August 27, 2018 - - Acts 6:1-4 - - The Shape of Ministry

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Acts 6:1-4 NIV

"Three pastoral acts are so basic, so critical, that they determine the shape of everything else. The acts are: praying, reading Scripture, and giving spiritual direction. Besides being basic, these acts are quiet. They do not call attention to themselves and so are often not attended to. In the clamorous world of pastoral work nobody yells at us to engage in these acts."

from: Eugene Peterson

"Working the Angles: the shape of pastoral ministry" page 3

Christian, engage in praying, reading Scripture. Make it your priority.

Christian, pray for your pastor, earnestly, faithfully and urgently. Pray that your pastor will be drawn to a life of prayer, of reading Scripture and giving spiritual direction which flows from and is informed by his love for God and knowledge of the Scripture.

There are so many forces which will pull your pastor from being faithful in his prayer time and Scripture reading. There are demands on his time, his energy and his emotions. Pray that your pastor will have his time alone with God and His Word guarded and protected so that he will be a wise spiritual director. This is the most important gift you can give your pastor.

Thank You, Jesus, for the gift of our pastors. Thank You for all those who work so diligently among us as under-shepherds of Jesus Christ and representatives of our Father's great love. Spirit of the Living God, bless our pastors in their work. Refresh them in prayer. Equip them with mental, physical, emotional and spiritual energy so that they will preach the Word of God to their own souls and from that rich time of banqueting in Your presence enable them with hope and zeal to speak Your words of life to all You give them to serve. In Jesus' Name we pray~ Amen.

August 26, 2018 - - Psalm 130 - - What's your story?

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;

2 Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears be attentive

to my cry for mercy.

3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,

Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness,

so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,

and in his word I put my hope.

6 I wait for the Lord

more than watchmen wait for the morning,

more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

for with the Lord is unfailing love

and with him is full redemption.

8 He himself will redeem Israel

from all their sins.

Psalm 130 NIV

Our lives are shaped by stories. We willingly hear familiar stories over and over again. Consider how many times you've listened to that favourite album of your favorite band. How many times have you watched your favorite movie? Even mentioning these things means you'll probably start humming or making air guitar motions along with the tunes flying around your brain.

Oddly enough, people will pay big bucks to go see the latest remake of a movie and not flinch. But will say they are tired of church because it is all the same. Strangely people will say "boring" to a familiar hymn. When they hear a rock anthem on the radio they will forget themselves and sing (while the others in the van shout "Don't quit your day job!) It is a song they've heard countless times and readily listen to again and again.

All of us are being shaped by the stories we hear over and over again. TV series, movies, music, talk programs, opinion shows and so on impress themselves on our hearts and brains. Ask yourself: is what I am listening to worthy of my time, worthy of the space I give it in my heart and brain? Is this story going to be a good guide for eternity?

By God grace I have the opportunity to go to church twice on a Sunday--in the morning and afternoon services. The Bible is the foundation of the preaching. The stories from God's Word shape my living. The psalms and the hymns anchor my thoughts on Jesus Christ. The sermons teach me that I am the beloved child of my Father in heaven because of Jesus' work. The Spirit of God seals these stories to my heart and soul against the days of trouble and help me to correctly interpret the world around me and the world to come.

Today is Sunday. Consider getting spiritually fit. Come on out to a bible believing, Jesus exalting church.

Your Word, O God, reflects the glory of Who You are!

Your life, death, and resurrection, Lord Jesus, is the story that shapes our planet and all the people on it.

Spirit of God, You take the great truth of the Jesus and His Word and plant it deep into our souls and imagination so that we can respond with joy and wonder to all that God is doing.

God of Splendour, summon people to church this day.

Spirit of God, cause me to be a welcoming presence to whomever You bring to church.

Jesus, let the story of Your love and victory over sin and death be the song of our hearts and the story of our lives. Amen.

August 23, 2018 - - Deuteronomy 6:4-5 - - Listening to Thundering

Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one!

