Lord, today I confess I’m struggling
my heart not brave enough for the fight
how can I be your light of encouragement
when this heaviness weighs groaning on me?
You know me better than I know myself
all of my heart aches, heart breaks,
heart’s yearnings and attacks.
Today, though I don’t feel like it
I will serve You.
I can’t hide, or fake it…I can’t fool you!
Ignite in me, again your passion
blow into flame this desire
set my hopes and dreams aflame
ignition begins again on my knees
in prayer.
If speech and arts are not accompanied by love and passion
they will fall horribly short and mean nothing but empty sound.
If actions are done out of obligation without compassion and care
they will reach numbed hands and cold hearts in a winter world.
If our actions are compelled only by our pay checks and selfish desires
we will start fires in our pocketbooks but not in the hearts of men.
It will all be for naught and this world would have inherited another cold soul.
Passion, fire and love begin and end with a heart knowledge of God.
Without such an intimate experience we can live, but it will be temporal
it will be less, it will be empty and vacant where He could reside and stoke
the fires of our souls and passions.
Dear Lord, Ignite our flames once more.
Ignite in us Your burning passion for Holiness and compassion
for this world in which we live.
May our worship not be out of obligation or command
but out of love and this deep desire to know more of You,
and through this engulfing flame, may our eyes
see others the way You see them and be spurned to act
without our interests in mind, but to capture the hearts
of others for You and Your kingdom come.
-Amen.
In the waning hours before the sunrise
when soft light wisps through curtained window panes
and before the sounds of busy lives begin again
I renew my conversation with my God.
In blankets wrapped and pillow propped
before these feet place themselves into gravity
and as my eyes have yet to batten a lash in focus
I find again my deep connection with my God.
And in my counting of as many breaths
these lungs are filled with countless blessings
all my hopes and needs begin and end
with these early morning times of confessions.
So, dear Lord before I begin
and the world with all of its chaos ensues
allow me one more moment here with You
let me linger but for another and then…
come with me into the fray.
-Amen.
Life is marred by many things
and busy schedules
with phones that ring
and Lord I confess I forget You.
When worries increase
and time flies by
my space all leased
I am left wondering why…
why have I forgotten You?
These fears flood in
and hope leaks out
under-sieged by sin
and I’m without
why have I forgotten You?
Until on my knees I must bend
In prayer and solitude again
to reconnect with the Eternal friend
this is how is begins and ends.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful….be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:2,5,6)
Dear Christ-followers, how are we representing Christ to the world around us? How are we representing Christ to other believers and to those who have yet to accept Christ? Are our conversations ALWAYS full of grace? Or are they only sprinkled with marginal grace while the rest is so full of “know it all ignorance and judgement”?
We may be the only living example of Christ that others might see…no pressure or anything, but what kind of example are we setting? Are we consistent in our testimony of Him and in the ways that we conduct ourselves? If you are anything like me you too struggle with these consistencies. I am not trying to make us feel guilty today, but let me go a step further; how is your prayer life?
Prayer is Vital!
The very first words of the section of Colossians speaks of devoting our lives to prayer. Prayer is THAT important! We shouldn’t view prayer as our last resort but our primary weapon and the source of strength and endurance in this life. The word “Devote” implies a deep commitment, something that becomes our sole focus just as we become devoted to our spouse in a lifetime commitment to marriage. Becoming devoted to prayer is a serious commitment, not a part time job! Prayer shouldn’t be treated flippantly! Either we are committed to prayer or we aren’t. Prayer is our lifeline to God. It is our source of hope, restoration, and renewal of strength for the journey that we are on.
Wrapping it up:
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we still have our struggles. We still endure hardships of many kinds. Yet may we be devoted together in prayer for one another, and coupled with that, may we also be full of grace and seasoned so that our consistency of testimony and action be an accurate representation of the One who has taken up residence within us through Salvation by the shedding of His blood. Do not quit this fight or grow weary of one another! Stay in this fight! Work side by side with each other even when we share differences. For just as Christ prayed that His disciples would be united, He too prays this for us as well!
-Just a thought for us today!
A Humble Prayer:
Can we but find our hope today?
Oh Lord we need but stop and pray.
Our lives ,so full of cares and woe
Speak to us now, Your love to show.
Give ears to hear your Heart
to shed Your love to all empart
grant us peace amidst these storms
denying self our hearts conformed.
Please lead us when we are blind
our hand in yours and we will find
this Holiness, your grace, your light
Your strength, your peace will give us sight.
-Amen
Father,
Let my hands, marred and filthy
Be cleansed, purified and true
So that I can reach a world that’s dying
And let them find you.
Spirit,
Let this tongue, course and violent
Touch the coals from your holy fire
So that I might speak of truth
And love might penetrate this liar.
Jesus,
Let my heart, selfish and vain
Beat for the hurting and the lost
So that, with your power and might
Your blood might drown the cost
Holiness,
What my heart should love and fear
Christlikeness, breaking sin’s dark mold
This body, soul and mind brought low
So that I, in Christ, a servant…may be bold.
