"As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord is thinking about me right now. You are my helper and my Savior. do not delay, O my God." Psalm 40:17
People say that time will heal
But you know, they just don't feel what you feel
Times are hard but God is so good
He's never failed you, and he said He never would
He sees your tears
He fights your fears
Hold on, help is on the way
He said he'd never leave you or forsake you
Stay strong
Help is on the way
He said he's help you
Just reach out and take his hand
He knows your heart, He lifts your head
He's always close enough to hear every word you said
When you're weak, He said He's so much more
His arm is long enough to reach you where you are
He sees your tears
He fights your fears
Hold on - Help is on the way...
Words and Music by Michael W. Smith
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Are You Neck -Reined?
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" Isaiah 30:21
Horses are a curious animal. They each have their own personality and level of willingness to obey. I guess you could say they are a lot like us humans actually. I learned as a youngster that the reins that are connected to the horse's bridle are the means by which they are controlled.
Some horses have to be forced to go to the right or left or to back up by pulling hard on the reins from one side or the other or straight back. They still have a mind of their own and have not been fully taught to follow their master's leading. They get confused, frustrated and down right stubborn at times and getting them to obey can often be a test of wills. These animals consistently try their owners and often make riding them a chore rather than a delight.
There are others though, those that have been completely broken, that need only a slight nudge or to simply have the reins laid over on one side of their neck or the other to move obediently to the right or to the left. The rider need only to barely lay the leather against the animal's neck to easily obtain the desired response. Slight nudges with the heels or clicking of the tongue are all that is often necessary to begin the ride. Riding these horses is simply a pleasure. No battle is necessary, the animal almost anticipates the desire of it's master. His master's will becomes his own.
Is the spiritual lesson obvious? Have you been broken before your Lord to the point that His will has become yours? Are you neck-reined?
Horses are a curious animal. They each have their own personality and level of willingness to obey. I guess you could say they are a lot like us humans actually. I learned as a youngster that the reins that are connected to the horse's bridle are the means by which they are controlled.
Some horses have to be forced to go to the right or left or to back up by pulling hard on the reins from one side or the other or straight back. They still have a mind of their own and have not been fully taught to follow their master's leading. They get confused, frustrated and down right stubborn at times and getting them to obey can often be a test of wills. These animals consistently try their owners and often make riding them a chore rather than a delight.
There are others though, those that have been completely broken, that need only a slight nudge or to simply have the reins laid over on one side of their neck or the other to move obediently to the right or to the left. The rider need only to barely lay the leather against the animal's neck to easily obtain the desired response. Slight nudges with the heels or clicking of the tongue are all that is often necessary to begin the ride. Riding these horses is simply a pleasure. No battle is necessary, the animal almost anticipates the desire of it's master. His master's will becomes his own.
Is the spiritual lesson obvious? Have you been broken before your Lord to the point that His will has become yours? Are you neck-reined?
Monday, February 1, 2010
Where Does My Help Come From?
"I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2
How often do you look up? No, I mean really, "How often do you look up?" If you're like me you spend a lot of time looking around - at your situation and circumstances, a significant amount of time looking down--perhaps because you don't want to connect with others or deal with certain situations, and way too much time looking inward--focusing on your own struggles, disappointments and frustrations.
The Psalmist, in this case many believe it was Hezekiah, knew how to get his perspective adjusted right away. Notice he says, "I lift up my eyes to the hills". This was a willful choice on his part to lift up his eyes. In order to look up at the hills he had to stop looking around and down and in. We can only look one direction at a time. We have to choose where we will look.
As soon as he looked up he realized where his help comes from - "...the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." If we're looking for help from anywhere else we will likely be disappointed along the way.
Looked up lately?
How often do you look up? No, I mean really, "How often do you look up?" If you're like me you spend a lot of time looking around - at your situation and circumstances, a significant amount of time looking down--perhaps because you don't want to connect with others or deal with certain situations, and way too much time looking inward--focusing on your own struggles, disappointments and frustrations.
