A Brilliant Prayer for the Day

Ted Loder helped me begin my day with his beautiful, haunting poem/prayer from "Geurrillas of Grace."

May this greet you with grace

Pry Me Off Dead Center

O persistent God,
deliver me from assuming your mercy is gentle.
Pressure me that I may grow more human,
   not through the lessening of my struggles,
   but through an expansion of them

  that will undamn me
  and unbury my gifts.

Deepen my hurt
  until I learn to share it
  and myself
  openly,
  and my needs honestly.

Sharpen my fears
  until I name them
  and release the power I have locked in them
  and they in me.

Accentuate my confusion
  until I shed those grandiose expectations
  that divert me from the small, glad gifts
  of the now and the here and the me.

Expose my shame wherever it shivers,
  crouched behind the curtains of propriety,
  until I can laugh at last
  through my common frailties and failures,
  laugh my way toward becoming whole.

Deliver me
  from just going through the motions
  and wasting everything I have
  which is today,
    a chance,
  a choice,
    my creativity
        your call.

O persistent God,
let how much it all matters
pry me off dead center
so if I am moved inside
  to tears

  or sighs
    or screams
      or smiles
        or dreams,
they will be real
and I will be in touch with who I am
and who you are
and who my sisters and brothers are.

New Logos for Church

What do you think?

Acts 1:12-26 God and Lots

Hey team,

Today, take a moment to read Acts 1:12-26. This comes immediately after Jesus sails off into the sky. The apostles talk about Judas (did you like that gruesome description?) and then they talk about the need to replace him.

In other words, they are looking to move ahead, to continue to live into the vision of Jesus, but they have to make a critical decision. So, what do they do?

Verse 14 says, "They all joined together constantly in prayer."

Verses 24-26 say, "Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots..."

They prayed. They narrowed down their choices. They prayed again.

And then they did something that sounds very much non-spiritual. They drew lots.

They rolled the dice.

And they trusted that either person selected by this human selection process (or was it) was the person God wanted.

THOUGHTS:

-Maybe God has more invested in His vision than we do. Our role is to pray and discern and trust God with the results.

-The greatest thing we can do as a Greater Things Team is to be in prayer. Can I challenge you to write down a weekly prayer commitment to the process? We meet on Mondays so far, so maybe each Monday, you'd take 15 minutes to pray specifically for unity and and clarity.

-The disciples were in prayer BEFORE this situation presented itself. In other words, their posture, while waiting for next steps, was prayer. We cannot move forward in our own strength.

-God can use our work to change the world and give witness to God's movement in our lives. That is what motivated this decision...they wanted to make sure the witness of Jesus was moved forward. If that is our team's focus (not my will but Yours be done), I believe God will speak to our hearts and minds about decisions needed to get us all there.

Greater Things are yet to come!

Greater Things Acts 1

Hey team,

I don't want to miss out on a chance to "meet together" in between our sessions so I will send you out some notes whenever I can. These posts are meant to keep us grounded in God's Word and united in our hearts.

Take a moment and read Acts 1:1-11 in your Bible. The NIV is below.

Acts 1:1-11

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Some notes on the text
-Jesus' instruction to the 12 (imagine being one of them) was done "through the Holy Spirit" (vs. 2). All those stories. All those teachings. The powerful, deliberate, life-giving words, all given BY Jesus THROUGH the Holy Spirit.
-The disciples had gone through a lot together but Jesus told them that "they hadn't seen nothin' yet" as they were about to be immersed in the Holy Spirit. (vs. 5) This Holy Spirit, the same One THROUGH WHOM Jesus had power.
-Re-read verse 8. Seriously? The work of the Holy Spirit is POWER to be witnesses to areas near and far.
-Jesus freaked them out one more time, being "taken up right before their eyes."

Reflections for Us:
1. The same power given to the 12 and through whom Jesus taught is living inside each of us. Romans 8:9 tells us that if a person does not possess the Holy Spirit, he or she does not belong to Christ: “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Ephesians 1:13-14 teaches us that the Holy Spirit is the seal of salvation for all those who believe: “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” You and I have the wisdom, the creativity, the depth and the power of God within us. QUESTION: What keeps you from believing God's best in you?

