kind of medication. It was late and the Hotel gift shop was closed. So, off I went into the big city of Ft. Worth, in search of a store where I could find medicine for my suffering wife. The problem was I had no idea which way to go.

We were in the downtown area and I knew it had a reputation for crime, especially late at night. Earlier, in the daytime, we drove past lots of boarded up buildings and saw some pretty rough people; people I didn’t really want to run into late at night.

Life is kind of like that for everyone. Before you life lies like a big city with many roads. But which way is the right way? Which paths are safe? Psalm 25 is a prayer of Jesus, as He intercedes for the church (the Israel of God, v. 22). In verse 10, the Psalmist proclaims ALL the paths of the Lord are steadfast and true, for those who seek His covenant, and keep His truth.

The Psalmist begins in verse one by “lifting up” his soul to the Lord. Once he is perfectly seeking God from his inner being, he continues by asking the Lord to teach him, “Thy paths”, and lead him in “Thy truth”. The whole psalm is a prayer for guidance and protection offered up from a contrite heart. The Psalmist (David) knows sinfulness and calls on the mercy of the Lord. In this we see Jesus (himself sinless) teaching us how to pray and seek out the right paths in life.

As I started out for help that night I decided it was safer to drive out of the downtown area than to walk around hoping to find a store still be open. However, my first mistake was not asking directions. I’m sure a hotel clerk would’ve been happy to give them, if I’d only asked. What is it about us guys who think asking directions is a sign of weakness?

I’m not sure why I didn’t ask directions that night. I think I thought that in Wichita, Kansas (home) you can drive a mile in any direction and find a Quick Trip convenience store open 24 hours – but not in Ft Worth. The path I chose that night was definitely the wrong way. I drove and drove and saw no all night Quick Trips, not even a 7-Eleven. All I saw was boarded up and run down houses, and stripped cars on cinder blocks. I was in trouble, and I definitely didn’t want to stop and ask for directions.

In hindsight, perhaps I should have turned around and went the exact opposite direction. That’s what we need to do when we realize we’re lost in sin. We need to repent, which means turn around and go the other way. It was a time before cell phones and GPS and I wasn’t at all sure I could even find my way back to the Hotel – but I couldn’t stop. Rhonda needed help.

Eventually, I found an all night store with bars on the windows, even the cashier was behind bars. I wish I could tell you I remembered Psalm 25 where it says:

15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn thou to me, and be gracious to me; for I am lonely and afflicted.

17 Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distresses… 20 Oh guard my life, and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in thee

But, I didn’t. In my fear I said a quick prayer, something like, “Lord, don’t let me die here, Rhonda really needs this medicine”, then I got out of my car and went inside.

I did get back to the Hotel with some medicine for Rhonda. The Lord was steadfast and true, and redeemed me from all my troubles that night (v.22), and he has every day since. If you’re sensing you’re going down a wrong path in life, remember the steadfast love of the Lord never changes. He will be faithful to show you the right way – if you’ll stop and ask Him for directions.

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

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King of the Hill

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully.

Psalm 24:3,4

Did you ever play ‘King of the Hill’ when you were a kid? Our neighbor hood gang played it wherever we could find a sizeable hill. Sometimes the hill was a pile of snow, other times it was a mound of dirt. I remember once it was great pile of coal that was down by the railroad yard at the end of the block. We were covered in back soot after that one.

The object of the game was to ascend the hill and knock off the guy at the top. Frank St. Clair was particularly hard to knock off the top of the hill. He was bigger and tougher than most of us. I can still hear his maniacal laugh and big grin as we tried to climb up and knock him off.

Psalm 24 asks the question, who thinks they’re worthy to climb the hill of the LORD? The question is not a rhetorical one. The hill of the Lord is a metaphor for the Heavenly Mt. Zion, the throne room of God in Heaven. The answer is given in verse four; only he who has clean hands and a pure heart, and is never false. Well, that lets us humans out – or does it?

Jesus Christ is the only one who lived such a pure life. He alone is worthy to ascend the hill of the LORD. However, in His great mercy, He’s left the doors wide open for you and me. We can’t get there on our own. Our hands and hearts aren’t pure enough. But, through His blood shed on Calvary we’re washed clean, whiter than snow, says the Psalmist.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Ps. 51:7)

When us kids tried to climb the hill, all we heard was Frank laughing, and shouting, “You’re not worthy you weaklings!”. But now if we’ve been washed in the blood of the Lamb, if we’re listening closely, we can hear the angels calling out, as they did when Jesus left the Mount of Olives and ascended the hill of the LORD… “Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors!” That was the cry of the angels at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Heaven, into the Holy of Holies, for He was, and is, and ever shall be the “King of Glory”!