The Psalmist, in this case many believe it was Hezekiah, knew how to get his perspective adjusted right away. Notice he says, "I lift up my eyes to the hills". This was a willful choice on his part to lift up his eyes. In order to look up at the hills he had to stop looking around and down and in. We can only look one direction at a time. We have to choose where we will look.
As soon as he looked up he realized where his help comes from - "...the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." If we're looking for help from anywhere else we will likely be disappointed along the way.
Looked up lately?
Thursday, January 21, 2010
One Thing I Know
"...because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." 2 Timothy 1:12
On my first break back home from my freshman year in college, my Dad asked me a question, "Well, now that you're in college what have you learned?" I distinctly remember answering, "I've learned that there is a whole lot that I don't know!"
After nearly 30 years in ministry I hear myself saying the same thing, "The older I get, the more I realize that there is so much I don't know!" But you know what? That's OK with me. I would be foolish to pretend that I have all of the answers. My goodness, I don't even know all the questions!
In ministering to those who are questioning their neglect or abuse by a family member, or rejection, or grieving the loss of a loved one, I often hear myself saying, " I don't know..." What I do know is that God loves me and he loves you, that he desires to bring good out of the most painful situations, and that someday when we get to heaven our questions will be answered and the pain and tears of this life will be but a brief memory. That is what I hang my hat on when things around me don't make sense. I have to trust the heart of the One who loved me so much that he gave his life in exchange for mine.
Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:12 that even in the midst of suffering he held on to the fact that he knew who he had believed and was fully convinced that the Lord was able to take care of what he had entrusted to him. Because of what he did know, it was OK to admit the things that he didn't know.
What do you know?
On my first break back home from my freshman year in college, my Dad asked me a question, "Well, now that you're in college what have you learned?" I distinctly remember answering, "I've learned that there is a whole lot that I don't know!"
After nearly 30 years in ministry I hear myself saying the same thing, "The older I get, the more I realize that there is so much I don't know!" But you know what? That's OK with me. I would be foolish to pretend that I have all of the answers. My goodness, I don't even know all the questions!
In ministering to those who are questioning their neglect or abuse by a family member, or rejection, or grieving the loss of a loved one, I often hear myself saying, " I don't know..." What I do know is that God loves me and he loves you, that he desires to bring good out of the most painful situations, and that someday when we get to heaven our questions will be answered and the pain and tears of this life will be but a brief memory. That is what I hang my hat on when things around me don't make sense. I have to trust the heart of the One who loved me so much that he gave his life in exchange for mine.
Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:12 that even in the midst of suffering he held on to the fact that he knew who he had believed and was fully convinced that the Lord was able to take care of what he had entrusted to him. Because of what he did know, it was OK to admit the things that he didn't know.
What do you know?
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
My Gift To Him
"Therefore, those who also suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." 1 Peter 4:19
What do you give the person who has everything? No doubt you have had that thought if not already spoken the phrase several times already during this holiday season.
I am purposely committing to step away from the shopping and planning and carve out some quiet time to think about what I want to give to my Lord this year. I know, we all want to give Him our love and devotion, our worship and adoration--all the things He so richly deserves and we so often neglect to offer. But what about me personally? What am I to offer Him this year and looking toward the year to come? As I think and pray, my mind continues to bring me back to the verse that I have committed to memorize for 2010--1 Peter 4:19. I am especially drawn to the last half of the verse, "...shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right."
Whether I like it or not, suffering is a very real part of life--even the life of the committed believer. But how I respond to suffering and trials is really my gift back to Christ. Am I going to get angry, kick and scream, panic and run? Or am I going to release my will and continue to do what is right, trusting that my God, the Lover of my soul will be glorified and bring something good and precious from my trial?
My gift to Him this year is settled. I will entrust my soul to my faithful Creator in doing what is right.
How about you?
What do you give the person who has everything? No doubt you have had that thought if not already spoken the phrase several times already during this holiday season.