2. Our journey with Jesus is supposed to keep blowing our mind and taking us out of our comfort experiences. We are never meant to coast, but to thrive. QUESTION: How can we spend significant time with Jesus to allow him to keep changing us?

3. The fruit of the Spirit's work in us should resemble power to reach new people. The disciples were sent to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. QUESTION: Will you commit to praying each day for people that don't know Jesus? Pray specifically for people that you know. Pray that God would put you in the path of them?

July 31 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 148-150

Reflection Text - Psalm 150

Take a moment and write down all that God has done for you this week. Where has God given you provision? A good friend? A warm meal? A working vehicle? Discretionary funds? Joy?

Re-read Psalm 150...maybe from The Message.

Write out a BREATH PRAYER that you can say all day long to praise God. This breath prayer is something that you say in your head as you exhale and then inhale. Something like, Exhale - Jesus you are good. Inhale - Thank you for joy.

Enjoy the song.

July 30 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 145-147

Reflection Text - Psalm 145

Read the Psalm silently.

Now read it out loud, slowly.

What sticks out to you?

Now listen to this version and pray the words that hit you.

July 29 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 142-144

Reflection Text - Psalm 142

When God told Moses that He was going to use Moses to free the Israelites from Egypt's oppression, God said "When you have brought this people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain." (Exodus 3:12)

Freedom's end result was worship of God.

Psalm 142:7 says, "Bring me out of prison, SO THAT I may give thanks to your name."

When God sets us free, we abound with thanksgiving and praise.

What have you been set free from? What is the praise you give today to God?

July 28 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 139-141

Reflection Text - Psalm 141

What happens when you feel attacked by someone?

What is your normal response to accusation?

If you're anything like me, you tend to defend yourself or to make a case against those "against" you. David, in this poem (as in many others) feels the weight of others' attack on him. Instead of berating them (I can't believe he always respected King Saul's authority, even when it was used to try to kill HIM), David prayed,

"Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness; let him rebuke me--it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it."

When opposition came, David prayed for a holy tongue.

He asked God to shut his mouth.

He asked for and welcomed righteous accountability.

He didn't play victim or think that he had the right to say or do what he wanted. He asked that God would watch over his words and bring righteousness to him through accountability.

What would it look like if we saw every opportunity, even when we are hurt, as an opportunity for greater accountability before God and others?

July 27 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 136-138

Reflection Text - Psalm 138

These 2 verses are hitting me deeply today.

"6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar."
-God is close to the lowly, despite being so "above" them. Those who are proud have no need for God, therefore God is removed.
-How do I try to hide my "lowliness" with false pride?
-What are my pride triggers?
-Is there a link to those who we'd call lowly (poor, broken, weak) and closeness with God? What can I learn from them?

"8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever."
-Do I believe that God has more invested in me that what I give God credit for?
-How do I practically give myself to God's enduring love?

July 26 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 133-135

Reflection Text - Psalm 133

Seriously, may these 2 verse inspire us.

"How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head, running down the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes."

This oil is a lavish precious, pouring of oil onto the head of a new chief priest. Oil was also used to heal wounds and to mark one's entrance into the role of prophet, priest or king.

The writer is saying that when Christ-followers live in unity with one another it's a lavish, precious marking of the other's dignity.

...All those around are healed
...Service begins and is given authority.

But unity is difficult isn't it?

I think it's often hard because we think unity = sameness. I am united to my wife but we are not the same (in a lot of ways :)). Unity is a commitment of intent, of passion and of values. It is a lifestyle of saying, "I'm not willing to walk through life without you so I'll do what it takes to walk with you."

In my experience, we don't like UNITY because it is too difficult to live out. It requires confronting false peace. It requires hearing the other's heart and letting their needs trump ours. It requires letting people into our lives, on our soil, even when our living room is a mess. Unity requires a belief in something bigger than ourselves.

