Quiet Time: Have It All

Have It All

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance… - James 1:2-3

An unbelieving friend of mine, who’s pretty well off commented, “I know God has blessed me,” but I wondered, why do you think its God Who’s “blessing” you?

I once listened to a former New Age guru give his testimony on how, before coming to know Christ, he had worldly riches and power. A high position, money, lots of stuff, and according to him, even some sort of super-natural power to accomplish things in his career that his competition were unable to see, let alone do.

Then he said something I’ll never forget, “Satan will give you whatever it takes to keep you from Jesus.”

I thought, “Wait a minute; the Devil is going to give me what I want?” Ponder that; what if success is the worst, not the best, thing that could ever happen to us?

After all, the children of Israel turned their backs on God once the hard times were over and riches flowed in the “land of milk and honey”, the wisest man in the world said “A man is tested by the praise accorded him.” (Proverbs 27:21) Jesus said we’re headed for trouble when everyone talks good about us (Luke 6:26).

The point I’m making is not that we should want pain over prosperity, but that, for the Christ follower, pain reveals something that prosperity never will; true faith. It isn’t that we need trials in order to have salvation, but trials do have a way of showing us that our faith is real.

I like what a pastor friend of mine says,

“God doesn’t waste pain on His children.”

Question: When something difficult unexpectedly comes your way do you immediately seek your Father’s face or do you immediately seek a way of escape?

Quiet Time: No Confidence

No Confidence

For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh – Philippians 3:3

Expert advice is everywhere.

I take college classes at night. Every course that requires a written essay also requires expert references for and against the subject matter.

It seems that the professor isn’t at all interested in my personal opinion on a subject. He wants to know if I truly understand the intricacies as learned from the leading men and women, usually PhDs, who have mastered the particular field of study.

A true believer does not come to Christ by knowledge alone. In fact, sometimes he comes to Christ in spite of what his head tells him he should do. His confidence is found not within himself, but in Christ Who died for his sins and Who rose again from the dead. His present, as well as, his future is in Jesus’ hands.

Christ followers have confidence in Christ alone.

Quiet Time: Praise the LORD Together

Praise the LORD Together

 

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord! – Psalm 150:6

Deseri, my wife, and I just finished having our quiet times as we sat together on the patio listening to the birds and enjoying the early morning coolness.

We both were reading quietly to ourselves from Psalm 150, but then, seeing that I had paused to look up at her, she began reading out loud from Psalm 1 (a favorite of mine).

While she was reading I remembered an old Ron Kenoly recording titled “Let Everything that Has Breath” and looked it up on the laptop.

We listened to the song together and my hands spontaneously raised to heaven while my heart filled with the peace and joy from the presence of the Lord.

As the song finished, Deseri, slipped her hand in mine and we began to pray through Psalm 1 and Psalm 150:

Lord, You bless us by Your word; help us to meditate upon it both day and night that we might be like trees planted by streams of living water which yield their fruit in their season, and who’s leaf does not whither, and in whatever we do we will prosper.

Oh, God, we praise You!

Help us to praise you not only in Your sanctuary but also in Your mighty expanse; for all Your mighty deeds and Your excellent greatness.

Father, may we use everything at our disposal to praise You. Every instrument and every breath of our  lives.

Oh God, let everything that has breath praise You, Lord!

PRAISE THE LORD!

Amen.

 

Ron Kenoli - "Let Everything That Has Breath"

 

 

 

Quiet Time: United In Prayer

United In Prayer

These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. – Acts 1:14

I met with a group of pastors for prayer yesterday. No business was discussed, no marketing strategies, or talk about new church programs and old church problems. No, we simply prayed.

Many tears were shed as different pastors led in prayer for the specific needs of those present in the meeting. Then even more were shed as we prayed for God’s name to be lifted high and for many souls to be saved; for Christ follower’s hearts to be renewed, and the church revived, all for the glory of Christ Jesus our Lord.

What struck me though was the devotion of these men to gather for prayer. Sure we expect pastors to pray, after all, that’s a part of their job, right?

No, it is a calling on the life of every believer in Christ. From the eldest to the youngest, male or female; we need to unite in prayer with one heart and one mind to the glory and praise of our Heavenly Father, regularly.

The pastors gathered because their hearts long to see the reality of the indwelling Christ made evident in the lives of His people.

One way we make Christ evident  is when we devote ourselves regularly to prayer.

So, who have you prayed with lately?

Quiet Time: Happy for You

Happy for You

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. – Romans 12:15

It often seems like men live as if they’re in competition with one another.  

Therefore, I suppose it is quite unnatural for us to rejoice when something good happens to our “competitors”.

And yet, here we see that God explicitly desires us to be happy when good things happen to others. As a matter of fact God wants us to be joyful in all types of uncommon and even uneasy situations.

God wants us to be ecstatic when someone comes to know Christ as Savior and Lord (Luke 15:7). Not only then, but we’re to rejoice that our own names are written down in the Book of Life (Luke 10:20). How about the challenge to be glad when men persecute us for being followers of Christ? (Matthew 5:12)

Doesn't it seem with most biblical commands, that what we’re being told to do often goes against what we naturally want to do?

Therefore, it makes sense that rejoicing takes faith-filled practice. In other words, we rejoice even when we don't "feel" like it.

Why not stop right now and thank God for how He has blessed someone else. Then ask Him to help you  get excited about the things that cause Him joy.

 Favorite Song of All by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Quiet Time: Bearing Burdens

Bearing Burdens

 

Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ

– Galatians 6:2

I feel your pain. Really?