You shall love the LORD your God

with all your heart,

with all your soul, and

with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NKJV

Notice the very first word of this morning's passage--it is a command and it is emphatic--hear! Read the whole passage out loud. Go ahead. Close the door of your room. If you are on the commuter train, don't worry, just pretend you are putting in ear buds and you are talking on the phone--then folks will ignore you. Now, say it aloud. (It feels a bit funny, doesn't it. Try again, with feeling this time!)

Eugene Peterson notes:

The Christian's interest in Scripture has always been in hearing God speak, not in analyzing moral memos. The common practice is to nurture a listening disposition--the 'involving ear' rather than the 'distancing eye'--hoping to become passionate hearers of the word rather than cool readers of the page.

So we listen in order to find out what is going on--in us. Ezra Pound's H. Selwyn Mauberly expresses the zest of this kind of reader/listener: 'Tell it to me, all of it, I guzzle with outstretched ears'!"

From: E. Peterson "Working the Angles: the shape of pastoral integrity" page 87 & 89

By the Word of the LORD Creation sprang into being.

By the Voice of the LORD the cedars of Lebanon break!

At the thundering declarations of the LORD the people trembled.

Beloved in Jesus Christ, the One Who called stars into being, those white hot, furnaces converting hydrogen to helium by fusion, fiery celestial phenoms, is our King. The out-poured fury of His anger against sin burned against Jesus on the cross. His Word is living and active. It is not tame. It is consuming the sin from within and by the Spirit creating in us new life, the resurrection life of Jesus Christ. Read the Word out loud. Listen to the spoken Word and let the Spirit of God change you according to it.

God of Splendour--You are God and we will praise You!

Christ seated at the Father's right hand--You are God and we will praise You!

Spirit of the Living God, move in our hearts and in our souls and be our strength so that we will give thanks before the Majestic One of heaven and earth! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

August 22, 2018 - - Psalm 106:47-48 - - No such thing as little prayers!

Save us, O LORD our God,

and gather us from the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name

and glory in your praise.

Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Let all the people say, "Amen!"

Praise the LORD.

Psalm 106:47-48

"One of the indignities to which pastors are routinely subjected is to be approached, as a group of people are gathering for a meeting or a meal, with the request, 'Revend, get things started for us with a little prayer, will ya?' It would be wonderful if we would counter by bellowing William McNamara's fantasized response: 'I will not! There are no little prayers! Prayer enters the lion's den, brings us before the holy where it is uncertain whether we will come back alive or sane, for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God'."

From E. Peterson "Working the Angles: the shape of pastoral integrity" page 46

Peterson reminds us that God's word is always first. Every prayer is ever, always a response to God. The Triune God is from everlasting to everlasting. The LORD speaks and requires a response.

The LORD spoke creation into existence.

The LORD, Who is Christ, gave Himself up for us while we were yet sinners.

The LORD, Who is the Spirit, breaks down hardened hearts so that we can with awe and wonder declare of Jesus: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

The prayer that follows are sentences and phrases from Psalm 111. The Psalms are the great prayer-book, the response to Him, our Glorious God.

I will extol the LORD with all my heart!

Great are the works of the LORD;

they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Glorious and majestic are his deeds!

The LORD is gracious and compassionate.

He provides food for those who fear Him,

He remembers his covenant forever.

To You, O LORD, belongs eternal praise!

August 21, 2018 - - I Peter 5:1-3 - - Be a Christ-like example

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

I Peter 5:1-3 NIV

Be examples to the flock. As leaders in the household of God (which is the church), and as Christians in our own home, we are called to be an example. The way in which we care for our family, which is our lasting congregation, is a true witness to our character as Christians.

Al Martin offers these great observations on the faith, leadership and domestic competence. He is addressing preaching elders, but I think his words suit all Christians.

"What would you say to a man who desires to be an elder if he is indifferent to theology, systematics and all that is necessary to be a safe guide through the bible? You'd throw a bucket of cold water over him. So also if a man is a competent guide in the bible but can not rule his own house well!"

"Some may object: "Brother Martin, if we take this seriously then half the pulpits in our country would be empty. What would you say to the people?"

