You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8b
Have you ever thanked God for tears? No, I'm not crazy. Tears are a gift from God. Yes, a GIFT. First – tears allow us to express and release what’s in our hearts when we haven’t the words to do so. They are a language that God understands. God wastes nothing, so if we didn’t need them, He wouldn’t have given them to us – readily available on any given day – often without bidding… God designed our bodies to produce tears for our well-being.
Do you know that there are different kinds of tears – with different chemical properties? The two most common are reflex tears and psychic (or emotional) tears. Reflex tears come when you get something in your eye or chop onions, peppers, etc. They are designed for and function specifically to wash out irritants. Emotional tears actually contain several protein-based hormones; one of which is a natural pain-killing endorphin – leucine-enkephalin – which is why ‘having a good cry’ often makes us feel better. And not only emotionally, but physiologically, as well.
In his article, ‘Tear Toxins,’ printed in Omni, December 1982, Tom Kovach wrote the following:
At the St Paul Ramsey Medical Center in Minnesota, tears caused by simple irritants were compared to those brought on by emotion. Researcher William Frey found that stress-induced tears actually remove toxic ‘substances’ from the body. Volunteers were led to cry first from watching sad movies, and then from freshly cut onions. The researchers found that the tears from the movies, called emotional tears, contained far more toxic biological byproducts. Weeping, they concluded, is an excretory process which removes toxic substances that normally build up during emotional stress.
Who but a loving God could or would create that?
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for the gift of tears to help us while we live here on this earth. Thank You even more for the promise of Heaven, where there will no longer be a need for tears according to Your Word in Revelation 21. Father, we can hardly wait until the day You wipe every tear from our eyes because there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things will have passed away. We long for the day. Until then, let us ever be in an attitude of gratitude for all Your precious gifts to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
* Finished
God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.
Colossians 2:14-15 (CEV) Contemporary English Version
At the Cross. That's where it happened. That's where Christ defeated ALL powers and forces. The King James reads that He "made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them..."
Where?!? At the Cross... You know as Christians we're fond of spouting that satan was defeated at the Cross. But do we know it? Do we believe it? Do we act like it?
Jim Mackey said something that was utterly profound in its most basic Truth and here it is. "We're not waiting to see who wins - We already know who wins - God!" He then painted a word picture of today's mindset - two forces running neck and neck, and we act like we're waiting to see who will be triumphant!
The Truth is - Jesus said, "It is finished!" No sequel. No do-over. No to-be-continued.
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us for not walking in the Truth of Your Triumph. Illuminate Your Truth to us. Help us to know it in our knower and walk in it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Colossians 2:14-15 (CEV) Contemporary English Version
At the Cross. That's where it happened. That's where Christ defeated ALL powers and forces. The King James reads that He "made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them..."
Where?!? At the Cross... You know as Christians we're fond of spouting that satan was defeated at the Cross. But do we know it? Do we believe it? Do we act like it?
Jim Mackey said something that was utterly profound in its most basic Truth and here it is. "We're not waiting to see who wins - We already know who wins - God!" He then painted a word picture of today's mindset - two forces running neck and neck, and we act like we're waiting to see who will be triumphant!
The Truth is - Jesus said, "It is finished!" No sequel. No do-over. No to-be-continued.
Prayer:
Father,
Forgive us for not walking in the Truth of Your Triumph. Illuminate Your Truth to us. Help us to know it in our knower and walk in it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
* I Don't Know What to Pray (or Psalm 143 - A Prayer for Help)
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord. Listen when I ask for help. Answer me because You are faithful and right. 2 Do not find Your servant guilty, for no man living is right and good in Your eyes. 3 For the one who hates me has made it hard for my soul. He has crushed my life to the ground. He has made me live in dark places, like those who have been dead for a long time. 4 So my spirit grows weak within me. My heart within me is afraid.
5 I remember the days long ago. I think about all You have done. I think about the work of Your hands. 6 I put out my hands to You. My soul is thirsty for You like a dry land.
7 Hurry to answer me, O Lord! My spirit is becoming weak! Do not hide Your face from me, or I will become like those who go down to the grave. 8 Let me hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for I trust in You. Teach me the way I should go for I lift up my soul to You. 9 O Lord, take me away from those who hate me. I run to You to be safe.
Prayer:
Father,
10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good Spirit lead me on a straight path. 11 Give me new life, O Lord, because of Your name. Bring me out of trouble because You are right and good. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
5 I remember the days long ago. I think about all You have done. I think about the work of Your hands. 6 I put out my hands to You. My soul is thirsty for You like a dry land.
7 Hurry to answer me, O Lord! My spirit is becoming weak! Do not hide Your face from me, or I will become like those who go down to the grave. 8 Let me hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for I trust in You. Teach me the way I should go for I lift up my soul to You. 9 O Lord, take me away from those who hate me. I run to You to be safe.
