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A Prayer about a Silent Night

by | Dec 24, 2020 | Christmas, Daily Prayer

A Prayer about a Silent Night

A prayer about a silent night:

Heavenly Father,

It’s shaping up for many to be a pretty silent night—

We will stay home rather than attending a Christmas Eve service in person,

no hilarious scenes of shoving siblings during the invariably chaotic children’s sermon,

no warm hugs from beloved friends who have become adopted family.

My family is missing this tradition this year.

In the silent and still days, may we listen and look.

May we hear the angels singing, “All is calm, all is bright,” and know that day is coming.

May we see that it in fact, has already arrived with the “Son of righteousness”

who has lived, died, and risen with “healing in his wings.”

May we remember that no matter how different this Christmas looks than the past,

we have reason to rejoice.

Your glory is streaming from heaven above,

and your light has shone in the darkness.

And you will “soon” return to restore our joy finally and forever.

Read Malachi 4:2; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:68-79.

How Cynicism Kills Gratitude

by | Nov 17, 2020 | Devotional, Gospel living, Thanksgiving

How Cynicism Kills Gratitude

“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21, ESV

She is astute and assertive; nothing gets by her. She sneers at her sister’s naiveté; smugly congratulating herself on not being easily fooled by such childish notions of God and heaven. She will shed no tear over her own suffering—after all, what more would one expect from this miserable, pitiful life? She has no awe, because nothing is really awesome. Life is hard, and then you die.

Who is she? She is the Modern-Cynic. Independent and strong, intelligent and competent, she doesn’t need God or others to help her out in this life. She thinks she knows foolishness, but Scripture says that she herself is a fool. According to Romans 1:19-23, the evidence of God’s goodness, holiness, love, power, and majesty is inscribed everywhere in the cosmos. But the cynical heart refuses to see it. Cynicism is the murderer of gratitude because it has lost its awe in God.

The cynicism of our own hearts may not be so overt as Ms. Modern-Cynic’s. We must seek it out as it sneaks about in the crevices of our sin nature, subtle as it may be. Consider Simon the Pharisee of Luke 7:37-50, whose cynicism about Jesus left him with little love and gratitude.

Do you have a murderer of gratitude lurking in your story? #gratitude #story

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Simon is certain—certain that Jesus cannot be a “prophet” because he doesn’t even know that the wild woman weeping all over his feet is “a sinner” (my emphasis) (Luke 7:39). In the ultimate irony, Simon does not know, cannot know, that Jesus is reading his mind (Luke 7:40)! Self-reliant Simon sneers at the needy woman, silently mocking her effusive show of gratitude. Jesus tells Simon a little story to invite him to see his own sin and thank God for forgiveness. When Jesus concludes, “he who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:41-46), I always long for the truth to dawn on Simon, for his eyes to grow wide with awe as he recognizes Jesus’ compassion in his warning. I want him to fall on his knees before Jesus right next to the weeping sinful woman. Sadly, that is not how the story ends. Simon’s “foolish heart is darkened” (Romans 1:21).  His cynicism has killed his gratitude.

What about you? Can you sniff out scents of cynicism in your own story?

  • Perhaps you’ve prayed a seemingly unanswered prayer for a spouse, a child, a friend, for years? You’ve begun to doubt that God even cares; you’ve begun to feel certain that God won’t intervene in this impossible situation.
  • Or, maybe you’ve succumbed to the whatever response to life in a fallen world? It just hurts too much to feel the ache of creation’s groaning, so you shut your eyes to the joy and beauty of God’s redemptive handwriting in the universe?
  • Maybe you’ve learned your role as a strong and independent being so well that you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be as desperate as the sinful woman who loved much because she was forgiven much.

Dear friends, let us draw near the cross to remember the black day that Jesus stamped out all cause for cynicism once and for all, as he hung there dying. Let us draw near the empty tomb and join the first disciples in resurrection joy, falling on our knees in gratitude for our Savior.

