From Timidity to Worship

Moses... a name we equate with a man who did mighty things for God, but it didn't begin this way. 

While Moses was tending his father-in-law's flocks, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames from fire within a bush. EXODUS 3:1-2

The Lord said: “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” EXODUS 3:12

Then timidity set in... 

And questions of doubt seemed to fill Moses' mind. I can just imagine his demeanor as he asked God these questions: 

• Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me,"What is his name?" Then what shall I say to them? EXODUS 3:13
• What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you?'  EXODUS 4:1

And excuses set in...

• Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue. EXODUS 4:10
• Please send someone else.  EXODUS 4:13

By the time we get to chapter 14, the LORD had cleared every obstacle for his people to be set free and Moses was transformed from one full of fear to one who was full of faith with a heart of worship.  When the people were grumbling out of fear, Moses said: 

Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.  EXODUS 14:13-14

As the nation of Israel crossed through the Red Sea, the LORD held back the waters. Once they were on the other side, with the Egyptian army in the middle of the riverbed, the LORD released the waters and swept the army into the sea. 

The response...WORSHIP!

Moses and Miriam led the Israelites in their first act of worship as a free nation: 

“I will sing to the Lord,
    for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
    he has hurled into the sea.
“The Lord is my strength and my defense;
    he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a warrior;
    the Lord is his name.
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
    he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
    are drowned in the Red Sea.
The deep waters have covered them;
    they sank to the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, Lord,
    was majestic in power.
Your right hand, Lord,
    shattered the enemy.
“In the greatness of your majesty
    you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
    it consumed them like stubble.
By the blast of your nostrils
    the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood up like a wall;
    the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy boasted,
    ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
    I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
    and my hand will destroy them.’
But you blew with your breath,
    and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
    in the mighty waters.
Who among the gods
    is like you, Lord?
Who is like you—
    majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
    working wonders?
“You stretch out your right hand,
    and the earth swallows your enemies.
In your unfailing love you will lead
    the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
    to your holy dwelling.
The nations will hear and tremble;
    anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
    the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people of Canaan will melt away;
    terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
    they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, Lord,
    until the people you bought pass by.
You will bring them in and plant them
    on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,
    the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.
“The Lord reigns

    for ever and ever.”  EXODUS 15:1-18

Where might you need to trust the LORD today?  What doubts and fears are holding you back from taking a step of faith forward?

The LORD desires your heart to be filled with worship, not timidity and fear!

Photo by Dino Reichmuth on Unsplash

All Access Pass

Often in people's prayers I hear: "Lord, send more of your Holy Spirit" or "fill me with more of your Holy Spirit.  

Could it be that we have this backward? 

After Jesus rose from the grave and ascended into heaven, He released the Holy Spirit that now lives within the people who believe 

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.  

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20

Thinking back to Isaiah's vision:  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.  ISAIAH 6:1

If the train of God's robe filled the temple, we can know that God's Holy Spirit fills us in the same way.  The issue isn't that we need God to give us more - rather, we need to loosen the secured places and private spaces that we protect and give God more access to our lives.  

God wants an 

ALL ACCESS PASS

Jesus said that we are to love the Lord our God with ALL our hearts, ALL our minds, ALL our strength and ALL our soul.  We are to give God access to our WHOLE BEING!

So, the next time you desire God to give you more of the Holy Spirit and more answers to your prayers, also consider how much more of YOU God may need to access in order to accomplish what you desire. 

Forgive them... Is this my prayer?

Forgive them...  

Stephen, full of faith, respond like Jesus.

I'm reading the book of Acts and noticed something that I had not caught before.  Stephen was a man chosen to serve from the multitudes of disciples.  He is described as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit who did great wonders and signs among the people.  

Some disputed with him; it is said: "And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke."  He gave testimony to the work of God and spoke truth.  

The Stoning of Stephen
When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.  But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.  

ACTS 7:54-60

 They cast him out of the city and stoned him...Stephen responded with:

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” 

Stephen, a man full of faith, is persecuted and stoned to death and his response is to advocate and intercede for his perpetrators!   On the cross, Jesus set the example - Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.  

As I am walking out a life of faith, is this my prayer?

