O-Dark-Thirty

Yesterday, I wrote about Belief. That's the basis of your entire life, if you think about it. Your beliefs frame who you are in this world. Many wise people have said that it isn't what life tosses at you that counts - it's how you respond. Your response is in your control, not life. How does this relate to the Bible? If you want to hear God speak, read the Bible out loud. I believe the Bible is the Word of God. Period. That's not really open for debate. Sorry. Disagree if you like, and I'll respect your disagreement. I spent half a century thinking about the Bible and how it relates to my life and that is my conclusion. Interestingly, the Bible is more than that for me. It is full of Good Stuff, and that's the kind of book that makes me come back again and again. Wondering how to behave in life? Romans 12.  I have a story for that. (Sorry, kids.) Years ago an old woman was asked how she managed to be so full of grace during all the long years ...

We each choose what to believe in our lives. We should choose wisely. In the movie Secondhand Lions (2003), Hub says " Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in." I've always like that line, and if I had a better memory, I'd memorize it. The online dictionary (dictionary.com) defines the verb to believe as " to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so." We don't argue over f...

We pray for all sorts of reasons. Whether we like it or not, most of us learned to pray in school, usually just before a test. So, yeah, there will always be prayer in school. Luke notes in Chapter 11, verse 1 that "One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'" Jesus taught the disciples what is commonly called The Lord's prayer. Luke continues: He said to them, “When you pray, say:“‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” That's the NIV version and isn't exactly as I learned it in Sunday School a half century ago, but let's note a few things. We praise God and acknowledge His will, yet address Him as His children. We ask for our needs, not necessarily out wants. We remember...

A Prayer Rap Don't Name it to Claim it That surely will Profane it Just Say it and Pray it Ask God to let you Portray it We know this He shows this that He is the King of all Justice God Raised Him We praise Him In our Actions display Him So lift Voices Make Holy Choices 'cuz by His wounds we are all His Adore God Implore God Throughout the World Restore God With Holy Hands In Holy Lands Listen and Obey God's commands With Broken Hearts Unspoken Hearts We thank You and Love You and put no others Above you Your Will be Done Through your Worthy Son Amen

We want God's will, in God's way In every step, in every day Yet to know we do not stray We must engage ourselves to pray Sometimes we must stand aside and let God work. "He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'" (Psalm 46:10 NIV) In our urgency to act, to assist God, we can muddy the waters and interrupt God's work - in ourselves or others. Other times we must clear the way for God's work. "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12 NIV) Most people prefer this call to action, yet we mustn't simply charge in and do what we think God's will is. He has a plan, and we must be in the center of it. To know when to be still, when to act or how to act, we must pray.  "Rejoice always, pray continually" (...

We're hardwired to sin. I don't think anyone will argue with that, except that some will say they aren't really sinning. I don't engage in those discussions any more. There are two outcomes to sin.  Your heart hardens, and you rationalize your behavior. As that occurs again and again, you no longer recognize your sin. I know; I've been there and God had to break my heart to soften it. You grieve over your behavior. Perhaps you vow to change. Perhaps the grief slips into depression that you can't seem to ever change your behavior. The bad news is that you cannot change your sinful actions. The good news is that God can. I've been there, too. Don't give up on God's forgiveness or His capacity to understand you and love you. Satan has one trick - the infinitely adjustable subtle change from "God says" to "God meant" and Satan will convince you that God can't love a sinner like you. He does. He loves you so muc...

I'm reading our family Bible - a Catholic Bible of intimidating thickness. I am currently in The Prophecy of Aggeus - better known as Haggai. Haggai 1:9 struck me this morning. “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. The New Testament is more clear in Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." It is a matter of priorities. Doesn't God's statement in Haggai reflect the common perspective today? We ignore God - we ignore our fellow men and we run off to take care of our own business. The Hebrews did the same, and God acted in response to their selfishness. As a Christian, I look to God for my guidance, and He is my standard - and my forgiveness for not meeting that standard. As a human being, my focus sho...