"I would say 'Good! I would not fill a pulpit that God would empty! Perhaps all these empty pulpits would be the beginning of a revival'."

We are living in an age where the home is viciously attacked. Where one man and one woman who commit themselves to one another to the exclusion of all others seems to invite scorn and acrimony from the world around us. We are living in an age where gender dysphoria is celebrated.

The world around us is desperate for the example of Christians who joyfully serve God publicly and in their homes they model Christ-likeness. Our society is so degenerate. Home life is fragmented and embattled. What a witness Christians offer when we are faithful to the Word of God and faithful shepherds of our families, raising them in the fear and joy of the Lord.

Father in heaven, You have given to us the gift of family. One man and one woman in marriage who raise children to know Jesus Christ and serve Him. As the Spirit applies the instruction of the Word and leads families in faithful churches what a glorious witness we can be to our world. God of grace and mercy, protect our family units. Single or married, with children or child-less, whatever our circumstances, bless us so that from our hearts and homes we may praise and serve You and so be a witness to the world around us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

August 17, 2018 - - Proverbs 17:10 - - Who commands your respect?

A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding
than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.
Proverbs 17:10 NLT

The more you ponder this proverb, the more it works on your mind, soul and heart. 
Am I willing to receive a rebuke? 
Am I am person of understanding? 
Do I weigh the things people say to me? 
What is God teaching me through the words of others?

Jesus promised to His followers the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit of Truth will lead the soul to whisper to God: "Abba, Daddy". The Spirit will lead the heart to listen to and love Jesus more and more. The Spirit will prick the conscience of the believer and this will have more effect than any coercion, beating, or verbal shoutings for love makes the man tender to God and desirous to honour the Captain of his salvation.

Jesus, You are the Savior of the World. In Your death and resurrection we are dead to sin and raised to new life. 
Jesus, You are the Captain of our Salvation, Who leads believers to victory over sin and joyful service in Your Kingdom cause. 
Spirit of God, keep our hearts tender to the commands of Jesus and shield us in our Father's love. Amen.

August 15, 2018 - - Matthew 7:21-23 - - Sobering words leading to life

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV

Westminster Confession of Faith X Effectual Calling

IV. Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the laws of that religion they do profess. And to assert and maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested.

The passage from Matthew and the words of the Westminster are some of the most sobering words I have read in a very long time! Forsake the world and come to Jesus while there is yet time.

G. I. Williamson writes:

"Christ's parable of the sower and the soils reminds us that it is possible to give every appearance of being in possession of faith and obedient for a time, and even to evidence great zeal for the things of Christ, and then to lose all interest or even to lapse into hostility to the kingdom.

"The Scripture itself, therefore, leads us to the conclusion that it is possible to have very uplifting, ennobling, reforming, and exhilarating experience of the power and truth of the gospel, to come into such close contact with the supernatural forces which are operative in God's kingdom of grace that these forces produce effects in us which to human observation are hardly distinguishable from those produced by God's regenerating and sanctifying grace, and yet be not partakers of Christ and heirs of eternal life."

pages 122 - 123

Now is the day of salvation.

Now is the day to turn away from sin and turn to Jesus.

Your Word, O God, promises "he who has the Son has life; and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life". Let Christ, the true light that gives life to all who believe, take up residence in the hearts of those who cry out to Him. Spirit of God, remove the hard heart of stone and give to those crying out to Jesus a heart of tender flesh which yearns for Christ and walks in obedience to Him. Amen.

August 11, 2018 - - Deuteronomy 28:47-48 - - Fight for joy!

Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the Lord sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you.

Deuteronomy 28:47-48 NIV

We are called to fight for joy in our life with Christ. This passage from Deuteronomy notes the curse that would fall on the people of Israel if they neglect joy in their walk with God.The Bible repeatedly calls us to joy! Philippians 4:4 commands us "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

There are so many things, distractions, and false joys in this life. We must fight against all of them and find our deepest joy in Christ, Who alone brings us to our Father in heaven. The Spirit of God will stir up in the Christian the will and desire to fight for such joy. While on vacation I had a wonderful reminder to fight for joy. I picked up a book by John Piper and the fight for joy, it is a key emphasis in Piper's ministry.