I am purposely committing to step away from the shopping and planning and carve out some quiet time to think about what I want to give to my Lord this year. I know, we all want to give Him our love and devotion, our worship and adoration--all the things He so richly deserves and we so often neglect to offer. But what about me personally? What am I to offer Him this year and looking toward the year to come? As I think and pray, my mind continues to bring me back to the verse that I have committed to memorize for 2010--1 Peter 4:19. I am especially drawn to the last half of the verse, "...shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right."
Whether I like it or not, suffering is a very real part of life--even the life of the committed believer. But how I respond to suffering and trials is really my gift back to Christ. Am I going to get angry, kick and scream, panic and run? Or am I going to release my will and continue to do what is right, trusting that my God, the Lover of my soul will be glorified and bring something good and precious from my trial?
My gift to Him this year is settled. I will entrust my soul to my faithful Creator in doing what is right.
How about you?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Do The Next Thing
"Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:2
Elisabeth Elliot often quotes this beautiful old poem. When I am so overwhelmed with care and responsibility and not sure how everything is to be accomplished, these words encourage me not to look too far ahead. Many times faithfulness in this walk with Christ is a matter of being determined just to "Do the next thing."
"At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
there came in the twilight a message to me.
It's quaint Season legend deeply engraven
that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
like a low inspiration, "Do the next thing."
Many a questioning, many a fear,
many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
trust that with Jesus, "Do the next thing."
Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
leave all resultings, "Do the next thing."
Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
working or suffering be thy demeanor,
in His dear presence, the rest of His calm
the light of His countenance
be thy psalm, "Do the next thing."
Elisabeth Elliot often quotes this beautiful old poem. When I am so overwhelmed with care and responsibility and not sure how everything is to be accomplished, these words encourage me not to look too far ahead. Many times faithfulness in this walk with Christ is a matter of being determined just to "Do the next thing."
"At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
there came in the twilight a message to me.
It's quaint Season legend deeply engraven
that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
like a low inspiration, "Do the next thing."
Many a questioning, many a fear,
many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
trust that with Jesus, "Do the next thing."
Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
leave all resultings, "Do the next thing."
Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
working or suffering be thy demeanor,
in His dear presence, the rest of His calm
the light of His countenance
be thy psalm, "Do the next thing."
Monday, November 16, 2009
Hope-Full
"...so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope."
1 Thessalonians 4:13
Henry David Thoreau said, "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them." I've heard and even shared the first half of that quote with others over the years but until recently had not been familiar with the last half, "...and go to the grave with the song still in them." How sad that for so much of humanity this statement rings painfully true. Fortunately for those of us who know Christ, that doesn't have to be the case.
Notice that I said it doesn't have to be the case. The Bible says in Colossians 1:27 that it is Christ in us "the hope of glory". As believers we possess what everyone else is desperate and longing for-- yet they don't know it. How sad. Perhaps even more grievous is that oftentimes we ourselves live as though we don't know it either! We have the song in us that others so desperately need to hear us sing.
Do you rub shoulders with people everyday who are headed to the grave with the song still in them? I don't want that to be me. Don't let it be you.
Sing your song!
1 Thessalonians 4:13
Henry David Thoreau said, "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them." I've heard and even shared the first half of that quote with others over the years but until recently had not been familiar with the last half, "...and go to the grave with the song still in them." How sad that for so much of humanity this statement rings painfully true. Fortunately for those of us who know Christ, that doesn't have to be the case.
Notice that I said it doesn't have to be the case. The Bible says in Colossians 1:27 that it is Christ in us "the hope of glory". As believers we possess what everyone else is desperate and longing for-- yet they don't know it. How sad. Perhaps even more grievous is that oftentimes we ourselves live as though we don't know it either! We have the song in us that others so desperately need to hear us sing.
Do you rub shoulders with people everyday who are headed to the grave with the song still in them? I don't want that to be me. Don't let it be you.
Sing your song!
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