Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4: 7-8a (NIV)Is it that simple, Lord?Turn my back on the devil and he is gone?Turn my face only to gaze upon You and You are present?Why do I make my relationship with You so difficult when You purely and plainly instruct me - come near?Come near. Come near. Your intimate and holy invitation.Come near. Be with Me, Your tender call.Come near and we can enjoy each other company.Come near.Lord I stand firm with You, refusing to go along with any of the devil’s evil ways.Come near to God and he will come near to you.I come near and I ask for Your wisdom to know the difference.I enter Your presence needing Your strength to endure his temptations and seductive lures that trap my heart.I seek Your light to guide my faltering steps.Come near to God and he will come near to you.I cling to this promise Lord and run to the shelter of Your wings.I hid in Your shadow … [Read more...]
Tame my Tongue, Lord – Lectio Divina
We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue—it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and … [Read more...]
Listen First, Then Speak – Lectio Divina
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1: 19-21 Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angryLord, don’t You have that backwards? Speak, then listen is what I usually do. At least that is how I seem to function. Speaking first, getting my opinion out. Making sure my point of view is heard. Validating my ego. I have to defend myself, don’t I?But You are telling me: Listen, then speak. Relationship begins with listening. Listen first.My number one step with You: Listen.My initial response to the person speaking before me: ListenMy entire focus on You.My full concentration on Your child before me.Listen.Lord, I needed this reminder. These verses don’t just … [Read more...]
Just Trust – Lectio Divina
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29 NIV)Why do I make it so complicated?Why do I turn my back in disbelief?Why do I think I can make in on my own? I hear You tell me, Lord:The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.Believe.Trust.Know.I do believe, help my unbelief.Help me caste away my independence and throw myself onto Your merciful lap.Turn my eyes upon You, not on my incompleteness and failures.Holy Spirit, refresh me with Your power to nourish my unfolding faith.I am learning to trust you with EVERYTHING. So straightforward.You tell us so simply, so lovingly, so unconditionally.Just believe.Just trust. … [Read more...]
Lord, to Whom Shall We Go?
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6: 68-69“Lord, to whom shall we go?”We sing these words in our liturgy each Sunday, Lord. Often forgetting who said them first and to Whom.How could I go anyplace else, Lord?Once I have danced in Your light and hid in Your protective shadow.Once I have tasted Your sweet goodness and heard Your word.Once I have been swept away by Your powerful love.Once I have caught a glimpse of Your majesty.Once I tore off all my masks and stood vulnerable, open to You.Once I have been cleansed with Your forgiveness.Peter’s answer is so simple. Honest. TrueYou are the Holy One. Once my life has been transformed by You, there is no other person, place or thing to turn to. You are everywhere and everything.You are my All.You are the One.You are the Way. The Only Way.“Lord, to whom shall we go?"You and only You. … [Read more...]
Singing to the Lord from my Heart – Lectio Divina
Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.Ephesians 5: 18b-20 NIVSing and make music from your heart to the LordTo the Conductor of my life:With my eyes focused only on You, I lift my instrument, my heart, ready to sing Your music.I know I am far from the top soprano in Your chorus. I am not in the run for the prime solo part of the concert. I stand towards the back of the choir peering around heads ahead of me, watching You raise Your baton to lead us.But I come as I am. I bring my heart and my voice. I sing and make music from me to … [Read more...]
The Gift of Words – Lectio Divina
Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive.Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.Ephesians 4: 29, 31-32 (The Message)Add captionLord I need you to stand guard at the opening of my mouth.My strongest and most damaging muscle is my tongue.You urge me to watch how I talk. To let nothing unpleasant, unclean and dishonest escape from me.My only words should be helpful, kind, and reflect You.Each word is a gift, You say in this verse.Every single word, all of them, my entire vocabulary.All sounds, syllables, expressions, and remarks.All are gifts - from You to You and to others.Like choosing just the right gift for the right time, help me choose the right words.Show me how to wrapped them in their finest divine packaging.Remind me to be generous with compliments, gratitude, and … [Read more...]
Psalm 100 – Lectio Divina
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.Lord You amaze me.Why am I surprised when you answer prayer? I asked You to teach me how to worship You better and found the answer today in this well known psalm.I am to come to You with gladness and joy-filled songs.I am to acknowledge with my heart, my mind and my spirit that You are Lord, the creator of all.I am to confess I am only one tiny lamb in your flock, but one loved and protected by a great Shepherd.Thankfulness and praise pull me into Your arms like magnets.You are good, oh so good.You love us unconditionally and unceasingly.Your faithfulness links all of us … [Read more...]