Well, I'm a little late in blogging lately. I am recording this entry from Mexico, as Maggie and I are away for rest, time with the Lord, and with each other.
Ministry has a tendency to draw you into a place of 'performance'...a place of busyness and thinking that you must constantly be 'doing' in order to fulfill God's call. This is a trap of the enemy. God is reminding me once again in that in His eyes, 'doing' is trumped by 'being'. It is only when we learn to to abide in Him and and draw strength from His Grace, that we are able to do the works of God. He is far more concerned with who we are than what we do. Doing is important, but not at the expense of being.
The ocean here in Mexico is a place where I can remove myself from all distractions and rest from worry and strain. The sound of the waves reminds me of God's voice, described in Revelation as 'the sound of many waters'. He restores my soul.
Yesterday morning we went to church at Family of God fellowship, the ministry with whom we partner in missions and outreach here. The service was great, with praise and worship in both
Spanish and English.
During the service we heard the report of a man and his wife whom the church has recently helped. They were discovered living at the very end of the 'the shacks' which run alongside the railroad near the church. It is one of the poorest areas of Puerto Penasco, and relief is frequently carried to the locals living in these shanties. But somehow this couple had gone unnoticed, living in an 8 foot square box at the end of this strip of dwellings. They were sleeping on a concrete floor with nothing to cover themselves but a sheet and were in desparate condition. In addition they were both deaf and mute and needed medical attention. And of course, they had no food.
Within practically no time, this couple has been rescued. They now have a 13 X 20 foot new shelter, bedding and clothing and food. And there will be follow up, both spiritual and physical.
Somehow the image of "lighthouse" and "desert" do not go together in our minds. Of course the first time I ever came to Penasco, I was amazed to see desert and ocean together. It is a place of unique beauty. But far more beautiful than the desert and the ocean is the work of the Lord that is taking place here. The ministry of Family of God fellowship, and those who partner with them, is truly a lighthouse here in the desert, turning hearts toward the Lord.
This is the work of redemption. Our lives were destitute of anything good until we were touched by the Spirit of God. We may have been living in the relative luxury of America, but the Lord saw us as impoverished, spiritually bankrupt and dead in trespasses and sins. But Praise the Lord for His free gift of grace. His Word is a lighthouse in a dry desert land, and the work of Redemption draws us from darkness into the light of His love.
Through many years of following the Lord, sometimes we think we've developed some worthiness of our own. Since we are 'cleaned up' and living a good life, and serving God, without realizing it we begin to walk in our own strength and reasoning and forget that the life of faith demands that we always remember that we are impoverished and spiritually bankrupt. Only in recognizing our own spiritual poverty are we able to receive the power and provision that God has for us so that we may live an abundant life.
We are the couple living at the end of the shanty houses. And as long as we recognize our own poverty, the Lord takes note of us and brings us daily the provisions we need. But if we ever think that somehow we have done something to deserve our improved life, we forfeit the abundance He has for us. He will always let us provide what we think we can do in our own strength, but in so doing He allows us to forfeit what He has desired for us.
May the Lord bring us to the place where all we want is what He has and what He can provide.
Therein lies the perfect will of God.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
SINGING ABOVE THE HOWLING WIND
I remember the first time I ever heard of the Moravians. I grew up in Georgia, but my father was a civil engineer who had worked for a while in Winston-Salem, North Carolina before returning to the family farm. After returning, he and my mother established a general merchandise store and as a kid I remember them describing the Moravians in North Carolina, and their beautiful music.
They would tell about the Easter Sunrise services performed by the Moravians, describing how they stationed choirs on small adjacent hills and these choirs would sing responsively, echoing back and forth across the hills.
As an adult, I learned a lot more about the Moravians when I read the biography of Count Ludwig Zinzendorf and the great missionary movement that began with this group in Hernhutt, Germany more than 500 years ago. I developed a great appreciation for the mission work begun by the Moravians. Their meetings were known far and wide for their great zeal and fervor in singing. On Sundays, their love feast was a day long event, with hymn singing that continued all afternoon and into the evening. Everyone sang, and they sang from the heart. The entire church was the choir.
The first Moravian missionaries that were sent out were commissioned and prayed for on the day before their departure, and the church service included the singing of 100 hymns! And what's more, it was with great joy and not out of a sense of duty. Out of this revival, was birthed a 24 hour prayer meeting at the church in Hernhutt that lasted non-stop (different individuals taking turns) for 100 years!
Did you know that God the Father sings? Did you know that Jesus sings? Did you know that the Holy Spirit sings? He is the God who sings.