Prayer:
Father,
10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good Spirit lead me on a straight path. 11 Give me new life, O Lord, because of Your name. Bring me out of trouble because You are right and good. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
* Get This Party Going
vs 6, When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’
vs 9-10, And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.
vs 9-10, And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.
vs 32, We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!
Luke 15:6, 9-10, 32 NLT
There IS a special joy that comes from finding something that has been lost - no matter what it is or how it might have been lost. One of my favorite sayings of all time is, "Those who keep an organized desk will never know the joy of finding something they thought they had lost forever."
As joyful as it is to find something, it's even more so when it's someone who is found. This year marks a major milestone for my high school's reunion. The actual reunion is one date, but quite a few want to also meet the night before. They want to get the party going once they're all in the same place. The closer it gets to the date of the reunion, the more focused everyone becomes and the more energy there is in trying to find "lost" classmates. In the email thread today, you could almost hear the excited response when it was written and then read that over 50 new addresses had been added in the last week.
In thinking about that today and feeling the excitement of it all, I got to thinking about heaven. Verse 10 of our text for today reads, ...there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents. If we will find the ones who are lost and dead in their sin and help them find new life, then we can all be together when our Father calls us home, and we can get this party going.
Prayer:
Father,
The time is drawing near. Help us to be more focused and expend more energy in showing the way home for all those who are lost to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Good to Go (or How to Say 'No') +
Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
Matthew 5:37 NLT
Confession time. I can be very hard-headed. If you know me personally and you're reading this, you probably just fell off your chair in a fit of laughter and disbelief that I would actually admit it. Here's something else that goes with that - I have a hard time saying 'No' and it's not because I'm a weak personality. In fact, the opposite is true. But you see, before Christ, I could also be a mean person, and I don't want to be that person ever again. Nor do I want to be perceived as mean, although sometimes that happens regardless of what I do. (I have learned that I can't control people's perceptions.) You may be asking why the confession time...
My life has gotten hectic again to the point that I'm rarely home before 9 or 10pm every night of the week. My friends say, "You need to slow down." I reply, "I gotta go." My co-workers say, "You're living in the fast lane - you might want to think about slowing down." I tell them I would think about it, but I don't have time in the fast lane. My employer said, "You have to learn how to say 'no.' " I asked him, "How do you choose who or what you'll say 'No' to?" I told him when he learned how, then he could teach me.
However, this week, I found myself at the doctor's office, and his report is that I have pleurisy and a touch of pneumonia in my left lung... again. Praise God, I didn't wait so long this time, and we caught it early. Lots of prayer, a few prescriptions, and we should be good to go... figuratively-speaking...but not literally. His strongest suggestion? "Rest. Stay home. Rest some more. You're not getting any younger. Your body doesn't recover as quickly as it did when you were in your 20s and 30s." Hmmmm... perhaps if he had stopped before saying I was getting old.
At church tonight, my pastor's wife (who is also my mentor) prayed for me to be healed quickly. I was/am totally in agreement with that. As soon as she said 'amen' she asked me, "Are you running every night? Always on the go? I heard the Lord just tell me while we were praying that's your problem. You have to learn to say 'no.' "
How do you argue with that? You can't be flippant with God or His emissary. I asked her the same question I sincerely asked Chris, "How do you choose who or what you'll say 'No' to?" She said, "Ask God." We go into service and the associate pastor is teaching his part of the "You Make Me Crazy" series... How to Say No... Seriously, that was the subject matter. He actually asked, "You want to know how to say 'no'?" Then he quoted Matthew 5:37 as one of his references. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
I think I got the message. I think I'm good to go on how to say 'no.' I'm sure there will be a test...
Prayer:
Father,
We want to be obedient to Your will. We pray as Samuel prayed, "Speak, Your servant is listening." Help us to hear and understand Your will for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Matthew 5:37 NLT
Confession time. I can be very hard-headed. If you know me personally and you're reading this, you probably just fell off your chair in a fit of laughter and disbelief that I would actually admit it. Here's something else that goes with that - I have a hard time saying 'No' and it's not because I'm a weak personality. In fact, the opposite is true. But you see, before Christ, I could also be a mean person, and I don't want to be that person ever again. Nor do I want to be perceived as mean, although sometimes that happens regardless of what I do. (I have learned that I can't control people's perceptions.) You may be asking why the confession time...
My life has gotten hectic again to the point that I'm rarely home before 9 or 10pm every night of the week. My friends say, "You need to slow down." I reply, "I gotta go." My co-workers say, "You're living in the fast lane - you might want to think about slowing down." I tell them I would think about it, but I don't have time in the fast lane. My employer said, "You have to learn how to say 'no.' " I asked him, "How do you choose who or what you'll say 'No' to?" I told him when he learned how, then he could teach me.
However, this week, I found myself at the doctor's office, and his report is that I have pleurisy and a touch of pneumonia in my left lung... again. Praise God, I didn't wait so long this time, and we caught it early. Lots of prayer, a few prescriptions, and we should be good to go... figuratively-speaking...but not literally. His strongest suggestion? "Rest. Stay home. Rest some more. You're not getting any younger. Your body doesn't recover as quickly as it did when you were in your 20s and 30s." Hmmmm... perhaps if he had stopped before saying I was getting old.