But, on the day Jesus ascended the hill, He not only took His rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He also left the doors of Heaven open for all His children to enter. So, no matter how life beats you up, and no matter how unworthy you feel, know that when you’ve been washed in His blood, you’ve been made worthy.

Now, when you climb the hill of the LORD, it’s not a game. Jesus is at the top and He won’t kick you back down. Instead, He’ll stretch out His hand and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matt. 25:23)

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

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The Valley of the Shadow of Life

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:4,5

The was an ambulance at the bank as My mom dropped me off a little early for work that day. The store was still closed. She always dropped me off in the alley behind Main Street where all the stores had entrances in back as well as the front. Beside the alley there was a large parking lot and the Midland National Bank drive up window. It was the summer before my last year of High School, and I worked for a clothing store. The manager must have been late that day, as the employee entrance was usually open by then.

I noticed an ambulance in the lane at the bank drive-up where a crowd was beginning to gather. I had time so I walked over to see who was hurt; it was a small town and it seemed our family knew everyone. I noticed Lee, my mom’s cousin, a tall man who was VP at the bank standing in front of me. I could see an old man laying on the ground as the EMT Techs were trying to revive him from an apparent heart attack.

I said to Lee, “Hey, who is that guy, I don’t recognize him?” When turned and saw it was me who was asking him, his face went pale. “That’s your Grandpa”, he said. My heart sank! I didn’t recognize him with his glasses off, false teeth removed, and his face so purple. I’d never seen anyone so close to death, except on TV; it was so different in person.

Psalm 23 is without a doubt the most well known, beloved of the Psalms. It was the first scripture I memorized as a child at Weekday Bible School. Interestingly, it seems the only time we hear or read it is at funerals. For most of my life I thought it was written expressly for times of death. However, in my ministry studies, when I studied the depth and meaning of the Psalms I came to realize that among all the Psalms, the 23rd is perhaps the most relevant to all of life, not just death.

The image of Jesus as our Good Shepherd is found in the writings of Saints John and Peter, as well as the writer of Hebrews. More than a Savior, Jesus is our Great Shepherd, and all who have faith in Him, are His sheep. He not only cares for the entire flock, He knows each one by name (Ps 95:7; Jn. 10:3).

Jesus is the source of all refreshing in life. The Fathers of the early church saw in Psalm 23 a threefold image of sacramental life in the Kingdom of God, the Church. They saw the cool waters as Christ restoring the soul of the believer in Baptism. And, in the early church, Baptism was followed by an anointing with oil called, Chrismation. And finally, they say Christ preparing a table before his sheep in the Eucharist of Holy Communion in this life, as well as in the Heavenly Wedding Supper of the Lamb in the life to come.

Psalm 23, was to the early church the Psalm of great comfort that described the very life of the believer, as He walked with the Shepherd. All of life is a valley we walk in the shadow of death, for all living things die. But thanks be to God we don’t walk alone; He is with us and we have nothing to fear.

As my Grandpa lay there on the ground that day, I began to fear death. He didn’t die that day. In fact, he lived for another year. During most of that last year of his life, I lived with him in hopes of being some kind of help to him. As I look back on it all, I can see as I lived in fear of Grandpa’s death, Jesus was with me, holding my hand through the valley.

I don’t know what your valley looks like, but I know one of the many things it includes is death. Yet, for those who believe in Christ death has lost its power. When you look at your life, don’t live in fear. You’re not walking through a canyon that ends in death. You’re walking through a valley that ends in life, life everlasting, life with Christ, and indeed with all those who in faith have gone on before you. I can’t wait to see my Grandpa again at the other end of my valley. What about you?

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

image credit: http://yahwehishisname.blogspot.com/2013/06/psalm-23-in-depth-study-on-king-davids.html

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From Fear to Praise

2 O my God, I cry by day, but thou dost not answer; and by night, but find no rest.

3 Yet thou art holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

Psalm 22:2,3

Every night, as I laid down to sleep, I would remember my friend in prayer – He’d been missing for over a year. Some nights I would literally cry out to God. The burden to pray for my friend was sometimes so strong I would get out of bed and find a quiet place to pray; a place where I could prostrate myself before God in petition.

Many Catholic churches have a small chapel that is filled with prayer for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They call the prayer Eucharistic Adoration. People sign up for one hour a week to go to the Chapel and pray before a consecrated Host of the Eucharist (Holy Communion), which according to their theology is the transubstantiated body and blood of Jesus Christ. A Catholic friend who knew of my burden told me about these chapels and said if I really wanted a sacred place to pray I was welcome anytime, day or night.

