Discovery Worship

Your Morning Coffee

I never got into the coffee habit, but I know many of my friends can't get going in the morning until their have their coffee.  Whether it's Starbuck's on the way to work or a fresh brewed pot of coffee in the office, the jolt of strong coffee gets them going.

My two year old son definitely has his morning routine.  Don't talk to him when he first wakes up, and don't try to get in between him and mom.  The world just isn't right until he has his morning "cuddles" with mom.  Give him 5 minutes sitting on mom's lap and suddenly he's a completely different boy - he's smiling and laughing and ready to meet the world head on.

I was reminded of my son's daily routine when I was reading through the Psalms one morning this week.  Psalm 131 is one of the Psalms of Ascent that the Hebrew people would sing on their journey to Jersulem each year, and this particular Psalm is a short hymn of humility before the Lord.  Here is the verse that stood out to me:

"I have stilled and quieted my soul; 
   like a weaned child with its mother, 
   like a weaned child is my soul within me."
    -- Psalm 131:2

In my minds eye I can see my son sitting on my wife's lap in the rocking chair by the window.  He's got his head on her shoulder and his hands are folded together in his lap.  My wife is holding him tight with both arms wrapped around him and she's talking softly too him.  A tear rolls down his cheek, but he's not crying any more.

This is a picture of what God wants to do for us.  In the chaos and pain of this life, when the world doesn't seem to make sense, we can choose to "still and quiet" our souls, climb up on the lap of God, and rest our head on the shoulder of the one who is a father for the fatherless, and a comforter in our time of need.  Whether you've missed your morning coffee or your morning "cuddles", God is waiting there to calm your fears, wipe your tears, and carry every burden.

"Thank you, Lord, for being the great comforter in our time of need.  You can speak to calm the storm, or whisper to bring us peace in the midst of it.  I choose right now, in the middle of the difficulties of daily life, to trust you fully.  You have been good to me, God, and you will be faithful still.  I praise you for the peace and hope that only you can give.  Amen."

How Majestic Your Whispers

Monday mornings are always hard for me.  I work full-time in marketing at a medical device company, a job that is very rewarding, and certainly a blessing from the Lord.  Still, it's often hard for me to walk down the mountain from Sunday to face the mundane realities of life every Monday morning.  I know that many believers face a similar struggle coming down from a spiritual high place.  What's encouraging to me is how God responded to Elijah when he faced that same emotional conflict.

You remember the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel.  This man of God stood alone against hundreds of prophets of Baal and challenged them to call on their god to produce fire from heaven to burn their sacrificial offerings.  The prophets of Baal could not, of course, show evidence of their god.  Yet when Elijah called to heaven, God sent fire to consume the sacrifice, the altar and everything around.  What an amazing experience that must have been!

What did Elijah do after this?  He ran for his life, fleeing the wrath of a deadly king.  He ran into the desert, and sought the Lord so he could complain that he was all alone.  After Elijah spent the night hiding out in a cave, God called him out to the mouth of the cave to stand in the presence of the Lord.  Here is what happend next:

"The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?""
-- 1 King 19:11-13

What a vivid picture of the kindness and grace of God!  Elijah knew God's awesome power - he'd seen fire from heaven consume both sacrifice and altar right in front of the prophets of Baal.  But when Elijah fled to the desert, discouraged and alone, God came to him in a whisper.

This story is what I think of when we sing "Wonderful Maker" in worship.  Many of you were already familiar with this song, but I introduced it to the church for the first time on Sunday to complement Andrew's message on Sience and the Bible.  The song is a great song of praise to the Creator God, but my favorite lyric in the song speaks of the whispers of God:

"What a wonderful maker, what a wonderful Savior,

How majestic Your whispers, how humble Your love..."

(From the chorus of "Wonderful Maker", by Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin)

I love that the Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as "the comforter".  When we face the realities of this world yet long for the promise of another, God's spirit comes to us, this great comforter, and speaks to us in a whisper.  The mighty arm of God is strong to save us, but it is the gentle hand of the Savior that lifts us when we are down.

"Lord, I praise you for your gentle kindness toward us, and for your loving compassion that speaks softly to us in our time of need.  You remind me of your faithfulness and invite me to trust you in all things.  We lift up your name as the only name that gives life, and we cling to the hope of the life you are preparing for us in heaven.  Come quickly, Lord Jesus."

