As I sit in my office on Monday I am thinking about you and a passage from God's Word comes to mind,
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:3-5)
Three key words jump out at me:
Remember: Inherent in the word "remember" is the fact that other people become the object of our thinking. This means that we are not so self absorbed that others have no place in our every day musings. When our minds are occupied with so many thoughts about ourselves there is little room left for thoughts of others. This is a tragedy because we owe so much of our success to someone else's influence on our lives.
Joy: What emotion comes to your mind when you think of others is very important. I wouldn't waste my time thinking about people who stirred up anger, resentment, bitterness or jealousy. If those thoughts invade your spirit then confess your frustration to God and move on by eliminating those people out of your memory bank. God created relationships in part to bring joy, nor sorrow, into our lives. This is how I feel when I think about Calvary Church. You are a delight to me and I thank God that I feel joy when you come to mind.
Partnership: Finally there is the enterprise of partnership. God didn't intend for us to go through life alone. We need other people. The New Testament teaching on the church is clear that it is not a one-man show. The church is compared to a body with many parts, and each part plays a vital role (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:14-20). Paul uses the term "indispensible" when writing about the need for one another in the body.
When I opened your 4th anniversary gift on Sunday I was overwhelmed--overwhelmed by your generosity, overwhelmed by your love, overwhelmed by God's grace in allowing me to be your pastor, overwhelmed by your friendship. I know you love me; I know you love my family; I just want you to know that I love you.
I have been saving for a guitar and now I can go to the store. You have provided what I needed to get the job done. Thank you so much for being an instrument in God's hand to bless me.
Grace & Peace,
Scott
I'm thinking about our country in a special way this week because it is the fourth of July. It is not just a time for a good picnic followed by watching fireworks. No, it is much more than that. It is a time for celebrating the birth of a great and wonderful nation. It is also a time to reflect on the state of our country and ask, "What can I do for America?" Many things come to mind, but only one thing really sticks out that all of us can and should do--pray! In fact, the great Apostle Paul wrote as much to Timothy,
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Communication is so important and has rapidly changed over the decades. What once took days can now be done in seconds. Let me explain, when you lived a county away from a boyfriend or girlfriend and you wanted to express to them your feelings, yes you could pick up the telephone, but what if they were out of town and not near a telephone? You would need to write a "love letter" and tell them that their absence has caused an epic shift in your existence, and that you couldn't bear the pain of this eternal separation, and that you counted the seconds until your happy reunion. Now all you have to do is pick up your cell phone and text them" musm...tuamualu...h&k...143! Instantly they got your meaning!
Well, prayer is something like that only much better! First of all, it is better because you are talking to an eternal God who cares so much more than anyone else. And second, there are no dropped calls with the Almighty. He always hears and He always answers.
This is what I want us to do this July 4th. We all realize that the ones in positions of authority are out of our reach. We will probably never be called on to give advice to any person in high authority. So what do we do? Reach out to God in prayer. Pray specifically that our leaders would create conditions that advance the gospel ("that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life"). Pray confidently because God is sovereign and He can reach them like no other. And pray thankfully because we still enjoy freedom.
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. (Proverbs 21:1)
Grace & Peace,
Scott
As I sit in my office on Monday I am thinking about you and a passage from God's Word comes to mind,
