"O Lord that lends me life,
Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!'
- William Shakespeare
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Early Will I Seek You (Well, That's My Goal)
Early. I am not a fan of the word. Early reminds me of sleep lost and the slow waking hours when I am trying to fight off the demands of the day ahead. Early is not my best time and it is not popular with me; why do things early when mid-morning will do just fine?
Some people like early. My wife has gotten up early everyday for our entire married life. I write this annoying habit off because she grew up in Kansas and some how I associate her growing up with the sun rising, birds chirruping, and someone outside singing "O what a beautiful morning". Early works for her, not for me. However, what about spending time with God? The Scriptures are full of people who started their day early-, with God. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and as we all know, Jesus. Well, I tell myself theses were exceptional people who were called by God. The I remember we are all called by God and there goes my excuse.
So let me take another look at this early thing. With remarkable frequency the Scriptures remind us that many called by God rose early to spend time with him. It seems they did this so they would not be burdened by the cares of the day. Instead they could start their day focused on the one who gives each day as a gift. These people would rise early (there is that word again), and put aside all worry, all impurity, all of their anxieties and distractions and spend time with the only one capable of setting them free. In God's presence they would refit their minds and refocus their hearts on the one true living God. They would use this time to remind themselves that their first thoughts and their first words belong to the giver of life and sustainer of all things. In the early hours the day would begin, not as a burden, but as a blessing.
This early thing has been an on-going learning experience for me, demonstrated by my wife on a daily basis. I see her, not trying to fit God into her busy day, but building her day around him, and I am humbled by her example. Yes I admit that when I see this my first thoughts are usually selfish ones and I thank God for placing her in my life. Then I move to wanting to mirror her desire to spend time with God and practice seeking him early, well maybe not as early as she does, but early. Over the course of time I have found that it works. Psalm 5:3 says, "In the morning, O Lord. you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my request before you. and wait in expectation."
"In the morning" which I guess means early morning. I must admit, I am still not a fan of the word early, but I am learning that it has its place. So tomorrow give early a chance and give yourself a chance to refit you mind on the wonders of our God and refocus your hearts on his amazing love, you maybe surprised with the results.
RefRev
Some people like early. My wife has gotten up early everyday for our entire married life. I write this annoying habit off because she grew up in Kansas and some how I associate her growing up with the sun rising, birds chirruping, and someone outside singing "O what a beautiful morning". Early works for her, not for me. However, what about spending time with God? The Scriptures are full of people who started their day early-, with God. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and as we all know, Jesus. Well, I tell myself theses were exceptional people who were called by God. The I remember we are all called by God and there goes my excuse.
So let me take another look at this early thing. With remarkable frequency the Scriptures remind us that many called by God rose early to spend time with him. It seems they did this so they would not be burdened by the cares of the day. Instead they could start their day focused on the one who gives each day as a gift. These people would rise early (there is that word again), and put aside all worry, all impurity, all of their anxieties and distractions and spend time with the only one capable of setting them free. In God's presence they would refit their minds and refocus their hearts on the one true living God. They would use this time to remind themselves that their first thoughts and their first words belong to the giver of life and sustainer of all things. In the early hours the day would begin, not as a burden, but as a blessing.
This early thing has been an on-going learning experience for me, demonstrated by my wife on a daily basis. I see her, not trying to fit God into her busy day, but building her day around him, and I am humbled by her example. Yes I admit that when I see this my first thoughts are usually selfish ones and I thank God for placing her in my life. Then I move to wanting to mirror her desire to spend time with God and practice seeking him early, well maybe not as early as she does, but early. Over the course of time I have found that it works. Psalm 5:3 says, "In the morning, O Lord. you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my request before you. and wait in expectation."
"In the morning" which I guess means early morning. I must admit, I am still not a fan of the word early, but I am learning that it has its place. So tomorrow give early a chance and give yourself a chance to refit you mind on the wonders of our God and refocus your hearts on his amazing love, you maybe surprised with the results.
RefRev
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Show Me Your Glory
I must admit I often struggle to understand the world we live in. One of the first things I do in the morning is peruse the internet, checking out the news of the day. More often than not it is filled with stories of senseless violence, corruption, loss, and moral decay, not always a great way to start the day. I find myself asking God, "What is going on, Lord where can your presence be found in such a world as this?"
Psalm 72:19 says this, "Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen." The Scriptures remind me the glory of God is always present, even in a hurting and dysfunctional world. God has not abandoned or forgotten his people and continues to fill this world, his creation, with his glory. From the birth of a child, the joy of salvation, to the setting of the sun, God reminds us of his glory. One day, his glory will completely fill this world and there will be no questions, no longing for his presence.
Often during dark moments when I struggle to understand the actions of people or the events of the moment that seem so far away from what God intended, I listen to music. One song I enjoy and often use to help me focus is Show Me Your Glory by the Christian band Third Day. My favorite line says, "Show me your glory, send down your presence, I want to see your face." Yes, there are difficult days in this life, times when we as God's people struggle to understand but the glory of God is always present. The day is coming when it will be all consuming and we will never have to ask to be shown a glimpse, for we will stand in its midst. But until that day comes, my prayer remains, "show me your glory, send down your presence, I want to see your face." Amen!
