Soul Praise! Winter has Ended!

/0 Comments/in /by

 

“It is winter in Narnia,” said Mr. Tumnus, “and has been for ever so long…. always winter, but never Christmas.” (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis).

To me these words are one of the most descriptive pictures of what life was like on earth before the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The White Witch cursed the land  of Narnia and kept all the inhabits in bondage. However, The Lion Aslan appears on the scene the landscape begins to change.

After the sacrifice and death of Aslan, it looked like winter had once again returned, BUT 3 days later the resurrected Lion roared and the curse was reversed. The glorious beauty of spring swept over the land of Narnia it was the dawn of a new day, a new King and Kingdom had taken over.

Working our way through Psalm 103 we join in bringing forth “soul praise” to our Father God. Not only has Jesus forgiven all our sins on the cross, He also “Heals all of our diseases,”  or as another translation so aptly puts it, “You healed me inside and out from every disease,” (vs. 3)

When Jesus roared into ministry He did so by preaching the Good News that a new Kingdom was breaking forth and He demonstrated it by signs and wonders.  He drove out demons that kept people in bondage. He healed all types of diseases. All these miracles revealed that curse of “Winter” that happened with the fall of Adam and Eve was now indeed reversed.

I realize at times it still feels like “Winter,” especially if you watch the news and hear about all the suffering and hate that seems to be controlling our world. But as followers of Christ we are called to live by faith knowing there is a battle which will continue until Christ returns. Then He will bring forth a new heaven and earth. His glorious appearing will put an end to suffering, sin, and the separation death brings. We will be brought back to our everlasting home in the new Garden of Eden.

As we await His coming we claim the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, only then are we able to follow in Jesus’ steps, and able to share the Good news that King Jesus is indeed still in control. And don’t forget this Lion of Judah  has the power to overcome every demonic force that lurks about on earth and He can heal any disease He so chooses.

No matter what may happen on earth to the followers of Jesus we can stand and shout praise with all of our souls. As we know one day as followers of Christ we will experience our own glorious resurrection of our bodies that will be raised forever in perfection just like Jesus.

As Resurrection Sunday approaches, let your hearts worship with exuberant hope! For we know Spring began when Aslan roared that Easter morning, walking out of the grave and  conquering “Winter.”

 

Soul Praise! – No Shame!

/0 Comments/in /by

While living in South Africa I have picked up a phrase many people use. The interesting thing about the phrase it can mean something good or something bad, it is all in the way you express yourself as you speak it out.  So you can see a cute little baby and say, “Awe shame what a beauty!” Or someone could not being feeling well or had a bad day, and you respond, “Awe shame man, that’s too bad!”

I have been accustomed to the phrase and find myself using it when back in the States. So when watching my almost 3 years old grandson I’ve used it a few times and he has picked it up. The problem is my daughter is a counselor and “shame” in counseling is a big issue that many people deal with.  So needless to say grandpa has to watch what he is saying when watching the grandkids.

And my daughter is correct “shame,” is a word that signifies a battle that all of us face. This warfare in our soul goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. The moment our first parents sinned they felt deep shame, so much so they hid from the Father while He walked through the beautiful sanctuary calling out for his children. For the first time in their lives Adam and Eve felt naked, exposed, dirty, and the they resorted to hiding from their holy and loving Father.

Over the centuries we have learned how to be good hiders. We do everything we can to conceal our dark side from God, ourselves, and others because of the pain of shame. We use multiple ways to hide from it but however we try it pops up and beats us back down causing us to live in bondage. Shame is one of the tools the enemy uses to destroy our soul.

Last week I challenged you to add “soul praise” to your season of lent.  To listen to the Spirit calling you from Psalm 103 to –

“Praise the LORD, O my soul and all my inmost being praise His holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul and forget not all His benefits.”

The Father Forgives all your sins…” (vs. 2) What an amazing benefit! He goes head to head attacking shame. When the Father found Adam and Eve hiding in their shame He came with grace and forgiveness and covered their shame by sacrificing the life of an animal to cloth their nakedness and to take away their shame.

