Sing In The LightA Blog Glorifying God

“It would do the world good if every man would compel
himself occasionally to be absolutely alone. Most of the
world’s progress has come out of such loneliness.”
– Bruce Barton

Really? I mean REALLY? It is hard for me to imagine being alone. Maybe I’m odd because when I think “alone” I think without God. Now, if I took more time to be alone with God, then I’m sure my life would be different… in a good way. That’s the challenge, daily, hourly, and with each minute: finding time to really communicate with God without the distractions of the world around me. Not the ticking of the clock, or the dog breathing in and out, or the car driving by outside.

“No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.  Who should not revere you, O King of the nations?  This is your due.  Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.” – Jeremiah 10:6-7, NIV

In His service,
Keith

Last night I finished reading (actually more like listening to) Ted Dekkers ‘Circle’ trilogy. I’m not going to play the part of book critic this morning, but one of the things that it made me think about was how I view people who are different than I am. Different skin. Different thoughts. Different beliefs. Different whatever. Not just “enemies” but anyone with whom I do not have a lot in common. After all, who are we to love? When have I shied away from someone because of my own judgement and missed an opportunity to reveal Christ to them and to myself?

This morning I read this quote -

“The impulse of love that leads us to the doorway of a friend is the voice of God within and we need not be afraid to follow it.”
–Agnes Sanford

Having the thoughts that I have this morning, the real question is to what doorways does God desire me to go if I am to grow His kingdom? What corners of the earth am I willing to go to? Who am I willing to show His love to? Only the doorways of friends?

Matthew 22:36-40 – “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

What am I doing to prepare myself for the words of Matthew 25: 37-38 – “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”

“To know someone here or there with whom you feel there is understanding in spite of distances or thoughts unexpressed – that can make of this earth a garden.”
-  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When I first read this I thought, of course, of myself and how I could be that person for someone. Silly me. Selfish me. Then I thought of Christ. Therein lies the challenge, to encourage others in the confidence that Christ is there with understanding. The absence of this confidence would seem to be the absence of faith.

May you all find the confidence that you are not alone, and share that with others who struggle to feel the same.

It has been a while since i’ve awoken with a tune running through my head. And really, it was only a very small snippet and I couldn’t remember much beyond “teach me some melodious sonnet.” No title, no other words. Very odd. But good old Google found the hymn for me this morning: ‘Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing’. I really enjoyed listening to part of it as sung by Jadon Lavik that I found on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDYKZnf-eYY (or you can listen to it on Jadon’s MySpace page if you so desire – http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=6937508&ap=1&albumid=9645204&songid=26091180)

Still, why, God, those words for me this morning? Ah, the day is young and perhaps He will reveal for me His desire.

“This is our destiny in heaven-to be like Christ: not Christ limited, as he was on earth, to the confines of time and flesh, but Christ risen, the great, free, timeless Christ of the Easter morning.”
–David Winter

Through a strange twist, I found this quote this morning. Sure, it isn’t Easter, but what day isn’t a day for celebrating the risen Lord? Come on, we sang “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” at church this last Sunday, and while it felt odd at first, it was a great song for any day.

When I think of being Christ-like, usually what I conjure up is His perfection, His knowledge, His ability, His compassion. And, as Winter’s words reminded me: His time. But this morning it was not in terms of the timing of things that happen when I want. It was more of how I easily think of time in a linear fashion only. A cause and affect. For example, I pray after this or that happens. But my pondering this morning is could I pray for someone in the midst of a situation they already went through? Situations for which I at the time of my prayer I do not know the outcome. Well, what happens with those prayers?

For example, last week I know someone who had surgery. I do not know the very minute that the knife began its work, but I was praying for a successful surgery. At some point my prayers for a successful surgery may have happened after the actual surgery. Are my prayers then meaningless prayers? Or suppose I am praying for a friend or relative across the country to find comfort in the hours before they go to be with the Lord. Although I do not know that they have already passed. Again, what of my prayers?

I want to and will believe that those prayers matter. I do not have to understand how. But my God, my omnipresent God, who is not bound by time, is a compassionate God. One who listens to the prayers of His people, even ones like me. He already knows my prayers of tomorrow and the next day.

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” – Isaiah 65:24

What I find AMAZING also is that I found myself reading 1 Thessalonians as I pondered things this morning. Verse 16 and 17 speak of rejoicing always and praying without ceasing. Then verse 18 – “in everything give thanks”. AWESOME!

“What do you think of God?” the teacher asked. After a pause the young pupil replied, “He’s not a think, He’s a feel.” — Paul Frost

Uh, this one hit a good spot. Personally, while I often think about God, He is much more real to me when I feel Him around me, inside me, flowing through me. He is the living God. Thinking about God doesn’t necessarily invoke a response from me, but when I feel God, how can I not act?