As a young boy I remember how easily I’d cry when people would share their pain and prayer requests at Wednesday night prayer meetings. It seemed so easy back then to put myself into their family’s situation and sense the anguish that mom was experiencing over a seriously ill child or the worry that came with a dad’s job loss.

Somewhere along the line, though, it became wrong to emotionally connect with another’s sorrow. That was something that men just didn’t do. So, I learned to listen with stoic indifference. It never seemed right; it wasn’t right.

The bible tells me to help “bear” or carry the heavy load of a fellow Christ follower. I picture a person about to fall under a heavy weight. He’s going down fast, but right before he falls and is crushed by the hardship, a brother steps up and helps shoulder the load. The burden is still present, but now it’s lighter and a little less “burdensome”.

On a side note: I love large church gatherings,  but there’s something to be said for what today is called “Small Group Bible Study”. This is where people can really connect; especially if it is in a home setting. There’s just something about being in someone’s living room that makes it easier to be open and real. “Doing life together” is a little cliché now a days, but that’s really what happens in a small group.

I’m learning to feel another's pain gain. I even find myself tearing up when listening to a pain-filled prayer requests. I do indeed pray for the need, but now I find myself also asking God how I might help lighten the load.

Bearing one another’s burdens helps us to fulfill the law by loving our neighbor as ourselves.

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." – Galatians 5:14

 

Quiet Time: The Wife of My Youth

The Wife of My Youth

He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14"Yet you say, 'For what reason?' Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

– Malachi 2:13-14

When I pray for Deseri, I often use the term, “The wife of my youth”. It helps me remember how long we’ve been together (friends since 4^th grade) as well as, our covenant marriage relationship (this September makes 30 years).

I hate being sideways with her, and according to this scripture, God doesn’t like it much either.

Honestly, no one likes to be at odds with their spouse; that means, GUYS, treating our wives as if they are anything other than cherished companions will keep God from receiving our worship and may even hinder our prayers ( 1 Peter 3:7) Further more it gives satan an undeserved foothold toward taking down the relationship (Ephesians 4:27)

An older friend once told me, after he and his wife ended their marriage of forty plus years, “Doug, when you put God out, you let the devil in.”

Guys, may I step on your toes?

Do not go to worship today without getting things right with your wife first; and, going forward, get things right, right away.

 

Cherish the Treasure - Steve Greene

 

 

Quiet Time: An Excellent Wife

An Excellent Wife

No Pushing Please

 

An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.

– Proverbs 31:10

Behind every man is a good woman pushing him out the door.

My pastor friend likes saying that, and to a point, it’s kind of true; that’s what makes it so funny.

But, one thing I love about my wife is how she nudges instead of pushes me when I overlook the obvious. I call her, “My Other Conscience”, because she often helps me refocus on righteousness with a quiet word or a gentle touch.

For example: when I’m in a conversation and I cut off the person who’s talking, Deseri nudges me ever so slightly to let me know that I’m being rude. Or, if I’m watching a movie (I like action movies) that has foul language, she’ll let out a little, “Oh!” and that’s my cue to find another movie to watch.

I don’t think an excellent wife is found; she is given – by God, and she helps her husband gather the treasure that truly matters.

 

Check out this old song by Buddy Greene "A Virtuouse Woman"

 

Quiet Time: Help My Unblief

Help My Unblief

Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."  - Mark 9:24

Why it is that one person has the faith to believe in the Christ while another does not?

Do some people not have faith because they are more skeptical, analytical, or worldly wise than others?

History proves this not to be so. Many skeptics have come to know Christ in a real and personal way.

Some of the better known former skeptics are C.S. Lewis, Professor Antony Flew, and Dr. Hugh Ross, not to mention, of course, Lee Strobel, Josh McDowell, Alister Mcgrath, and Ann Rice. All of these people are more intelligent and critically sharper than the average Joe; but that doesn’t answer my question.

 

I went back to the bible to see what it had to say about how a person actually gets “saved”.

Here are a few verses that came to mind:

·         God draws.  (John 6:44) No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

·         The Holy Spirit convicts.  (John 16:8-10) And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;…

·         The Word speaks. (John 15:22) "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

·         Man Understands.  (Romans 1:20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

So God draws a person to Jesus, The Holy Spirit convicts the person that Jesus died for his sin, the Jesus confirms what the Spirit convicts, and the man understands (even without the bible, if I’m reading that right) to the point that he will be judged in accordance with his understanding without excuse.

Simply put, I see that the question of why one believes and another does not as boiling down to God’s sovereignty to draw and man’s ability to accept or reject.

How God’s unconditional love is juxtaposed with His holiness and righteous judgment for all humanity is beyond my feeble comprehension, but it is not beyond my ability to trust His omniscience.

 

 

 

 

 

Quiet Time: Bragging Rights

Bragging Rights

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. – Proverbs 27:2

 I loathe political ads.

In most cases, the ads convey the candidate’s message, “I’m super but the other guy stinks.”

Ironically, if we have to tell others how good we are, then, we’re really not that good.

The Christ follower lives not for the commendation of men, but of Jesus alone.

(John 5:41) "I do not accept glory from human beings, (2 Cor. 10:18)"For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."

A daily quiet time, especially in the early morning, is a critical component in our walk with the Lord.  I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. (Psalm 119:147) In a practical sense it is like we're giving our day over to God before it even begins.

I wonder what would happen if a political candidate determined to serve in his position for Jesus alone? One thing is sure; his political ad would be dramatically different from those we see today.

Reality is, I can’t do anything about negative politics, but one thing I can do, is spend each day getting to know my Savior better so that His presence affects my present.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – (Matthew 5:16).