A Prayer about Cynicism

Our Dear Lord, Creator of the Heavens and the Earth,

By your power, you have given us everything we need to believe in something beyond the here and now. Thank you for the wonders you have worked—in the stars and in our stories. Forgive us for closing our eyes to your goodness, for thinking we know more than you about glory and goodness. Slay in us that murderer of gratitude, our subtle and sometimes overt, cynicism. In Jesus’ in-credible name we ask, Amen.

Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash

How Grace Grows Gratitude

by | Nov 10, 2020 | Bible study, Thanksgiving

How Grace Grows Gratitude

Grace and Gratitude

“It is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people, it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” 2 Cor. 4:15.

According to retailers, if you don’t already have most of your Christmas shopping done (I don’t), you are running behind! But according to the calendar, it’s only the second Tuesday in November, and that seems like a good time to think about thanksgiving. Not the American holiday necessarily, which my younger daughter once jokingly summarized as a day for “Eating and thanking, thanking and eating.” Far more, it’s a good time to consider the category of thanksgiving, or gratitude. What is it, in fact, and how and why does the Bible insist that Christians make it a regular practice?

What Gratitude Is Not

Sometimes the best way to understand something is by looking at what it’s not.

We’ve already said that the Christian practice of gratitude is not merely cultural, that is, something we celebrate once a year by dining on a sumptuous feast. In addition, the Christian practice of gratitude is also not merely dutiful.

Consider this story. Grandma Charlene buys eight-year-old Emma an expensive gold cross necklace for her birthday. The thing is, Emma wanted the Lego super hero’s school set, so she’s very disappointed when she opens her grandmother’s gift. What does Emma’s mother tell her? We know the answer, because we’ve probably all said it or had it said to us at some point: “Tell your grandmother thank-you, Emma.” Emma dutifully speaks the two words. But is she really thankful? No. She is dutiful, and she is polite. Please don’t hear what I’m not saying—it is good for Emma to thank her grandmother. It’s just that her thank you misses the main point of Christian gratitude.

Where Christian Gratitude Comes From

To better understand Christian gratitude, let’s revisit 2 Corinthians 4:15, substituting two Greek words from the original for our English words:

“It is all for your sake, so that as charis extends to more and more people, it may increase eucharisteo, to the glory of God.”

Charis increases eucharisteo. The Greek root charis means grace. The Greek prefix eu means good, happy. So God’s grace leads to a happy state of grace in the Christian.

What is God’s grace like, this grace which increases our gratitude? It is not a gold cross necklace that we didn’t want in the first place. It is God’s free gift of exactly what we needed, and exactly what we wanted (whether we knew it or not)—a life of freedom from sin (Galatians 5:1), a life of being and becoming new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), a life of worshipping God and serving others (Gal. 5:13).

God’s Grace for Sinners Grows Gratitude

To catch a glimpse of God’s grace, consider an alternate story about Emma and her grandmother. Emma thinks her grandmother is too stern; she has been known to stick out her tongue at her grandmother and yell, “I hate you!” Despite Emma’s malicious treatment, her grandmother comes to her, takes her by the hand, and says, “I’m giving everything I own to you so that you may have financial freedom and vast opportunity.” Emma gets it all, any day, every day.

Now, that is a far-fetched story. In real life, a grandmother probably wouldn’t give all her money to a rude granddaughter. And yet, this fantastical story is analogous to our rebellious treatment of God and his gracious response to us. We have rebelled against God, telling him to leave us alone and let us run our own lives. He has responded by sending his one and only Son, Jesus, to die so that we might be free of our sin, so that we might live with faith, hope, and love. The only sensible response to the undeserved grace God has shown us is gratitude—overflowing, irrepressible, joyful gratitude. As God’s grace increases gratitude in us, we respond with hands lifted to give God glory and hands extended to share his glory throughout the world.

A Prayer about Grace and Gratitude

Our Gracious God,

Please forgive us. By our sometimes rotten thoughts, words, and deeds, we have stuck out our tongues at you and told you we hate you. We do not deserve your love, nor your free gift of forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ. And yet Jesus died for our sins and made us brand new, whole and holy. Our hearts overflow with your happy grace! Help us to extend this grace and glory to others! Amen.