Lord, do not hold this sin against them..."  

For this to be Stephen's response, He needed to see the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand.  Jesus, the perfect and sinless one, who was also persecuted and put to death, the one who took on the sin of the world is now in the glory of God.  Stephen, knowing he had received the forgiveness that Jesus won on the cross, was now asking that for his perpetrators. 

Freely you have received; freely give.MATTHEW 10:8

While Grace is free to the recipient, it is costly to the giver.  My prayer is, like Stephen, to be so focused on God's grace and glory, knowing that I have freely received, be able to freely give, without hesitation.  

The Kingdom of God has Come Near

If you weren't looking, you might have missed it... 

The children came first to ask 

"what ch'all doin?" 

We're having a party.  There's going to be food, and music, and pretty soon a bouncy house.  Go tell your friends and come back. 

On the surface, it looked like a block party... food, music, fun and good company.  

Below the surface was the heart through which the party had been planned.  It was the heart of Jesus who heals the brokenhearted and redeems the lives of those who walk with Him. When Jesus announced “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” he was saying: God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.

Sunday for the City, a day we designated to pray for cities throughout my denomination's district, which spans five states.  In Baltimore, we planned an event to B.L.E.S.S. one city neighborhood.  

                                                     As we BLESS, we
                                                           Befriend
                                                           Listen & Learn
                                                           Eat Together
                                                           Serve another person
                                                           Share faith in Jesus

... and the kingdom of God is near

We were in Sandtown-Winchester, the Baltimore City neighborhood that was the center of the unrest that erupted here after Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man, died from a nearly severed spine after being arrested in April. DeWayne Wickham, dean of Morgan State University's School of Global Journalism and Communication, wrote in an article for USA TODAY stating heartbreaking statistics about this neighborhood:

"More than half of the people (ages 16-64) in this area are unemployed. In 2012, 49% of its high school students were "chronically absent," 61% of the population 25 and older lacked a high school degree, and a third of this community's houses were vacant. Even more disturbing, it has more people in Maryland's prison system than any other community in the state. Maryland taxpayers spend nearly $17 million a year to keep 458 people from this Census track in prison, according to a recent Justice Policy Institute report."

This was a day where the kingdom of God came near!

The table was set and food prepared for our guests

A stage for music was set

Prayer walkers went into the neighborhood and invited the people to come

Guests arrived

Food was served

Stories were shared as people talked, listened and learned about each other

Testimonies of God's care and faithfulness were shared

We prayed, and God was certainly near!

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, :here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”  LUKE 17:20-21

As I handed out bottles of water and said, "thank you for coming out today," thankful eyes looked deeply into mine accompanied by the words, no, thank you!  These were eyes appreciating that people truly care, eyes that appreciated warm food served with love (instead of food from a dumpster, as one man told me), eyes that may have been seeing a glimpse of God's kingdom for the first time, and eyes that are already part of the kingdom and saw God's love pouring through.  

Love and compassion speaks a language all its own.  

I am privileged to speak this language and pray that those who received this message on Sunday felt the love of God and the peace that passes all understanding.  May they be moved to faith in Jesus, the one who loves unconditionally!

This, is Mission, Jesus Style!

If you would like to support the work of LINC Baltimore

and the mission work we do, our donation page

Overcoming Evil with Good

Charleston names another place where where a heinous act results in earthly lives being suddenly cut short.  Jesus says:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  JOHN 10:10

Any time we do not honor another human being, the thief has come. 

Jesus came with honorable intention, stepping into the mess of humanity, bringing God's love and restoration to a hurting world.  

In the New Testament, St. Paul writes about love in action, calling those who follow Jesus to live in the same way:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  ROMANS 12:9-21

WOW!  Slow down and re-read each sentence!  

Living this way is so contrary to human nature.  It is only by knowing the love of Jesus that one can even begin to function in this way.  Oh yes, it's not so difficult when we are minimally infringed upon.  It is another matter as the issues become larger.

The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi has been in the forefront of my thoughts.  Just imagine how wonderful the world would be if all people lived the way this prayer reads!

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 
to be understood as to understand; 
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; 
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  

If each and every day,
we lived in honor of
the one who created life,

living for the good of another 

instead of self gain, 

knowing others are doing the same,

we would all be living LIFE TO THE FULL!