This benefit points ahead to the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus, who took on our sin and shame by dying naked on the cross in our place. Notice the verses says “all your sins…”  He didn’t die for some of your sins but for every sin you have and will ever commit. Later the text says – “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities..as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (vs. 10,12) 

The enemy likes to shame us and tell us God doesn’t forgive nor forget our sins. So when we mess up again and feel shame it is tempting to hide from the Father. We don’t feel worthy to pray, reading the Word or worship. I beg you not listen to these lies, instead immediately run back into the loving arms of your Abba Father. Confess your sin and praise Him for the gift of His Son who already paid for it and it is remembered no more.

Spend some time letting your soul praise Him today for the power of the Cross and the gift of forgiveness. And shout out to the enemy, “There is no more shame!”

“There is now no condemnation (shame) for those who are in Christ Jesus!” (Romans 8:1)

 

 

 

Soul Praise!

/0 Comments/in /by

Last week Wednesday was the start of the season of Lent.  Traditionally this is a time to prepare your heart for the death and resurrection of Jesus. For many it is a season of giving up something, a time of fasting and prayer to focus on Christ. Lent comes to an end on the glorious resurrection Sunday.

This year for Lent I would like to challenge you to add something on to prepare your heart during this reflective time. The other day I was reading and reflecting on Psalm 103 where 6 times the poet David commands us to “Praise the LORD!” The Hebrew word for “praise” is barak, which means to worship and praise with ones whole being.

And in this amazing Psalm we are given so many reasons to to worship the LORD with everything we have. I would call this Psalm a Resurrection Psalm.  When you take up David’s challenge to “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name..” (vs. 1) there is a resurrection which takes place in your “soul” your whole being.

Praise is the language of Heaven and something happens to us when we take our focus off of ourselves and become laser focused on the One who has blessed us in Christ with bountiful benefits beyond imagination. This Psalm is a masterpiece of highlighting the gifts of belonging to the Father’s family and the blessings of living in His home.

What my soul needs the most of is a spirit of praise that welcomes me into my Father’s house. David learned this as young shepherd boy roaming the desolate hills of Judah. The Father revealed Himself when his soul sang out praises via harp and voice. Revelation comes as we worship. In fact there is a whole book of the Bible called “Revelation” that makes this exact point. Praise reveals the love of our Heavenly Father.

We live in a world calling us to worship our own souls, feeding it and filling it with more and more stuff which leaves us empty and angry. But when our soul finds the source of True Life and we feed on it with blessing and praise! We find ourselves in the House of the LORD,  gazing on His beauty (Psalm 27:4).

So for this season of Lent I want to challenge you to ADD on some Soul Praise.  I will spend the next few weeks in this amazing Psalm encouraging your soul to find your Father’s home through praising Him for all the blessings He has given you in His Son Jesus.

“With my whole heart, with my whole life, and with my innermost being, I bow in wonder and love before You, the holy God! Yahweh, You are my soul’s celebration. How could I ever forget the miracles of kindness You’ve done for me.”

 

 

Who are Your Four Friends?

/0 Comments/in /by

“There have been 4 angels God has placed in my life over the years that changed the course of my life,” stated a  friend. As we were sipping coffee recently I was blessed to listen to his faith journey that spans over 80 plus years. He shared how each of these “angels” were divine set ups by a loving God who kept pursuing him.

One of the angels came in the form of a knock on his door one evening. It was a pastor from the local church where his daughters attended Sunday School while he and his wife enjoyed a nice relaxing morning. But that evening the Gospel was shared and the Spirit opened up both of their hearts to the need for God’s amazing grace given in Jesus. They soon joined the church and have been faithfully serving there for the last 50 years.

The following day after coffee with my friend I was reading the story of Jesus forgiving and healing the paralyzed man in Mark 2. What caught my attention-in light of my conversation the day before-was the 4 friends that brought this man to Jesus. You may recall how crowds of people mobbed the house just to hear Jesus, so to get their friend to Jesus they dug through the roof.  Can you imagine Jesus’ reaction as dirt and material fell all around as a man was lowered in His presence?  He had to be smiling.

