In the Biblical Text

I preach to myself everyday...Sometimes I listen...

To burn for the Biblical text. To be sick for the text. To feel the text. To have a burden for the text. To have angst for the text. To weep over the text. To be aggressively in the text. To be beside myself, because I am not yet aligned with the text. To be moved by the text.

Echoes of Holy Otherness (Isaiah 6:2-8)

The Seraphim bore witness to it. "Holy Holy Holy," they cried, and their revelation shook the foundations of the temple. The scene was heavy. The temple dripped with holiness. All senses were heightened for the what was about to transpire. For this was it. This is the story. Sinful humanity standing before the Holy Lord. Humanity was unraveled, humanity was undone. The chasm was infinitely great. There was admission of guilt. There was a recognition of sin. There was deep confession. There was painful repentance. There was a desire to humble oneself. There was a desire to submit. There was a desire to follow.

The canyon was uncrossable by humanity. It was utterly unfathomable how far we strayed. Humanity looks over the ledge in a deflated spirit. Humanity looks over the ledge and is desperate. No way for humanity to bridge the gap. No way for that which is unholy to be made holy. Isaiah is left to depression and angst. There was a breaking point before the Wholly Other. No human could withstand the Lord's holy presence. There was instant death on the spot for any creature that breathed unholy breaths. The only chance was the Lord's issuing forth mercy and grace to be able to withstand the intimate encounter. And that is exactly what the Lord did!

So rejoice with me! Rejoice with your whole life. Rejoice in the morning when you rise. Rejoice with me when you go to bed. The Lord is merciful to me, the sinner! The Lord provides for Isaiah, like He provides for you and I. Look at the frustration and the dark pit of your sin. The chasm testifies against you. The Judge could condemn, but the Judge chose to forgive! Therefore worship the One who gives and the One who takes away. Worship the One who meets us in our brokenness. Blessed be His name. For He is holy, holy holy.

Hear the good news today all who stand as condemned sinners. Hear and respond with Isaiah. For today the Lord seeks to touch the burning coal to your lips. He wishes to whisper redemption in your ears. Your iniquity, your guilt, your sin, He is ready and willing to wash them away. Drink deeply from His cup today. Hunger deeply for the bread that nourishes today. Today is the day the Lord has made. May we see our Lord in a new light today.

A burning coal touched to human lips with mercy and grace. Behold, God reaches down to earth to touch you. He whispers 7 times 70. He whispers forgiveness. He whispers redemption. He whispers that your guilt is miraculously taken away. He whispers that your sins are forgiven. So hear His voice again today my brothers and sisters. Let His voice wash over you. Be still and know God. And walking with Him, respond and say, "my life is Yours, You are my Savior, You are my Lord, You are my Master. I will praise You with my life."

Eagerly Desirous of Meaning

Thirst for meaning
Do you ever get cotton mouth?
I mean cotton mouth for the water of God
Cotton mouth to hear the voice of God
But not just to hear the voice
But to make your dry bones jump and dance again
To make your cold heart warm
To make your hard heart soft

Yeah, do I crave and yearn and burn for His voice
Yeah, maybe, but not enough....not enough at all
So stir in my soul again today I pray Lord
Let your voice provide me meaning this day

Let the meaning You provide unravel my nonsensical life
Cure my cotton mouth
Unplug my ears
When You speak let me be awake in the hour of sweat soaked prayer

Let the weeping Holy Spirit soak my dried up heart with merciful tears
Let the earnest prayers of the saints that have come before shatter and disturb this fragile soul
Arise and pray, for the hour is come

Let the warrior rise, He is risen
Victory is at hand
Reclaim this land for Him
Call the nations back to Him

Wrap us in meaningful existence this day
An existence that is obsessed with proclaiming the name of our great Savior
Make our feet true to Your voice, our tongues tamed, and our hearts bowed.

Prayer from 3/15-3/22

Prayers sometimes develop from deep wounds. All prayers must resound with the dull thud of deadly sincerity. Just to write this prayer I had to dig up from within and without to feel again the devasting human reality that we were created to live to community, but all too often we remain alone and searching for friendship. So Lord, give us people to lift our spirits and to encourage us in our walks.

I am reminded of the painful echo of God's charge to me through the lips of Jesus on the verge of his crucifixion. Stay up, pray with me. Emotionally drained, mentally exhausted, whatever the case may be. The truth still remains that God has called me to stay up with the God who never sleeps, and weep and intercede on behalf of His children. Lord help me.




Friendship/Togetherness/United in Christ-likeness/Listening in Friendship

Lord, give us friends who will stick by us, friends who will pray for us, and friends who will listen to us.

But even more than this, give us friends who will strive to understand, even though they fully well know they will never understand. Nonetheless, they are faithfully by our side, and strive to understand.

Yes, and give us friends who will not just say, "I will be praying for you," but give us friends who will weep with us as they pray painful prayers together with us.

And give us friends who will not only listen, but listen without judging.

And give us friends who listen and love us with a prayerful ear.

Surround us with people who faithfully carry the cross of Jesus up into the mountains and down into the valleys.

Surround us with people who are slow to speak, but quick to listen, and even quicker to love and serve.

Grow and give us by Your grace deep Christian friendship. And dare I mention, authentic fellowship. And today I pray that I may have the courage so that I may have friendships without the masks, but with complete gentleness and heartfelt love. Let these be friends where we don't have to pause and second guess ourselves if it is a fictitious fabrication when we call others our 'brothers' and 'sisters.' Instead, give us friends where we are knitted so closely together that we can say without blinking, "Yes, this is my brother. Yes, this is my sister. We are close; we are family. We can, and will love one another, because our great God continues to show us extravagant love and mercy through His only Son."

We thank You for the blessing it is for You to hear us, and for us to hear from You. Thank You for Your friendship Father.

Prosperity Gospel?

John Piper, may we learn from your words, for your words are from our Father. You speak to this generation like very few can. Wait, it's not that we can't, it's just that we haven't learned to follow in full surrender like you. God be praised when man hears His voice and doesn't turn away.