One lonely, cold, winter night, as I was particularly burdened in prayer for my friend, I was losing hope and beginning to fear the worst had happened. So, I got up about 3 O’clock in the morning and drove to one those chapels. There in the chapel, was an elderly man spending his hour in prayer. I knelt down and prayed for a while. My custom is to turn to Psalms for guidance in prayer – they are the ancient prayer book of God’s people. That night I turned to a few different Psalms, but when I got to Psalm 22, I heard my voice echoing in the words of Psalm.

David wrote the Psalm but it is historically understood to be the prophetic voice of the crucified Christ, calling out to the Father as He hung on the cross. We hear Jesus crying out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (v. 1), the very words which St. Matthew quotes of Jesus in his gospel, chapter 27, verse 46.

As I read and prayed the words of Psalm 22 that night, I realized that while much of them are words of angst and agony, many of them are of faith and hope. The Psalmist changes his voice in verse 23 to one of hope and assurance that God will hear his prayer and rescue him. In fact, the first line of the Psalm in the Septuagint version is, “concerning help in the morning”. Though Jesus prayed in agony, He knew His Father would send help in the morning. God would not abandon Him in death, and neither will He abandon us in our hour of great need.

It was another four months or so, and my friend was found – alive. He was hurting, but he was alive. God heard my prayers; He always has and He always will, and He hears yours too. What’s your burden in prayer today? Know that He hears, and that His desire is to deliver you as you surrender all to Him. And, just like the Psalmist in the midst of his outcry, let your cries turn to praise:

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! all you sons of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you sons of Israel!

24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; and he has not hid his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

25 From thee comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.

26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live for ever! (Ps. 22:23-26)

In your prayers, don’t stop when you run out of words of petition. Don’t be afraid to lay out your deepest fears before God. Then, let your cries turn from fear to praise.

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

image credit: http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/february/feeling-forsaken-thoughts-on-psalm-22.html

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Genie In A Bottle

A Psalm of David. In thy strength the king rejoices, O LORD; and in thy help how greatly he exults!

2 Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withheld the request of his lips. [Selah]

Psalm 21:1,2

When I was a kid one of my favorite TV shows was, “I Dream of Jeanie”. For those of you who don’t remember, it was a situation comedy in the 1960’s about an astronaut who finds a bottle on a beach and when he opens it out comes a Genie (Named Jeanie), who has the power to grant all his wishes. How cool would it be to have a genie like that? Can you even imagine having your every wish granted? My great wish was to be elected to public office, maybe the Congress, Senate, or why not even President of the United States. After all, I believed in God, so why wouldn’t He grant my requests? So, I put my name of the ballot.

Sadly, some people think of God as some kind of genie in a bottle. I know I did.  Whenever they want something they take Him out and ask him to grant their wish. Oh, I know it’s not quite that way. But, when we only speak to God when we need something, isn’t that the same thing?

In Psalm 21 we hear Jesus (the King) praising His Father (the Lord) for granting, “his heart’s desire”. Scripture says the Father did not withhold any of Jesus’ requests. You may be thinking, “But, Jesus was God too, so of course the Father answered his requests.” However, St. Paul tells us that’s not how Jesus approached His Father:

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant,[a] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:5-8)

The prophetic voice of Christ in the Psalms gives us a model for how we too should pray; this is why it is called the “Prayer Book” of the ancient church. When we learn to pray as Jesus did, that is to say, “Not my will, but Thy will”, then we glorify God as Lord, and not some genie who should give us everything we want.

Psalm 21 is Jesus’ prayer of praise to the Father for giving him victory of every enemy, especially the grave (v. 6-12). Verse 4 tells us the real desire of Jesus’ heart was to have life, real life with the Father. What was the Father’s answer? He gave Him life forever, unto ages of ages.

As I look back on my life, I’m glad God didn’t give me what I thought was my “heart’s desire”. Like the time I ran for elective office and wanted to win so badly. I thought I wanted to be a great public servant. But, God knew the fame and power of politics would be too much for me. I wasn’t mature enough to ask for what I really needed.

If He’d granted my wish I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t have moved to Wichita. I’d never have met my wife. I’d wouldn’t have the two children I’m so blessed with. And, worst of all, I may never have found Christ.

If God had been my genie, I’d probably be on a long road to nowhere. But, thanks be to God, He is Lord, and in His mercy, He gives us what we need, not what we want. What are the desires of your heart?

Shalom, 

Pastor Brad

image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Dream_of_Jeannie