"...God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Therefore, to make pretensions about honouring him more, while not calling people to the most radical, soul-freeing satisfaction in God alone, is self-contradictory. It won't happen."

"Nothing shows the direction of the deep winds of the soul like the demand for radical, sin-destroying, Christ-exalting joy in God."

from: J. Piper "'When I Don't Desire God How to Fight for Joy" pages 30-31

If you want joy in knowing God: pray for it! Ask the Spirit of God to give you great joy in knowing and serving Jesus Christ.

If you want joy in living for God read Bible passages like: Matt. 13:44; Psalm 35:27 & 43:4 & 111:2. As you read your Bible, note all the references to joy in relation to one's walk with God.

If you want joy to be contagious in your life spend time with joy-filled Christians who love God now and desire Him as their greatest joy!

If you want joy to be anchored in the depths of your soul fight for it. Put away distractions. Empty your life of the weight of sin that would trip you up and keep you from joy. Fight against the habits of your heart and mind that refuse to find joy in Christ.

If you want joy in Christ sing for it! Train your heart and mind to rejoice in Christ as you hymn His Name.

If you want joy in the Living God, get to a Bible-believing church that does not put confidence in prosperity, but proclaims Jesus Christ as our abiding joy no matter our circumstances.

Glorious God, You have made known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy! At Your right hand, where Christ is seated, there is eternal pleasure forever more. Spirit of the Living God, clear out the clutter of my life and the baggage of my mind so that heart, mind, body and soul I may be filled with true joy, the joy of the LORD. Amen.

August 6, 2018 - - Psalm 28:6-7 Christ our Strength and Shield

Blessed be the LORD!

For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

The LORD is my strength and my shield;

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults,

and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 28:6-7 ESV

In verse 2 of this Psalm the author cries out: "Hear the voice of my plea for mercy". As I read this I have the image of a soldier weary, struck down in a raging hand-to-hand skirmish about to receive the final blow who then reaches up his hand in an appeal for protection in the fierce battle. The opponent has no mercy.

Christ, the Captain of our Salvation, rushes to the aid of the wounded man. Christ, the Captain of our Salvation, stands over the soldier who is wounded and shields him in the fight, shouting encouragement to him. Christ, the Captain of our Salvation drives back the enemy. The Spirit of God is that encouragement, going right to the deepest recesses of the soldier's heart, driving out his fears and drowning out the wicked, defeating words of Satan.

No matter how often we are cornered, struggling or wounded, there are these promising words from Proverbs 24:16a: "though the righteous fall seven times, they will rise." The glory of the Father which clothed Jesus in resurrection power, is given to believers who cry out to Jesus. No wonder then that our hearts trust in Him and we helped! No wonder then that our victory song hymns Jesus as the glorious one.

To You, alone, O LORD, we call.

You are the strength and shield of Your people.

Thanks and praise belong to You, forever and ever.

In Jesus' Name we are helped,

in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

August 2, 2018 - - Psalm 7:10, Proverbs 2:6-8 - - God our Shield

My shield is with God,

who saves the upright in heart.

Psalm 7:10 ESV

For the LORD gives wisdom;

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

guarding the paths of justice

and watching over the way of the way of his saints.

Proverbs 2:6-8 ESV

The Names of God found in Scripture move me and capture my imagination. This morning my devotions led me to read of Jesus as our Shield. That old-fashioned word, shield, has modern applications. For example you have a windshield in your car that protects you from flying debris. And those who weld have a face shield which protects them from the intense heat and the protective glass protects their eyes from the intense light.

Jesus is our Shield. The Holiness of God burns with such intensity and purity that we immediately know our sin. Whenever we approach Him in Scripture reading and prayer we would come undone, disintegrate. Jesus is at the right hand of God, His sacrifice at the cross shields us from God's right and just wrath against our sin. Jesus' prayers shield us as He prays to the Father, taking away our sins and shielding us with His perfect righteousness.