At church tonight, my pastor's wife (who is also my mentor) prayed for me to be healed quickly. I was/am totally in agreement with that. As soon as she said 'amen' she asked me, "Are you running every night? Always on the go? I heard the Lord just tell me while we were praying that's your problem. You have to learn to say 'no.' "
How do you argue with that? You can't be flippant with God or His emissary. I asked her the same question I sincerely asked Chris, "How do you choose who or what you'll say 'No' to?" She said, "Ask God." We go into service and the associate pastor is teaching his part of the "You Make Me Crazy" series... How to Say No... Seriously, that was the subject matter. He actually asked, "You want to know how to say 'no'?" Then he quoted Matthew 5:37 as one of his references. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
I think I got the message. I think I'm good to go on how to say 'no.' I'm sure there will be a test...
Prayer:
Father,
We want to be obedient to Your will. We pray as Samuel prayed, "Speak, Your servant is listening." Help us to hear and understand Your will for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Monday, August 13, 2012
Psalm 111 +
Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.
Psalm 111:1 NLT
2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
3 Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
4 He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
5 He gives food to those who fear him;
he always remembers his covenant.
6 He has shown his great power to his people
by giving them the lands of other nations.
7 All he does is just and good,
and all his commandments are trustworthy.
8 They are forever true,
to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
9 He has paid a full ransom for his people.
He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.
Prayer:
Father,
I never cease to be amazed at the goodness of Your Word - Your faithfulness to show us exactly what we need and how it can only be found in You. Open our eyes and our hearts to You, Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Psalm 111:1 NLT
2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
3 Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
4 He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
5 He gives food to those who fear him;
he always remembers his covenant.
6 He has shown his great power to his people
by giving them the lands of other nations.
7 All he does is just and good,
and all his commandments are trustworthy.
8 They are forever true,
to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
9 He has paid a full ransom for his people.
He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.
Prayer:
Father,
I never cease to be amazed at the goodness of Your Word - Your faithfulness to show us exactly what we need and how it can only be found in You. Open our eyes and our hearts to You, Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
* Time For A Change
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
2nd Timothy 2:24-26 NLT
Did you ever notice in Scripture how the apostles addressed and defined themselves?
Paul, a servant of the Lord;
Peter, a slave to Christ;
His servant John;
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
All in submission - all in service to God and Christ Jesus.
What is it servants do? Whatever the Master instructs them to do. Not IF they feel like it. Not WHEN they feel like it. Not only if the the other servants do or don't do it. Not only when someone's looking...
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.
He had to include that one, right? The be patient with difficult people phrase? I noticed tonight there's not a qualifying statement attached to that sentence, either; such as, except for Mondays or be patient with difficult people once or twice, but smack 'em the 3rd time...
Can it really be that big of a deal? Is it that important for us to be patient with difficult people? The Word says, Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap.
Their eternity could be determined by whether or not we CHOOSE to be kind and patient to them. It's time for a change. Let it begin with me.
Prayer:
Father,
Change MY heart so that I can be kind and not quarrelsome. Patient and not peeved. Let my life reflect Your love. May I never again get down to that last nerve. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
2nd Timothy 2:24-26 NLT
Did you ever notice in Scripture how the apostles addressed and defined themselves?
Paul, a servant of the Lord;
Peter, a slave to Christ;
His servant John;
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
All in submission - all in service to God and Christ Jesus.
What is it servants do? Whatever the Master instructs them to do. Not IF they feel like it. Not WHEN they feel like it. Not only if the the other servants do or don't do it. Not only when someone's looking...
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.
He had to include that one, right? The be patient with difficult people phrase? I noticed tonight there's not a qualifying statement attached to that sentence, either; such as, except for Mondays or be patient with difficult people once or twice, but smack 'em the 3rd time...
Can it really be that big of a deal? Is it that important for us to be patient with difficult people? The Word says, Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap.
Their eternity could be determined by whether or not we CHOOSE to be kind and patient to them. It's time for a change. Let it begin with me.
Prayer:
Father,
Change MY heart so that I can be kind and not quarrelsome. Patient and not peeved. Let my life reflect Your love. May I never again get down to that last nerve. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
* Can't
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39 NLT
Read this Scripture again (and again...and again...and again) and let it soak into your spirit. No matter the situation you find yourself in - He is the Great I AM. All that you will ever need. Everything else is superfluous.
Prayer:
Father,
Two things You can't do. You can't fail. You can't lie. Help us to grow into the fullness of You and the unfailing faithfulness of Your love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39 NLT
Read this Scripture again (and again...and again...and again) and let it soak into your spirit. No matter the situation you find yourself in - He is the Great I AM. All that you will ever need. Everything else is superfluous.
Prayer:
Father,
Two things You can't do. You can't fail. You can't lie. Help us to grow into the fullness of You and the unfailing faithfulness of Your love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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