It would be foolhardy of me to elevate another humble servant of Christ in such a way that they eclipse Jesus himself. We in the Army are certainly not seeking to deify a human being in the promotion/election of General. There will not be any white smoke going up to the heavens as the High Council eventually elects its next General. We will not seek to promote a General into Sainthood here either.
But our identity does change to some extent when a new General takes office, so to speak. We do need leaders who will cast our Army vision and purpose for the years to come as well as work with national/international leaders to further this mission of Christ. The office of General is important in this respect. We most certainly don’t view our General as omniscient or infallible either but scriptural speaking we do acknowledge that we are to obey and listen to our leaders:
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” -Hebrews 13:17.
That being said, here is a prayer for our Army:
‘Dear Lord, you know each precious soul who is a part of this army. We are your servants seeking to preach Christ crucified to a dying, sin sick world. May your light continue to shine on our paths as we listen to the proddings of your Spirit. I ask that you guide our leaders who will be gathering soon for the high council. Please provide them safety as they travel, discernment as they pray and consult you for directions. We humbly acknowledge that Your will be done in and through Your people…may it be so also within the high council.
We also ask that Your servants will hear Your voice in the election of our next general. That You will gently guide these proceedings and that You ultimately appoint this leader. We serve a world of vast diversities, issues and conflicts and in the broad global view, help and equip us for the mission yet ahead. It is in your name we pray all of this. Amen.”
As the days leading up to this appointed time quickly speeds by, please continue to pray for all of the Commissioners, lift up The Chief of the Staff, Commissioner André Cox as he makes these preparations and offers his guidance on the onset of the high council. Prayer is a vital and formidable weapon that we as saints of God are called upon to utilize.
We are most likely unsure of how this whole thing works, but we are trusting in the One who will guide each and every leader. We also further acknowledge that Christ is first and foremost the head of our Army…and in that regard we already have the victory!
Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.
Refrain
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.
His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God.
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er every field.
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
-Just a thought.
Today shock waves reverberated around The Salvation Army world when the news of the sudden retirement of its General, Linda Bond was announced. Many expressed sadness and confusion along with many, many questions.
(The Official News Link: http://news.salvationarmy.org.uk/announcement-retirement-general-linda-bond )
I believe as an Army we should refrain from idle speculation and avoid the winds of gossip and instead lift up our leadership and General Bond in prayer. If we are truly One Army, then we ought to come together as one Army and bathe this sudden transition in prayer. Though many hearts are burdened and saddened with questions, may our mission and our purpose never waver! We are an Army of Holiness and if we are truly sanctified people then we have placed our trust fully on God in the midst of often turbulent news.
I, personally was honored to hear General Linda Bond preach the word of Christ, and I felt His Holy Spirit fall upon His people. I was challenged and blessed by her ministry, and though I am but a lowly corps officer I felt God’s empowering words flow through her messages.
General Linda Bond has left a lasting impact on this Army, though her leadership was cut a year short, I am confident in the One who appointed her through the Army leadership located around the world. I also pray for whatever lies ahead for General Bond as she heads into retirement, knowing that the Lord is truly not finished with her yet.
May God continue to Bless The Salvation Army, it’s ministry and mission around the world…and may we ever be diligent in proclaiming Christ in everything we do!
God Bless you General Bond, and we will continue to lift you up in our prayers as you move into retirement!
***Update: please read a follow-up to this article on this blog regarding the High Council and dates of initial proceedings: https://scottstrissel.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/electing-a-new-general-of-the-salvation-army/
A CALL TO A MONTH OF PRAYER: https://scottstrissel.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/general-election-an-officers-perspective-and-a-call-to-a-month-of-prayer/
Do you know where your next meal is coming from? Do you wonder how your next month’s rent or car payment or other bill is going to get paid? Our basic essentials in life obviously come because we can pay for things…right? What we make at our jobs generally helps to pay for our lifestyles. Sometimes, though we realize that we have not been living within our means when we run up a credit card or lease/buy a vehicle that we cannot afford the payments on. Living within our means forces us to realize that we ought to separate our needs from our wants.
When we pray to our Father in heaven the way Jesus has instructed us in what we call “the Lord’s prayer” what we realize is that we are placing our entire being, fully surrendered, at the foot of God himself. When we pray “give us today our daily bread” we are not praying for tomorrow’s supplies or tomorrow’s worries, we are strictly and implicitly focusing on what is right before us within this very day. Who knows what tomorrow holds, but when we focus on God, his might and power and his kingdom, we can’t but help realize that He is ultimately in control over our basic needs.
When we pray this portion of ‘the Lord’s prayer’ we quickly realize that it’s not our wants that He will supply but our needs. What is it that you need today? What do you struggle with daily? Have you prayed about it? Is it really a need or is it a want? “Daily bread” isn’t necessarily the food that we eat but every human supply of our needs is included here. God is supremely over all and through all! When we come to this conclusion even the little things in life are blessings given to us by God and we ought to thank Him for these daily…even moment by moment.
Do you have needs? Are you lacking today? Have you prayed about it? Are you surrendering it all to your Father in Heaven? Consider the works of His hands today and consider how blessed we are because He can and will provide for us the things that we need.
Pastor's Ponderings 