Jesus offers us His Shield, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is a shield to those who walk in integrity. Like a car's windshield that protects the driver from stones and the force of the wind when traveling, the Holy Spirit, by the Scripture, by His Presence in the heart of the believer and through the community of faith is Jesus' gift of the Living Shield guarding believers in all their ways. Protecting us from the attacks of the enemy. Alerting us to the things which might hurt us our damage our relationship with God.

Blessed Father in Heaven, to Abraham You promised You would be his shield and very great reward. As the drama of Scripture unfolds we understand the fulfilment to be Jesus, Who is our Shield. Blessed be Your Name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Shield and Defender. We praise You, O God, for the gift of the Holy Spirit, our shield guarding us against the attacks of the enemy and traps and stones we would never anticipate. Thank You, Spirit of God, that You lead us in the path of wisdom and of life. Great are You, LORD God, and worthy of glory! Great are You LORD God, and worthy of all praise. Amen.

August 1, 2018 - - Psalm 1:2b-3 - - What do you meditate on?

...his delight is in the law of the LORD

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does he prospers.

Psalm 1:2b-3 ESV

My current, part-time job involves a lot of driving. So I have a chance to listen to the radio. A couple of times I have noticed how much air time is spent on movies: analysis, reviews and quality of the acting and so on. It is interesting to see how often friends on FB post their favs and co-workers talk about movies in the cinemas or on their subscribed channels.

What I am missing is conversation about the Word of God.

If we, as Christians, meditate on the Word day and night, then we should be talking about the latest chapter we read.

If we, as Christians, delight in the Law of the LORD, then we ought to be overflowing with information about the insights the Spirit has given us as we read the Word.

If we, as Christians, are fruitful our lives must reflect the glory of Jesus for whom and about whom the Scripture is written.

Perhaps Christians are not reading the Bible so they have nothing to say.

Perhaps Christians are neglecting time with God so they are embarrassed to contribute to conversations.

Perhaps Christians are more familiar with the tawdry things of the world than with the glories of knowing God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, begin the day with the Word of God. Fill your mind with thoughts of glorious things. When people around you are talking about movies, sports, or the latest craze, in effect, meditating on what the world has to offer, consider what you have read in the Bible and think of it! Meditate.

What are the implications of knowing God in this sin-filled world?

What is it God is calling you to do or say?

Be bold to interject your delight in God, not as an apology, or shyly, but with wonder-filled delight.

Blessed be Your Name, God of Wisdom. Thank You for opening the way to heaven through Jesus Christ, the sinless One. It is incredible to contemplate that Jesus walked among sin-drenched people and was Himself without sin. Spirit of God, Who rested on Jesus without measure, fill our thoughts with the Word and with wonder for our Saviour. Spirit Who Counsels believers, direct our living so that all we say and wisely leave unsaid, what we leave undone and choose to do, reflects our delight in Christ and our desire to serve Him. In Jesus' Name we pray~Amen.

July 30, 2018 - - Genesis 1:3-5 - - Which came first the sun or light?

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Genesis 1:3-5 ESV

This morning, as I had my morning jog, I watched the moon's light fade as the sun began to peek over the horizon. A wash of purple and red filled the horizon. Which came first: the sun or light? Re-read the text from Genesis.

"Perhaps one reason God did it this way was to illustrate that the sun did not have the priority in the creation that people have tended to give it. The sun did not give birth to the earth as evolutionary theories postulate; the sun was God's created tool to rule the day that God had made (Genesis 1:16).

"Down through the ages, people such as the Egyptians have worshiped the sun as the pagan cultures around the did. They were commanded to worship the God who made the sun--not the sun that was made by God.

"Evolutionary theories (the "big bang" hypothesis for instance) state that the sun came before the earth and that the sun's energy on the earth eventually gave rise to life. Just as in pagan beliefs, the sun is, in a sense, given credit for the wonder of creation..

"It is interesting to contrast the speculations of modern cosmology with the writings of the earthly church father Theophilus:

On the fourth day the luminaries came into existence.