But I've seen God's people get it right too. I've seen friends pour our their whole selves to one another. I've seen churches rally around a cause that is bigger than anything. I've seen wives return to marriages because they refuse to let evil win. In all these cases, HEALING has been the fruit.

May we so be healed!

July 25 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 130-132

Reflection Text - Psalm 130-131

Psalm 130 is a LAMENT, or a deep penitential, gutteral cry. You can hear the passion and prayer from the writer pleading for forgiveness.

Psalm 131 is one of HOPE and TRUST.

When you read the 2 together, you get this great picture of the life of faith. There are times when we cry out from the depths, pleading with God for mercy and there are some moments where, despite our context, we claim hope and God's faithfulness.

Read them together from The Message as a prayer. Substitute in your own words for the place you find yourself today.

1 Help, God - the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help! 2 Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy. 3 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? 4 As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that's why you're worshiped. 5 I pray to God - my life a prayer - and wait for what he'll say and do. 6 My life's on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning. 7 O Israel, wait and watch for God - with God's arrival comes love, with God's arrival comes generous redemption. 8 No doubt about it - he'll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin.

1 God, I'm not trying to rule the roost, I don't want to be king of the mountain. I haven't meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. 2 I've kept my feet on the ground, I've cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother's arms, my soul is a baby content. 3 Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always!

July 24 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 127-129

Reflection Text - Psalm 127

Paul writes to the church in Philippi, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

In other words, Paul is saying that anxiety and stress and worry can arise often in life and one of the keys to moving past it is found in a relationship with God. This relationship is made vital when we take our anxiety (note, it doesn't say to deny it or claim that a Christ-follower doesn't have it) and, with thanksgiving, give it to God. When this happens, Paul says PEACE comes.

The Psalmist in the first 2 verses tells a story of two different builders. One, in vain, rises early, anxiously toils for daily bread and provision. The other, sleeps when it's time to sleep and lets the "lord build the house."

The difference is in one's relationship with God.

My commentary on verse 2 says, "Anxious and excessive striving to make a living can become a sign of unreadiness to depend on God's presence and help."

In other words, I'd rather live with my anxiety than to allow God to control my life.

What about you?

July 23 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 124-126

Reflection Text - Psalm 125

As another Psalm of Ascent, the singer/pilgrims would be singing, "those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion" as they looked at Jerusalem, the symbol of power, presence and for many years, Empirical Oppression. It would be like walking into Wall Street singing, "Your systems of money are not needed in my life because I believe in God."

To say that, one must have a deep faith that God can sustain them NO MATTER WHAT.

God is that big. God can be that big in your life.

July 22 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 121-123

Reflection Text - Psalm 123

No matter what I said before, THIS is my favorite Psalm. I memorized the first 2 verses a couple years ago as I looked into the hills of Mexico while being surrounded by kids. These kids had no home...well, not one we'd call a house. They lived in cardboard homes in the city dump. We entered with some food and snacks to give them and we were blown away at their eagerness to snatch it from our hands. They were dependent upon us for their day's food.

Psalm 123 says,

"As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he has mercy upon us"

The writer places himself as the dependent child or slave who CANNOT get himself out of his situation. He must look up (so his posture must be one of lowering) for his help and if God doesn't show up, he's got nothing!

What does it mean to be dependent upon God for mercy? For sustenance? For life? For grace? Does dependent upon God necessitate a DENIAL of self-sufficiency?

July 21 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 118-120

Reflection Text - Psalm 120

The evil part of me wanted to write a reflection on Psalm 119, the longest Psalm in the book, but I love you all too much.

Psalm 120 begins a section (through 134) called the Songs of Ascent. These are songs that were most likely sung by pilgrims making annual trips to Jerusalem from various parts of Israel. Because of the typography of the land, Jerusalem is UP from any direction. These songs became the ritual of their religious pilgrimmage.

Which makes me think, what are mine? What are the songs I sing or pray when I am wanting to connect with God?

What are they for you? Have there been songs that prepare you for an encounter with the holy? Are there prayers (footprints, etc.) that you always recite as you meet with God?

One of my latest favorites comes from the middle ages. It says,

"holy Spirit, pour into me your greatest gift, which is love."