Run for Your Lives!

There's danger ahead...
Retreat! 

Instead of retreating to safety,
Jesus repeatedly stepped into the mess.

The disciples were asked: “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” on multiple occasions, to which Jesus replied: 

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means:
   ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’
For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  MARK 2:17

What if we understood
"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
as Jesus calling us into the mess
instead of retreating to safety? 

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.  MARK 8:34-35

Ever since Baltimore erupted in late April, I have been trying to gain a greater perspective about the underlying issues.  I really believe we live in the land of equal opportunity, however, not everyone has equal advantage that provides equal access to the opportunities.  The disparity between the Haves and the Have-Nots is growing.  

Focusing on issues regarding children and families...

I just read some startling statistics from the National Center on Family Homelessness reporting

1 in every 30 U.S. children are homeless!  

The U.S. Census reports there are approximately 321 million people
45 million people living in poverty.
Over 146 million Americans (45%) are considered "poor" or "low income"
57% of America's children live in homes that are "poor" or "low income"

32% of all working families are considered "the working poor" 
and don't earn enough to make ends meet

Does this bother you?

The things Jesus did when he was walking this earth are the same things that he calls "his body" to do, not retreating to safety.

Learn to do right; seek justice.
     Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
     plead the case of the widow.  ISAIAH 1:17 

Upon reading from the book of Isaiah, Jesus says, Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." LUKE 4:21

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.  ISAIAH 61:-2

Jesus laid down for people
whom he calls to be the church!

The sacramental church gathers,
she receives nurturing that comes through the gathering and the Word,
she receives a tangible reminder of Jesus' restorative work in the Lord's Supper,

and she receives departing words to live out God's mission on earth.

Where has God called you to

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, 

back out into the world 

to do the work that 

God alone has prepared you to do?

   

Restoring Hope

I remain confident of this: 
I will see the goodness of the LORD 
in the land of the living.  Psalm 27:13

Over the last three days, Baltimore has seen an explosive reaction that began in sanctioned protest and grew into an ugly display of of anger and destruction.

Amid the violence, there was an army of clergy singing through the streets with a desire for good to prevail over evil.  Top religious leaders of Baltimore placed themselves in harms way to end the violence, at one point on their knees in prayer at the corner of North and Fulton.  Rev. Carter said “we must go back to the streets.”  

This action by clergy is reaching out to young people, in their streets, on their turf…  

A reporter said: 

“The clergy are commanding this moment.  
The clergy are going to where they can take charge."  

Over time, a sense of unity began to develop as some who may have been part of the violence joined the prayer group.  This is a generation that has lost its way, said one of the ministers.  This is what happens when a dream is deferred.  

Documented on video we hear the reporter saying: "What do you think of the state of emergency the governor has declared?"  

The clergy respond with compassion: "There has been a state of emergency way before tonight: an emergency of poverty, a lack of jobs, disenfranchisement from the political process. It's been a long time coming."  

The people of God see hope

we see potential

we see beyond the surface

to the despair that resides in the human heart 

Despair...  a lack of hope... comes out in ugly ways - anger, violence, murder.  

People of God, we can speak into lives of people in despair.  

Some are called to the front lines when there is a crisis

(Full video here: http://www.wbaltv.com/news/clergy-marches-against-violence/32606352)

Some are called to the rehabilitation efforts

And some are called to the process of long-term development

I'm not talking about excusing bad behavior and wrongdoing.  I'm talking about knowing that the one who stepped in for us, on the cross of Calvary, stepped in for THIS too!

The people of God know that our creator can recreate the worst offender into one who brings Him glory - just look at Paul, who was formerly Saul.  The process of repair and restoration comes through relationships that champion another person.  With God himself as our champion, we find the strength and the ways to champion another person.  It comes by being FOR another person, not being AGAINST them.  

When we know that we've all come broken and the LORD is the one who stepped in and restored us, we can have the heart posture to step into the brokenness of another person's life and be the light in their darkness.  

Where might the Lord be calling you to walk with another 

and help them become all that God created them to be?

The words of Isaiah 58:6-12 are resounding in my mind:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.