RefRev
Psalm 72:19 says this, "Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen." The Scriptures remind me the glory of God is always present, even in a hurting and dysfunctional world. God has not abandoned or forgotten his people and continues to fill this world, his creation, with his glory. From the birth of a child, the joy of salvation, to the setting of the sun, God reminds us of his glory. One day, his glory will completely fill this world and there will be no questions, no longing for his presence.
Often during dark moments when I struggle to understand the actions of people or the events of the moment that seem so far away from what God intended, I listen to music. One song I enjoy and often use to help me focus is Show Me Your Glory by the Christian band Third Day. My favorite line says, "Show me your glory, send down your presence, I want to see your face." Yes, there are difficult days in this life, times when we as God's people struggle to understand but the glory of God is always present. The day is coming when it will be all consuming and we will never have to ask to be shown a glimpse, for we will stand in its midst. But until that day comes, my prayer remains, "show me your glory, send down your presence, I want to see your face." Amen!
RefRev
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
ReformedRev's Quote of the Day
"I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help him.
I ended up by asking him to do his work through me."
- James Hudson Taylor
I ended up by asking him to do his work through me."
- James Hudson Taylor
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Glory Above the Heavens
By Irene Herring (Mrs. ReformedRev)
Ever since I can remember, I have gotten up early to watch the sun rise. When I was growing up, I spent summers at my grandparents', who lived in eastern Kansas on a hill and land that stretched out and looked over the Kansas River. Eastern Kansas is not flat, and the view was split by a tree break that dipped to the south and a century old walnut tree that stood starkly in the middle of a hay field. In the summer, wind stirred through ripening wheat, meadowlarks called as the sun began to peak over the horizon. Sometimes deer would wander to the pond below their house. The colors of orange, gold, salmon and aqua that filled the horizon, even if for a short time, were the brush strokes of a painting created by the Almighty. There was something of peace and hope watching that pastoral scene unfold.
Every day that I watch the sun rise, I know that I have another day. Another day to praise God and rest in HIS hope.
In Psalm 113:3-4, the writer says this:
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
Ever since I can remember, I have gotten up early to watch the sun rise. When I was growing up, I spent summers at my grandparents', who lived in eastern Kansas on a hill and land that stretched out and looked over the Kansas River. Eastern Kansas is not flat, and the view was split by a tree break that dipped to the south and a century old walnut tree that stood starkly in the middle of a hay field. In the summer, wind stirred through ripening wheat, meadowlarks called as the sun began to peak over the horizon. Sometimes deer would wander to the pond below their house. The colors of orange, gold, salmon and aqua that filled the horizon, even if for a short time, were the brush strokes of a painting created by the Almighty. There was something of peace and hope watching that pastoral scene unfold.
Every day that I watch the sun rise, I know that I have another day. Another day to praise God and rest in HIS hope.
In Psalm 113:3-4, the writer says this:
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
his glory above the heavens.
One version reads that the LORD is brighter than anything in the heavens, even the sun! My prayer for you today, dear reader is that you may find hope in the rising of the sun and that the praise of our God will be on your lips. May He give you a sunrise to watch and a personal beauty that gives the knowledge of the One who cares personally and intimately about you.
RefRev
RefRev
Saturday, May 21, 2011
ReformedRev's View of the Christian Faith
As a Reformed believer I hold this view; the final authority for my faith is the Bible--known as the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God. As the Apostle Paul shares in 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
As a Reformed believer I believe that God is three in one--God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. These persons of the trinity are one in essence, essential in nature, in purpose, and in agreement. In other words God is only one being, not three. There is only one God! Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
As a Reformed believer I hold a Reformed perspective regarding the work of Jesus Christ, seeing it as the centered of our understanding of the love and justice of God toward us. It is here we experience his atoning work, see John 3:16 and Romans 3:25. Through his death Christ died as a sacrifice for our sins. He died as a propitiation, to remove from us the wrath of God. In his death he reconciled us with God and redeemed us out of the bondage of sin.
As a Reformed believer I believe we are saved by the irresistible grace of God through faith alone, not by what we think or do to earn God's favor, see Ephesians 2: 1-10. Our good works don't earn our salvation, but are a way to thank God for this free gift of salvation.
As a Reformed believer I believe in the Reformed tradition of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. They remind us of God's promises and help us to claim those promises as our own. These sacraments are an outward sign of an inward act in the life of the believer.
As a Reformed believer I am confessional, which means I believe we have statements of belief, called creeds and confessions. These statements help to guide our understanding of faith and shape its practice.
As a Reformed believer I see the church as "Reformed and always reforming," seeking to know the mind of Christ as it strives to be faithful in a changing, complex, and often troubled world. The church must also be communal. “Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
As a Reformed believer I believe worship is corporate. Worship is not a performance with the minister as actor or actress and the congregation as the audience. God is the audience and the whole congregation is involved in the service, in prayers, songs, and offerings.
As a Reformed believer I believe worship is liturgical. The word "liturgy" means "the work of the people." Reformed worship is liturgical in the sense that our worship involves the whole people of God in the activity of worship. While traditions and styles may vary by congregation, worship is still the work of the people of God.
As a Reformed believer I believe worship is sacramental. When we celebrate the sacraments in worship we are reminded of God’s love, his righteousness, his promises, and our faith is awakened and renewed.
RefRev
RefRev
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