His Journey is Complete. He is Home.

We received word this morning that Phil Miller, the minister at Valley Christian Church in Fargo/Moorehead, went home to be with the Lord.  His CaringBridge journal was updated this morning just after 8 am:

"Philip completed his journey on this earth this morning shortly before 8 am. He is home."

I've been blessed reading through Phil's journal at this CaringBridge site (you can view the site here).  I learned of Phil's passing after posting my previous blog entry this morning, so I thought I would share some of Phil's own thoughts (excerpts from his journal) with you now.  Please pray for Phil's family and friends at Valley Christian.

October 20, 2008
How much is the Kingdom worth? The value of life... the value of Jesus' life given on a cross for the value of your life and mine and everyone's life who has ever or will ever live. He is the one who placed that price on our heads and then paid the price for us - O how he loves you and me!

October 14, 2008
So in this world permanent may not mean permanent. I think of it this way... things can always change. In this world with God's help, it is also never too late... even though it may be unusual, things can be repaired... stitched up. Isn't this what the resurrection is all about? We are a part of the Kingdom where dead things come to life and wounds are healed.

September 27, 2008
One of my favorite verses in Scripture is 'Perfect love drives out fear' (somewhere in I John I think). God loves us no matter what, no matter what pain or failure or sin or success. Nothing we can do can make Him love us more or love us less... Nothing. Christ's death proves His love and the resurrection proves His power to give us hope. We are loved beyond measure! With that confidence I can face anything without fear. 'Yea,though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for You are with me!' Ps. 23

September 22, 2008
So I am trusting God that all this is timed perfectly for His purposes...When things (or people) die it is painful. We usually associate it with the loss of something or someone near and dear to us. We grieve, we cry, we hurt... it is painful. This grief is good and right, though we do not grieve as the world grieves.

September 18, 2008
One more song came to mind as the tears of gratitude flowed. I looked up at the trees and saw the wind blowing through their leaves (the wind ALWAYS blows in Fargo) and I could see how they were clapping their hands as the song based on what the psalmist says, We shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace...and all of the trees of the field will clap will clap their hands.  I saw the trees slapping their leaves together in the wind and saw the truth in the Psalm. I went out with joy and was led forth in peace and the trees did indeed clap their hands! His peace be with you...

September 3, 2008
I do not know what normal is for energy levels whether spiritual or physical. But I know Who does and I know He will give me whatever energy (grace) I need to keep following Him. 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow... surely goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life' - no matter how long or how short, how high or how low.

August 16, 2008
I need to know the truth. We all do. I need to come to terms with the fact that I am a dying man... yes, the hard truth is we all are dying,only a matter of when. The question is what are we going to do about it? Will we get treatment? help?...

The question is 'what is the dying person going to do as he receives healing help?' In a word.. LIVE! We live though we are dying! In fact, we live as though already dead... in the words of Oswald Chambers, 'abandoned to God'... what have we got to lose? We know we are going to die and that there is another life beyond, we gonna just wait for it or are we going to live this life right on THROUGH to the other? We run the race no matter how long the marathon (or sprint)...

God is good... all the time. 
And all the time... God is good.

A dying man speaking to dying men,
--pcm
PS now read Psalm 23

Teach Us to Number Our Days

Much has happened in the last week since Wayne talked in his message about Phil Miller's faith in adversity (you can see Phil Miller's CaringBridge site here) .  Phil's family was called in on Saturday because he'd unexpectedly taken a turn for the worse.  It is a difficult time for the whole family, and they need our prayers and support.  They aren't sure how much time Phil has left, but the family knows that he is ready to see the Lord.  

I sometimes wonder if I would really be ready to meet the Lord.  I know in my heart that I am prepared to meet him, and I long for the day when I will see him face to face.  I just don't want it to be right now.  I think that's the reality that most of us deal with.  We pray, in the words of Revelation, "Come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20), but in the back of our mind we are thinking, "just not today."

The words of the Psalms have been playing through my mind these last few days as I've thought about Phil and prayed for him and his family.  "Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life." (Psalm 39:4), and "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12).