The text says; “When Jesus saw the extent of their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, ‘My son, your sins are now forgiven.” (vs. 5). Jesus honored the faith of the 4 friends who went to crazy lengths to bring this man to Him. I think about the pastor that was willing to knock on the door of my friend that night and share the Gospel. He could have stayed home after a busy day and watched sports or read a book, but instead he took a risk and loved my friend and his wife.

After reading the passage I thought about the “4 friends” and their faith that helped bring me to Jesus throughout my life. There have been lots, from parents, grandparents, pastors, teachers, coaches, my wife, friends, etc. People who took risks to reach out, to love, to listen, care, share, and show me what Jesus looked like. As I thought about all those God used and continues to use in my life I am so grateful for how our Father uses the faith of others to bring us before Jesus.

I was also challenged to ask myself who am I risking it all for to bring to Jesus? Am I willing to step out in faith and dig through a roof to bring some one to Jesus? Who is the Spirit leading me to pray for, show kindness to, write a note of encouragement, serve,  go visit, share the Gospel with, etc.

Maybe take a few minutes today and reflect on the “4 friends” the Father has used to bring you to Jesus. Thank God for the faith of your friends and how He used them. May the Spirit challenge you as He did me to step out in faith to help bring another into the presence of Jesus and watch Him do His miracles.

 

 

Learning About Time!

/0 Comments/in /by

“Did you see any clock in church today?” Patty asked as we were reflecting on the service we’d been apart of the other week. Honestly I didn’t even notice, as the building had been remodeled and apparently the clock was never replaced. I do however vividly recall the first few times attending this church as I frequently glanced at that clock wondering how many laps the hands would circle before the service would conclude, and those hands went around a lot.  I even checked the time while preaching, as I was so accustomed to 30 or 40 minute suggested sermon limit in our Western culture.

Yet the other Sunday I never looked for the clock. I had no idea what time it was, and I’m sure I preached longer than 30 minutes. This is a miracle of sorts because time has always been a big deal for me. Ever since I could read a clock time has had a tight hold on me. In elementary school I spent a lot of time looking at the clock so I could run outside for recess, and in high school I could hardly wait for the clock to signal an early dismissal for a basketball game. And since marriage my wife will testify that I hate to be late.

For quite some time-God has been vying for my attention on my issues with time. Dare I admit at the core of my “time issue” is control. I have a plan, an agendas and a timetable all worked out for the day. When things don’t go according to the minutes I have  allotted I actually experience a tingling in my neck, a tangible sign of a little stress as my plans are getting rearranged.

So God sent me back to school and for the past five years my classroom has been South Africa. For example arriving early to the bank did not matter as 4 hours later I was still in line waiting for a bank clerk. Oh, and then with covid, things that took 4 hrs now took all day. Granted those hours waiting gave me ample time to self assess my hang up with time.

The bottom line was no matter how upset I got over my disrupted timetable-it just didn’t help. Living in another country has consistently reminded me that my timetable must surrender to the One who lives outside of  time and space. He continues to tell me to wait in His line, even though it can drive me crazy at times. I surely haven’t arrived yet, maybe I’d get a C+ on a “time report card?” Truly, God’s timeline may have made me wait, and maybe a lot longer, however in the end it has proved the best.

The wise King Solomon captured it well when he said:

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom it, what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes  3:11.

You see it is all about relationship for our Father God and that takes time. All our waiting begins to teach us about a love He has for us for all eternity. This love is way beyond our understanding but in time we will learn He has something beautiful for us which is worth the wait. No doubt it has taken me a lot of time to learn some of this but I keep asking for His help as I submit to His timing and believe something beautiful is around the corner.

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD!” Psalm 27:14

So I thank God for the church gatherings that have taught me to let go and enjoy the time spent together in community with other believers worshipping in song, prayer, testimonies, song, the offering and the word preached. Truly for many who come this time on a Sunday is the highlight of their week!