Since God has foreknowledge, he understood the

nonsense of the foolish philosophers who were going

to say that the things produced on Earth came from

the stars, so that they might set God aside. In order

therefore that the truth might be demonstrated, plants

and seeds came into existence before stars. For what

comes into existence later cannot cause what is prior

to it."

Ken Ham. The New Answers Book 1. Green Forest, AR. Master Books, 2011. pages 102-103

Glorious God, Creator of Light, Day and Night blessed be Your Name. Thank You for the gift of day and night, light and dark, sun and stars. Thank You for the True Light that has come into the world, our Lord Jesus Christ. Spirit Who leads in Truth, guide us by the Word to understand Jesus, strengthen us to obey Him and give us holy delight in the rich blessings of creation. In Jesus' Name we pray~Amen.

July 28, 2018 - - Romans 1:21-27 - - Shame and pride

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Romans 1:21-27 NIV

Tomorrow is London Shame Day. Pray for the city of London as men and women debase themselves in public, walk around lewdly, and seek to corrupt others. How I miss Dianne Haskett, the mayor of London from 1994 - 2000. She was courageous to state her convictions that she could not open the festivities of the pride parade. For this she was fined. There is no freedom of thought. There is no freedom to express one's views.

Shame on Mayor Brown for issuing an apology for his predecessor's values and her freedom to speak and act.

Ever more perverse, the CBC hosted a contest to find a "worthy" participant to march in this event where people exchange the glory of the immortal God for degrading and disgusting publicly displayed perversions. I grieve for this city and her people.

Pray that those who are under God's curse may find His grace.

Pray that the lies and deceptions of those participating in this shameful event will be exposed so that vulnerable and impressionable people will not be corrupted.

Pray for the police officers who need to patrol this loathsome event and many will be insulted for their efforts. Many police officers will not even be allowed to enforce by-laws on indecent exposure because of the wickedness of the crowds.

Hear my cry, O God;

Attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I will cy to You

When my heart is overwhelmed;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me,

A strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.

Psalm 61:1-4 NKJV

July 27,2018 - - Psalm 119:120, 136 Holy Fear of God

My flesh trembles for fear of you,

and I am afraid of your judgments.

My eyes shed streams of tears,

because people do not keep your law.

Psalm 119:120, 136 ESV

What comes into our minds

when we think about God

is the most important thing about us.

Refuse to be average.

Let your heart soar as high as it will.

It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until

He has hurt him deeply.

A.W.Tozer

Who you believe God to be, what He is like

is the single most important factor about your life.

High views to God lead to high and holy living.

High views of God lead to high and transcendent living.

But low views of God lead to low and base living.

Our knowledge of God

is the continental divide in the Christian life.

The most important thing about you

is what comes into your mind when you think of God.

Steve J. Lawson

Spirit of Truth lead me to think on Christ, to follow Him and to believe in Him more and more dearly.

King Jesus, by Your obedient suffering, holy life, death and resurrection You have opened to us the way to our Father in heaven--blessed be Your Name.

Majestic God, Scripture declares You HOLY! So great is Your power that the symbol of Your power--Your robe--so great is Your power that merely the hem of Your robe fills the temple!

Triune God, grant me a righteous fear of You,

Triune God, fill me with the courage and strength to obey You;

Triune God, impel me to declare Your Great Name. Amen.

July 25, 2018 - - Psalm 119:67, 71 - - How affliction is good!

Before I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I keep your word.

It is good for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

Psalm 119:67, 71 ESV

Affliction as a benefit or even a blessing from God?!

Yes. Consider these facts:

~In times of affliction we seek God

~In times of affliction we consider what we had been doing

~In times of affliction we are most open to what the Spirit says

~In times of affliction we are vulnerable to the Bible

~In times of affliction we find wise Christian pray-ers

~In times of affliction God shows He is present

~In times of affliction God proves He is always near

~In times of affliction God's Spirit leads us to Jesus, Who

endured hardships and affliction, beatings and poverty, and

finally the humiliation of the cross so that we might be set free

to follow the Word and the Will of God

~In times of affliction God's Word anchors our soul to Jesus

~In times of affliction God shows us the sweetest times of prayer

God of all hopefulness, in the darkest hours of suffering and trial, give us the strength to turn to You.