Did you know that heartfelt faith produces a love for singing, regardless of natural ability?
According to Zephaniah 3:17 God the Father sings. "The Lord your God, in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing".
According to Matthew 26:30, God the Son sings. "After He and his disciples had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives".
But how, you may ask, does the Holy Spirit sing? He sings through His church! Ephesians 5:18 says "Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody..."
So when we come together to sing, we are singing with the Godhead. I know, it's kind of hard to fathom. But nevertheless, how tragic that we come and do not even realize that we are truly coming into His presence and also into His ensemble! And this singing is not diminished by the storms of life we encounter. In fact it causes us to rise up and sing even more.
I would say to you that fervent, heartfelt singing not only glorifies the Lord, but draws others to Him in order that the Gospel message might find a place in their heart. In 1735 aboard a windjammer crossing the Atlantic, John Wesley was terrified. The storm was so fierce that the mainsail split and the mast broke in two. The seas pounded the deck. Passengers ran, screaming, all except for a group of twenty-six German Christians. You guessed it...Moravians. They were singing above the howling wind and despite the fierceness of the storm they did not miss a note. Wesley, who wasn't a Christian at the time, later asked one of them, "Weren't you afraid?" "Thank God, no," came the reply.
The faith and confidence of these Christians - their song in the storm - so impressed Wesley that later, at a Moravian meeting house in London, he too gave himself fully to Jesus Christ.
When the wind is howling and the storm is high, my friend that is the time to sing...to sing above the storm and fully trust in the one who is able. To sing with the Godhead.
How is your song?
 |
| A Moravian church singing songs on Christmas Eve. |
I remember the first time I ever heard of the Moravians. I grew up in Georgia, but my father was a civil engineer who had worked for a while in Winston-Salem, North Carolina before returning to the family farm. After returning, he and my mother established a general merchandise store and as a kid I remember them describing the Moravians in North Carolina, and their beautiful music.They would tell about the Easter Sunrise services performed by the Moravians, describing how they stationed choirs on small adjacent hills and these choirs would sing responsively, echoing back and forth across the hills.
As an adult, I learned a lot more about the Moravians when I read the biography of Count Ludwig Zinzendorf and the great missionary movement that began with this group in Hernhutt, Germany more than 500 years ago. I developed a great appreciation for the mission work begun by the Moravians. Their meetings were known far and wide for their great zeal and fervor in singing. On Sundays, their love feast was a day long event, with hymn singing that continued all afternoon and into the evening. Everyone sang, and they sang from the heart. The entire church was the choir.
The first Moravian missionaries that were sent out were commissioned and prayed for on the day before their departure, and the church service included the singing of 100 hymns! And what's more, it was with great joy and not out of a sense of duty. Out of this revival, was birthed a 24 hour prayer meeting at the church in Hernhutt that lasted non-stop (different individuals taking turns) for 100 years!
Did you know that God the Father sings? Did you know that Jesus sings? Did you know that the Holy Spirit sings? He is the God who sings.
Did you know that heartfelt faith produces a love for singing, regardless of natural ability?
According to Zephaniah 3:17 God the Father sings. "The Lord your God, in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing".
According to Matthew 26:30, God the Son sings. "After He and his disciples had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives".
But how, you may ask, does the Holy Spirit sing? He sings through His church! Ephesians 5:18 says "Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody..."
So when we come together to sing, we are singing with the Godhead. I know, it's kind of hard to fathom. But nevertheless, how tragic that we come and do not even realize that we are truly coming into His presence and also into His ensemble! And this singing is not diminished by the storms of life we encounter. In fact it causes us to rise up and sing even more.
I would say to you that fervent, heartfelt singing not only glorifies the Lord, but draws others to Him in order that the Gospel message might find a place in their heart. In 1735 aboard a windjammer crossing the Atlantic, John Wesley was terrified. The storm was so fierce that the mainsail split and the mast broke in two. The seas pounded the deck. Passengers ran, screaming, all except for a group of twenty-six German Christians. You guessed it...Moravians. They were singing above the howling wind and despite the fierceness of the storm they did not miss a note. Wesley, who wasn't a Christian at the time, later asked one of them, "Weren't you afraid?" "Thank God, no," came the reply.
The faith and confidence of these Christians - their song in the storm - so impressed Wesley that later, at a Moravian meeting house in London, he too gave himself fully to Jesus Christ.
When the wind is howling and the storm is high, my friend that is the time to sing...to sing above the storm and fully trust in the one who is able. To sing with the Godhead.
How is your song?
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