The honest truth is this: I'm not ready to give up this world yet.  I'm not talking about the sinful things of this world.  I'm talking about my wife and kids and all my family, my church, my ministry, my songwriting, all the books I want to write, my goals and dreams and plans for the future.  This is a hard thing to consider, and it is a daily struggle in this journey of faith.  I pray that I learn to give it all to God and trust his plan and his timing for my life.

"God, our hearts ache for the Miller family, and I pray for them right now.  Lift Phil in your arms and let your peace settle on his family through the comfort of your spirit.  Teach us, O Lord, to number our days.  Give us the strength to glorify you in all circumstances, as Phil has done.  And give me the strength, God, to trust you each day, and surrender my life to you.  For I know that your ways are higher than my ways and your thoughts are higher than my thoughts.  I praise your name because you alone are sovereign.  Amen."

From the song "Jesus, All for Jesus", by Robin Mark:
(full lyrics at RobinMark.com)

"All of my ambition, hopes and plans,
I surrender these into your hands...

Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have, and ever hope to be."

Come and Listen, Come and See

One of the most interesting observations about the recent U.S. presidential campaing relates to the power of story.  Seth Godin, a respected author and marketing guru, was reflecting on the campaign when wrote about how stories really matter in a recent blog post.  From Obama's campaign refrain, "...in no other country on earth is my story even possible", to the McCain campaign focus on "Joe the plumber", people react powerfully to stories.

Our creator understands the power of stories for those he has created.  Matthew 13:34 says, "Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable."  The stories of lives changed by God is one of the most powerful ways to share the good news of God's love with others.

As I was reading through Psalms today, here is the verse that stood out to me: "Come and listen...let me tell you what he has done for me" (Psalm 66:16).  It reminds me of when Phillip invited Nathanael to "come and see" Jesus, or when the women at the well invited her neighbors to "come and see" the man who knew everything about her.

One way to honor and worship the Lord is to share with others what he has done, and is doing, for you.  Pray about this and look for an opportunity to share your story with someone today: "...let me tell you what he has done for me..."

"God, I give you praise because you have been faithful to me throughout the years.  You have directed my steps and I can see your hand of protection and provision in my life.  You have provided the right job for me at the right time, prepared a home for me in ways I could not have imagined, and protected me from choices I longed for, but that I see now would have only led to pain.  You have blessed me with a wonderful wife and children, and even when times are tough, your love is faithful to all of us and draws us closer together in your grace."

The Almighty Has His Own Purposes

This election day, I am reminded of a statement I made in a message a few months ago that was questioned by some people at the time.  The Sunday following the 4th of July, here is what I said to the church: "One thing I know from Scripture is that whoever is elected this November 4th, this will be the person established by God to be the next president of the United States of America."  Emotions have run deep this election season, with Christians of all political persuasions trying to convince us that people of faith ought to vote for their candidate for president.  Now that November 4th is upon us, these ongoing debates about faith and politics are far from being resolved, but I am still certain that God is in control.

As we prepare to head to the polls today, I'd like to share with you a few fundamental truths of Scripture, along with some surprisingly relevant and timely words from perhaps one of the greatest U.S. presidents.  First, we know from Romans 13 that "there is no authority except that which God has established" (Romans 13:1).  No matter who wins this election, we can be confident that the outcome can never be outside the will of God.  Second, regardless of your opinion of the newly elected president, we can be certain that God will use them for his purposes; for, "the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases" (Proverbs 21:1).

On March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building to deliver his second inaugural address.  As the U.S. Civil war was coming to a close, Lincoln reflected on a conflict whose purpose and magnitude was what neither political party could have anticipated.  His words are strangely relevant for us today.  Here is an excerpt from his address (emphasis mine):

"Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes."  (Read the full speech here).

Abraham Lincoln goes on to quote from Psalm 19: "The judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether" (Psalm 19:9).  Lincoln's words are a reminder to us of what we should already know from the Scriptures - that this election is in God's hands.

He have both a privilege and a duty to vote today, and to cast our votes in a way that will honor the Lord.  Many of you will vote for John McCain, and many of you will vote for Barack Obama.  Yet despite our differences, we do indeed "read the same Bible and pray to the same God".  Our faith should be in God, not a political party, and our unity must be in Christ, not a candidate for office.

May the Name of the LORD be praised.

