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6 Truths I plead for my own heart everyday

May 2, 2013 — 4 Comments

prayer_god1. Satisfy my soul.
“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14

If my soul is satisfied in Christ, I will not seek to satisfy it with sin, accomplishments, and people-pleasing.

2. Open my eyes to the wonder of Your Word.
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things in Your law.” Psalm 119:18

At times I approach the Bible more out of duty than delight. So before every devotional time, and if I find myself drifting in thought or just reading the text to check it off my daily Bible reading list, I plead out loud, “Holy Spirit, focus me. Open my eyes to BEHOLD wonderful things in Your word!”

3. Turn my heart from selfish gain.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!” Psalm 119:36

My heart is inclined to selfish gain, selfish influence, selfish achievement, selfish everything. So I plead that my heart be turned away from love of self and toward love for Jesus and others by the power of the Holy Spirit.

4. Give me an undivided heart.
“Teach my your way, Oh Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” Psalm 86:11

When my heart is divided by fears, confusion, temptations, stresses, pressures, disappointments, anger, or just life distractions, I plead with God to unite my heart to fear and trust Him alone.

5. Keep me from deliberate sins.
“Keep back your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.” Psalm 19:13

I know the bent of my heart. I know the sins that will grab me by the throat if I entertain them at all. Though those sins will bring fleeting pleasure and escape, I know what they will ultimately cost me, my family, and my church. So I plead hard.

6. Help me walk in your will.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

The will of God is more about who I am than what I am doing. I pray to be captivated by Jesus in the core of who I am so that I will rejoice always, unceasingly pray, and give thanks in everything. Then I walk in confidence knowing that God will take care of everything else.

What Scriptures or truths do you find yourself praying everyday?

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I wasn’t prepared…. (A personal post).

April 25, 2013 — 16 Comments
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Post baptism. Dry clothes!

I wasn’t prepared for it.

My family attended the evening gathering of Grace’s formal celebration service of baptism and communion at the Newburgh, NY campus. This followed a weekend where nearly 300 people had been baptized spontaneously (in their clothes!) following my sermon (Read HERE for the story).

Of course, as the kids watched people get baptized they wanted to get into the water too, like any kid would. “Maybe in the future,” I said. “Let’s talk about it and pray about it first to be sure you understand what baptism means.” This is what I’ve said to them for the last, oh, I’d say, 5 baptismal services!

Christie smiled from ear to ear at me. “Babe, they understand. We had a long talk about baptism last night.”

I know that Josiah (8 years old) was born-again two years ago, and one of our adopted daughters, Marni (8 years old), a few months ago. I leaned into Marni so she could hear me over the worship music, “Do you know what they are doing over there? Why do you want to get baptized?”

“Because I love Jesus, dada.”

Josiah basically said the same. So I cleared my pockets, took off my watch, and handed it all over to Christie as she chuckled with excitement and anticipation. Josiah, Marni, and I headed to the portable baptismal pool in front of the stage and in front of all the people. The Grace leaders in the baptismal made room for me knowing I wanted to baptize my own kids. Then off went my boots and socks, off went Josiah’s sneakers and socks, and Marni’s sandles, and we entered the water in our clothes.

And I baptized them.

I will never forget how the water flowed over their closed eyes and peaceful faces as I lowered them beneath the water. I will never forget how when they rose from the water smiles stretched across their faces.

Then came the cheers.

All week long Josiah has been saying, “Dada, I’m so happy! I’m so happy!”

Still. I wasn’t prepared. Their baptisms weren’t planned. There was no build-up to it with the kids like I had dreamed of it being. There was no anticipation and intimate conversations together as we looked forward to the day. No one was there to take pictures and video to show the grandparents. It was nothing like I had rehearsed in my mind for years. But their baptism was not about me, my plans, my dreams. It was about Jesus and Josiah; Jesus and Marni. Period.

May they treasure it forever….

On a personal note, I praise God for the sermon he preached through Marni and Josiah to me. It came through the priceless picture of the look on their faces beneath the water, and coming out of the water.

Peace and joy.

I will treasure it…forever.