God our Father Who disciplines His sons and daughters in love, let the purposefulness of our afflictions drive us back into Your open arms.

Jesus our Savior, thank You for the suffering You endured for us. Thank You that all our pains and wounds and griefs here on earth are totally meaningful even in the darkest hours when we cannot discern that meaning yet.

Spirit of all Comfort, bring us to the oasis of the Word of God so that our souls and minds and bodies may find refreshment.

Triune God, when our suffering means we can't even lift our eyes to You in prayer, thank You for the prayers of Jesus on our behalf. Thank You for the Spirit of God Who leads other believers to pray for us. Be our rock of refuge until the storms pass. Amen.

July 24, 2018 - - Psalm 119:32 - - When an enlarged heart is good

I will run in the way of your commandments

when you enlarge my heart.

Psalm 119:32 ESV

The second part of the text has a variant reading: "for you set my heart free". What a great truth in these few words.

There are many reasons why we might balk at the idea of following God's commandments:

~our hearts are devoted to a different love

~our understanding of God's intentions are inadequate

~our love for ourselves exceeds our love for God

~our desire for esteem before people is greater than our desire

for God

The Psalmist will RUN in the commandments of God for these reasons:

~God has increased the psalmist\s capacity to love Him and the

psalmist sets aside all idols vying for God's place

God set his heart free from misunderstanding the

commandments so that he now sees them as the path of life

~God has enlarged the psalmist's love for God so that God is

first in his life and therefore the psalmist will serve God above

every one and every thing else

~God has enlarged his heart so that the psalmist does not look

to people who are wavering and fickle in their approval, rather

with this increased capacity to receive God's love and live in

real relationship with Him the psalmist finds affirmation in God

alone.

In Your love, Father Source of all good, we can live as men and women who are secure enough to love You first and best and from the overflow of that relationship love the people You have placed in our lives. As You have enlarged our hearts and set us free, we will with increasing fervor and love run to You in the pathway of Your commandments. Spirit of God, anchor us in Jesus so that the words of this Psalm may be fulfilled in us. Amen.

July 20, 2018 - - Proverbs 20:5 A better version of you

The purpose of a man's heart is like deep water,

but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Proverbs 20:5 ESV

It is altogether too easy for a man to either have too high a view of himself and always feel misplaced and out of step or to have too low a view of himself and so under-accomplish what he is capable of doing. A good friend is a great gift from God. Such a friend will listen, will act as a B.S. meter and so help draw out a realistic assessment of one's gifts, one's strengths and weaknesses, one's real reasons for doing or not doing a particular thing.

Christian friends have an even deeper bond. The very same Spirit that rose Jesus from the grave is the Spirit Who lives in us. The Spirit of God searches out the deep things of a man's heart. Christian friends then help one another achieve excellence as we listen to and encourage one another; pray with and for each other; correct one another even as we expect to be corrected. The Spirit uses such friendships to make us more like Christ.

This Spring I was visiting friends I had not seen in a long time. I was apologizing for imposing--I was spending a whole week with them. My friend's wife interrupted my apology and said: "I am glad you are here. My husband is a better version of himself when he is around you." Interesting. I was thinking my friend had exactly the same influence on me, bringing out a better version of me.

Thank You, Spirit of Truth, for the gift of friends who bring out the best in us. Work out Your holy purposes in us and among us so that we will be more like and reflect more of the glory of Christ. Amen.

July 19, 2018 - - Philippians 4:7 Disarming thoughts of revenge

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:7 NIV

Beware of small steps of cheating ie: a few dollars cheated on your taxes, or gypping a friend out of what you rightfully owe--such things leave you vulnerable.

When sin comes with its proposals it is always

excessively modest in its proposals

but it is always aiming at the highest wrong

J. Owen

Our brief text from Philippians challenges believers not to see how much we can get away with, rather, how deeply we can walk into the grace and goodness of God. Contemplate what is true. Think about noble and good pursuits. In such a way we will always aim for the highest good: the glory of God.