"We praise you, God, because you are sovereign over all the earth.  Kings and nations may come and go, but your word stands for ever.  Your love, oh Lord, is everlasting.  We lift up your name above every political party and every national loyalty.  This world is not our home, God, because we are waiting for the home you've prepared for us in heaven.  Thank you for your love and faithfulness beyond all time."

Phil Miller's CaringBridge website

Wayne's message yesterday was about how we can reconcile our faith in God with the pain and suffering we see in the world all around us.  Near the end of the message, Wayne shared very emotionally about his friend Phil Miller, the minister at Valley Christian Church in the Fargo/Moorehead area.  Phil has been battling cancer and sharing some of his experience on his CaringBridge website.  You can view Phil's CaringBridge site here.  Please be in prayer for Phil and his family.

Here is a copy of the journal entry that Wayne read during his message yesterday.  What an awesome example of praise, even in the midst of life's most difficult circumstances.

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed redeemer! The clot in my portal vein is gone! No more daily shots! (they don't hurt much anyway but it is nice to not have them). 

The nurse told me, I got my last shot of Lovenox, greeted some of the folk in the infusion center a bit and walked to the lobby to text my family the good news (someone was on the phone at my folks house so I could not call them :-). 

It was then that I started to cry. I had walked in with the song 'We Bow Down' running in my head (there is almost always some song running in my head) and as I left the nurse, 'Revive Us Again' started running as in:

'We praise the O God for the Son of Thy love, 
for Jesus who died and is now gone above 
Hallelujah! Thine the Glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory, Revive us again.'

As the tears were coming I stepped out to the parking ramp (I always park on top... in the sun:-) and allowed myself a repetitious prayer of Thank-You and gave myself permission for no holding back of tears of thanks and joy. I was not prepared for the relief.

Funny thing. I texted my family with 'We praise Thee O God! The clot is gone.' 
The replies? 'Amen' and ' Amen' and 'Hallelujah thine the glory' and 'Revive us again'

One more song came to mind as the tears of gratitude flowed. I looked up at the trees and saw the wind blowing through their leaves (the wind ALWAYS blows in Fargo) and I could see how they were clapping their hands as the song based on what the psalmist says,

We shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace...
and all of the trees of the field will clap will clap their hands'

I saw the trees slapping their leaves together in the wind and saw the truth in the Psalm. I went out with joy and was led forth in peace and the trees did indeed clap their hands! His peace be with you...

In His Peace,
pcm

P.S. Move the 's' in Psalm and you get Palms good for praising Jesus as He entered Jerusalem and good today for clapping together in praise to the One Who made them all ;-)

Lives Changed by God

There are two things that I think churches can too easily overlook today in our well-intentioned quest for excellence in our service to God.  Truth is, these two things can have a greater influence than all the carefully planned worship services and outreach programs of the church combined.

First is the power of the Word of God.  Hebrews 4 tells us that the Word of God is living and active and that it peneterates to our very soul and spirit.  Isaiah 55 tells us that God's Word will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish the purpose for which He sent it.  The power of God isn't found in a perfect story or well rehearsed band, but in the nuggets of Truth that God will use to tug at a person's heart long after they've forgotten our songs and our stories.

Second is the power of a life changed by God.  Churches need to do more to share the stories of people who, through the grace and power of God, have overcome addictions, transformed their relationships, given up destructive patterns of behavior, and turned their life around.  Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3 that the church is like a letter from Christ, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of God.  Paul said later, in 2 Timothy, that he was shown mercy so that through him, the worst of sinners, God might show His unlimited patience to those who would believe.

Here is an example of a simple, yet effective way that one church demonstrated the power of God to change lives today.  I found this YouTube video today on the blog of a Christian writer (www.seejenwrite.com).  The video is long, but it is worth watching until the minister closes it out at the end.  The song in the video is from John Mark McMillan, and was recorded by Kim Walker.

"Thank you, God, for the power to change lives today.  You created everything, and you alone hold power over life and death.  Your love is patient and kind, calling to us even when our hearts are turned away.  You sent your son to die for us, even while we were sinners, and we thank you, God.  Thank you for your son, and thank you for the spirit that gives us the power to overcome this world.  You alone are faithful and true, and we owe our lives to you."