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And God moved…

April 22, 2013

miracles-3

A prayer. A sermon on baptism prepped. My heart stirred. “What if?” More prayer. Then pleas. Holy Spirit? “What if?…” to the Grace campus pastors and worship leaders. The room quiets. Raised eyebrows. Eyes darting around the room. Minds churning. Hearts stirring. Guts twisting. Deep breaths. Smiles. “What if?…”. 

April 20-21, 2013. The Northeast. Grace Community Church. The Northeast. Two campuses. THE NORTHEAST. Baptismals secretly filled with water. A passionate sermon on the glory of baptism. The call to come. Come. Come in that very moment. Come “as you are” (in the very clothes one was currently wearing) and be baptized. Come if born again in that very moment. Come if born again but had never been baptized. Come to the waters. Come to the Waters.

All nine services- The room quiets. Raised eyebrows. Eyes darting. Minds churning. Guts twisting. Deep breaths. Smiles. Cheers. Tears.

In New York, in the Northeast, and in droves…

They came.

—-

I told Christie this morning (Monday) that my only reaction to this weekend was to be still, be silent before Him, and turn my face away from Him as one unworthy to have been a part of the miraculous move of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Unworthy. Yet cosmically, joyfully, eternally… grateful.

I invite you to read Grace Washingtonville Campus Pastor Adrian Schoonmaker’s blog post (complete with pictures), “Miracle in the Hudson Valley,” regarding this weekend. His heart captures the heart of this pastor, the heart of the Grace leadership, and the heart of the Grace family. And his post beautifully captures the atmosphere of the entire weekend. Read the post HERE.

Likewise, I invite you to go to Grace Community’s Facebook page (click HERE), and my personal Facebook page (click here), to read some of the Grace folks’ experience, testimonies, and also view pictures that they have personally posted.

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Four ways to live in these dark days

April 17, 2013

suchalightThese are heart-wrenching times. In just the last six months, we’ve witnessed the Newton, CT shootings, North Korean threats of bombing and war, the Gosnell holocaust, the silence of America’s mainstream media and political leaders’ regarding Gosnell, the bombing at the Boston Marathon….  In the words of the late Charles Colson, it begs the question for the believer: “How now shall we live?”

* Pray
Pray for God’s eternal perspective so that you will not become fearful with a temporal perspective. Pray that the Lord’s will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Pray for our government leaders. Pray for justice. Pray that these heart-wrenching times will open hearts to the gospel. Pray for the church/christians to be courageous with Truth and Love despite persecution. Pray for wisdom about when to speak or remain silent. Pray for repentance and revival in America. Pray that Jesus would come soon.

* Stand
Graciously stand firm in the Truth. Many will turn away from the Truth in these days. The Truth of God will continue to be questioned. If not questioned, it will be twisted. Stand firm. Despite the hatred and venom that will come as a result for speaking and standing for God’s Truth, be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might. Remember, Truth is not a principle, but ultimately a Person. Jesus said “I am the Truth…”. Also, Truth is God’s Word. Jesus prayed to the Father and said, “Sanctify them in your Truth. Your word is Truth” (John 17:17). And the church is the guardian of the Truth. She’s called “the pillar and foundation of Truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Truth matters. Be strong. Stand firm, church.

* Love
Truth is never compromised for love. Ephesians 4:15 says to “speak the truth in love.” Note how truth comes first before love. Love is not love without truth. Still we must love. We must bless those who persecute us and love those who hate us. We must never return evil for evil, but only good for evil. We must love enough to tell the truth. We must love enough to speak up or remain silent as the Holy Spirit through His word and our consciences prompt us. As far as it is up to us, let us live in peace with all. If we are guilty of anything may it be that we loved the Truth, and that in the Truth we loved, even when it hurt. This is what Jesus did on the cross.

* Encourage
Be encouraged. In Scripture, darkness prevailing means a bright light is coming. So “lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees” (Hebrews 12:12)! Press against the darkness with the light of Jesus’ Truth, Love, and Hope in and through your life. Also, encourage each other with these four hope-filling words: Jesus is coming soon. He is coming to make things right. He is coming to vindicate Truth. He is coming to end all wars. He is coming to turn our sorrows into joy. He is coming to take us Home.

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