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Wait for the Lord

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The Psalms are full of this phrase. What does it mean? Are we to stop all activity, sit down, and passively do absolutely nothing? Or, is there something else here for us? Let us think on this for a bit...if someone asks you to wait up, you know what that means right? You've gone ahead and they are trying to catch up with you. Other times we might think of someone running late to a party or dinner and they ask for you to wait until they arrive. I'm not sure either of these really capture the meaning. To help us, let's hear some of the ways the Psalms use this phrase: Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. -Psalm 5:3 NLT Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. -Psalm 27:14 NLT Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. -Psalm 37:7 NLT For I am waiting fo...
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The Prayers

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Sometimes I don't know what to pray. There are days when I don't have words. Other times, I find that my heart and mind are distracted. Some days I'm just down and not feeling it. How about you? When it comes to prayer, we have some encouragement from God's people throughout history. The entire collection of Psalms can be helpful for us here too! Here are a few prayers I've put to memory so I can pray when I'm out of words - maybe these can help you as well! The Jesus Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me. Our Father Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever, Amen.] Glory Be Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And one mo...
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Decisions & Doors...

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I came across this prayer the other day, and I thought it was good to share: "Holy Spirit, grant me the humility to accept the doors you have closed to me, the courage to walk through the doors you open, and the wisdom to know the difference!" Yes Lord! Photo by Jacob Culp on Unsplash
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News & Tragedy...

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This past Sunday morning, many of us heard the news of the violence against a congregation in Michigan. My heart was sad to hear of a senseless and cruel murder once again. Ugh. So, as we talked about a few weekends ago, how do we handle the seemingly neverendig stream of news and tragedy? We landed on this phrase in that sermon: Unplug (turn it off), decompress (walk, workout, eat a good meal with friends, etc.) and renew your strength in the Lord (hit your knees and wait on the Lord regularly!), AND… Do for one what you wish you could do for many! Today, let us not grow weary in doing good and caring for those around us. May we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit today and every day. "Let us not become  weary   in   doing   good , for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." -Galatians 6:9 Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
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Daily Rituals

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I've been reading a book which documents various daily rituals of creative people - musicians, writers, artists and even some scientists.  Why?  Well, it is like a sneak peak into the private lives of those who we've admired over the years for the work they produced.  As I read through the various daily rituals of these prominent creatives, I was struck by when they tended to get out of bed, how late they stayed up, what 'vices' they entertained and, of course, when they did their best work.  Turns out, the morning hours are the most talked about productive 'creative' time.  Also, naps are a thing that seems quite consistent! There were also a few oddities, like F. Scott Fitzgerald drinking gin because he didn't think it could be detected by smell and Hemingway's tendency to write standing up at a chest-high bookshelf that his typewriter sat on.   One takeaway of many for me is that these creatives figured out where and when their best work happened, a...
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And can it be...

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There is an old hymn that I often return to in my prayers which is titled "And Can it Be" by Charles Wesley (music by Thomas Campbell) from the early 1700's. Here are some of the familiar words from this hymn: And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood? Died he for me who caused his pain? For me, who him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be that thou my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! how can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me! How can it be indeed. Today let us all just reflect on Messiah Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross for us! Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you fi...
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Suggestion Box Jesus

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In a devotional thought I read this morning by Paul David Tripp, he speaks of the temptation to make Jesus into a 'suggestion box' teacher not the sovereign Lord of our lives.  Instead of seeing His Word and commandments as life-giving (see Psalm 119), we water His teaching into mere suggestions and decent advice.  The result of this?  Disaster.  Paul David Tripp writes, "Maybe you want the Suggestion Box Jesus, whose law is more advice than command. He will be nothing less than the sovereign Savior King." The author continues,  "One of the sad and destructive desires of the sinful nature is the desire for self-rule. One of the dark delusions of sin is that it causes us at times to buy into the insane thought that we might be smarter than God." May this never be! Lord, may we take in Your Words and the very 'words of life' today! -Paul David Tripp's New Morning Mercies, Sept 8th devotional  Photo by Kelli McClintock on Unsplash
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