God of Excellence, You are worthy of all awe and praise! Forgive us our petty thoughts and those moments we either truly or in fantasy plan revenge for slights carried out against us. Lift our thoughts and hearts to Your right hand, where Christ Jesus is seated in glory. Let the forgiveness which Christ won for us at the cross be the costliest gift we give to those around us. Spirit of God, flood our minds with all things noble, lovely, pure and admirable so that the filthiness of worldliness and sin will be washed out of us. Let our words and actions shine with the splendour of Your goodness King of Righteous! Amen.

July 18, 2018 - - I Corinthians 15:10a The impact of my sin

But by the grace of God I am what I am,

and His grace toward me was not in vain.

I Corinthians 15:10a ESV

Over the last number of months I have been listening to Al Martin and his teachings on pastoral leadership. The most recent one I am listening to is on earning the respect and confidence of the people whom you serve. It applies, I think, to all Christians.

Martin notes that respect and confidence are earned over many years and can be lost in a moment of time. You invest in the people around you, depositing nickels and quarters at a time. A kind act here. Evidence of faithfulness there. And slowly, over years, as a steady, faithful follower of Christ you build a bank account filled with the respect and confidence of others. From time to time, you can draw down on that account if there is a small misstep or failing.

However, a major failing can in one moment drain your account of all respect and confidence. The people around you will no longer see you are one steeped in the grace of God. Instead there will be the lingering association with your name as one who has betrayed His Savior and His people.

Can God restore people after a major failing? Yes He can. That is the mighty grace of God shown us in Jesus Christ. However, what follows is that people will, for a long time afterwards, have to look past the failing to see the goodness of God. It takes such a long time to rebuild respect and confidence.

And I do pray that those who have experienced a major fall and scandal will find refuge in the arms of Jesus. May it be that the Spirit will empower such people with the strength to know how long and deep and high and wide is the Father's love shown to us in Christ and that his love be so sustaining it can withstand the withering criticism and cruel stares.

Are you willing to discredit the name of God for a fleeting pleasure? I pray that the Spirit in you cries out: No! Are you willing to attach to the Name of Jesus to your scandal? A thousand times "NO"! May God's good Name be praised by what we choose to do and by the things we will not do. May it always be our theme and our testimony: It is by the grace of God shown me in Christ that I am what I am and His grace toward me was not in vain!

Jesus, may Your grace rule in us hour by hour. Let Your Spirit control all we do and say. Let us be a community of people who disdain wickedness because of the grace of Christ and turn from sin because of love for Him. Spirit of the Living God, help us to warn those heading into the clutches of temptation and vice. God our Father, when, in Your goodness You snatch someone from the fiery trial of sins of their own making, may we, as the family of God, be firm and faithful in the steps of restoration. May we in all situations be able to proclaim: by the grace of God I am what I am. In our homes, in our work and in our play may Your Name be praised. Amen.

July 17, 2018 - - Psalm 84:9 "Am I good enough for God?"

Behold our shield, O God;

look on the face of your anointed!

Psalm 84:9 ESV

How much good would we have to do in order for us to be accepted by God? Our every word, our every thought, our every action and our every intentional decision to avoid even the appearance of sin must be 100% perfect from conception to the moment of death. I can't achieve it. No one can. That is why every person who ever lived deserves the punishment of God against sin. Every person that is except our Saviour Jesus Christ.

From conception to His death Jesus was perfect. He is the One anointed by God. He is our shield in this sense: when God looks at someone who believes on Jesus Christ, God sees Jesus' perfection covering us. Jesus took on Himself the punishment against our sin so that we would receive His righteousness and fullness of life. Jesus is our shield against the punishment of God against our sin. Jesus shielded us and now we are set free to serve Him forever.

Thank You, Jesus, for the fullness of life You give us.

Thank You, Jesus, our Shield.

Thank You, Father in heaven, that by the blood of Jesus all who believe on Him are Your sons and daughters.

Thank You, Spirit of the Living God, for sealing this great blessing to all who believe.

Spirit of God, help us to live as soldiers of the cross of Jesus Christ. Amen.