July 20 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 115-117

Reflection Text - Psalm 115

I love how this Psalm begins. It says, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory."

What a humble cry! It says, "God may you get all the attention. God, may you get all the fame and credit."

One of the ways "giving God glory" happens to to admit when sin before God. In that, we acknowledge who we are and who we are not.

Another way is to tell stories of God's faithfulness in your life. Try this:

Tell a story of how someone/something/someplace changed your life. Now tell the story again and replace the someone/thing/place with "God." For example, instead of saying CHURCH CAMP saved my life or CHRISTIAN MUSIC saved me, tell the story of GOD saving your life, maybe using camp or music as the vehicle. This practice gets us used to noticing God's glory in our everyday lives.

Or, you could just sing the following song every moment of the day!

July 19 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 112-114

Reflection Text - Psalm 113

Read this Song from The Message:

1 Hallelujah! You who serve God, praise God! Just to speak his name is praise! 2 Just to remember God is a blessing - now and tomorrow and always. 3 From east to west, from dawn to dusk, keep lifting all your praises to God! 4 God is higher than anything and anyone, outshining everything you can see in the skies. 5 Who can compare with God, our God, so majestically enthroned, 6 Surveying his magnificent heavens and earth? 7 He picks up the poor from out of the dirt, rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash, 8 Seats them among the honored guests, a place of honor among the brightest and best. 9 He gives childless couples a family, gives them joy as the parents of children. Hallelujah!

Here's how it sounds in song...

July 18 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 109-111

Reflection Text - Psalm 111

Verse 10 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding."

I have a good friend who is just 30 years old but in my estimation is one of the wisest people I've ever met. How can this be? He doesn't have much life experience? He hasn't read every book out there? He hasn't even hit mid-life crisis? What is his secret?

He understands that wisdom MUST begin from a right understanding of who God is. He associates himself with God as often as possible, reading God's Word, praying instead of speaking and waiting for the Holy Spirit to give him words before opening his mouth. By doing these things, he is practicing Godly wisdom.

We cannot have Godly wisdom without a proper God-perspective. What's yours?

July 17 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 106-108

Reflection Text - Psalm 106

In The Message version of this text it reads,

"1 Hallelujah! Thank God! And why? Because he's good, because his love lasts. 2 But who on earth can do it - declaim God's mighty acts, broadcast all his praises? 3 You're one happy man when you do what's right, one happy woman when you form the habit of justice. 4 Remember me, God, when you enjoy your people; include me when you save them; 5 I want to see your chosen succeed, celebrate with your celebrating nation, join the Hallelujahs of your pride and joy! 6 We've sinned a lot, both we and our parents; We've fallen short, hurt a lot of people. 7 After our parents left Egypt, they took your wonders for granted, forgot your great and wonderful love. They were barely beyond the Red Sea when they defied the High God...20 They traded the Glory for a cheap piece of sculpture - a grass-chewing bull!

God had done an amazing thing in front of His people and for His people. They saw first-hand the power of God for their lives. They held their first-born sons at night, thankful that God did not take them during Passover.

And yet, they rebelled.

In verse 20, it says that they changed gods because God didn't appear to be there. So, they crafted a sculpture...a CHEWING BULL!

Sure, we laugh. What a stupid replacement. I mean if you're going to switch gods, you might as well try a little harder! A bull?

WE CREATE DIETIES THAT LOOK LIKE WHAT WE KNOW BECAUSE WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH GOD BEING "OTHER THAN" US.

I create gods of...
...self-pleasure - I worship things that make my life easier
...money - I worship things that keep me feeling independent
...power - I worship contexts/situations/jobs that put me in "control"
...shallow intimacy - I worship what makes me feel good in the moment and that does not require much from me.

What are your gods?

What does it look like to repent (turn back) from these things today to "Thank God because He's good?"

July 16 Reflection

Reading - Psalm 103-105

Reflection Text - Psalm 104

Read Psalm 104 slowly.

Now read it again.

Write out the words used to describe God's character or God's activity in our lives.

Now listen to this with your eyes closed and in a spirit of thanksgiving.