Good Reading on Grace and Gratitude

2 Corinthians 4:15; 2 Corinthians 9:11-12

Want to spend more time cultivating gratitude?

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5 Verses on True Freedom

by | Jul 7, 2020 | 4th of July, Bible study, Gospel living

Five Verses on True Freedom

 

In these turbulent times, we need to know more than ever the freedom we enjoy in Christ. In Christ, we are…

Bible verse: And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Freed by the Truth

To be who Christ has designed us to be.

John 8:32

Freed to Serve Others

Not freed to “do evil.”

1 Peter 2:16

1 Peter 2:16 Bible verse graphic
Graphic of Romans 6:22

Freed from Guilt

No longer slaves to sin, freed to love and obey God.

Romans 6:22

Freed to Love Others Radically

To hate injustice and sin and to practice hospitality.

Romans 12:9-10

Graphic of Romans 12:9-10
Graphic of Revelation 1:5-6 Bible verse

Freed to Give Glory to God

To serve as priests in his kingdom

Revelation 1:5-6

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A Good Read for Hard Times: The Waiting Room Devotional

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5 Hymns for Lent Meditation

by | Mar 10, 2020 | Lent

5 Hymns for Lent Meditation

Author’s note: I write and schedule blogs a couple of months in advance. As the coronavirus has borne down on us, striking fear and frenzy into our minds and hearts, I think we need Lenten meditation, or at least meditation on the beauty and love of Christ more than ever. Please take some time to listen to at least one of these hymns (listed at the end), and share with others who need to have their minds fixed on things above.

Lent, the season leading up to Easter, compels us to meditate, to slow our lives down and think on Christ. Think about his life, think about his death, think about his resurrection. Think about how our lives would be so very different if he had not hung on a cross and been raised from the dead.

Music lends itself to meditation. Today, for those of you who love music and/or games, we’re going to play a little “Name That Hymn.” Below you’ll find quotes from some famous hymns for meditating on Jesus’ sacrifice for us. Next to the hymn, you’ll find a related Scripture. Then at the very end (try not to peek), I’ll post the answers and a link to a Youtube video of the hymn. Please write a comment and tell us how you did, or which ones you like the best, or others you would add. Have fun, and enjoy this meditative exercise.

Isaiah 53:3

He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Revelation 7:10

Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!

John 19:2-3

And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and struck him with their hands.

Luke 23:53

Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.

Philippians 3:8-10

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 

Answer Key: 

  1. Hallelujah: What a Savior
  2. What Wondrous Love Is This
  3. O Sacred Head Now Wounded
  4. Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?
  5. My Worth Is Not in What I Own

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A Good Read for Hard Times: The Waiting Room Devotional

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You Are With Me: A Meditation for the Lonely Times

by | Feb 18, 2020 | Bible study, Devotional, Valentine's Day

You Are With Me: A Meditation for the Lonely Times

When you’re feeling lonely…

Valentine’s Day can leave us feeling lonely, no matter how well-loved we are. Today I’m sharing an excerpt from the new devotional I’m writing for people recovering from all sorts of crises. It’s called “You Are with Me.”

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4, ESV

Traversing the road of recovery is not unlike walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Each journey is complex and mysterious, of uncertain length, and fraught with unknown fears. And yet, according to David, who journeyed through many dark valleys, we can “fear no evil,” because we are not alone. The Lord is closer than whispering distance, guarding and guiding us with his presence.

Imagine you find yourself in a narrow alleyway running between two high buildings in a dangerous urban area. No streetlights. No building lights. Stark starless night darkness. You can’t see the tips of your fingers, much less the end of the alleyway. It’s too late to return to the other side; before you saw what you saw, before the surgeon made the cut, before your loved one died. The recovery road has much in common with David’s valley of deep darkness.

Notice that David walks through this valley of deep darkness; he doesn’t run, even though he might be tempted to do so. Running isn’t an option when you’re recovering from disaster. Notice that David walks through this deep valley. There is no way around it; there is no turning back. The only way is to go through it, to get to the other side. Notice that David is alone in this deep darkness: “Even though I walk.” Even when we are in healthy community, we can feel isolated in recovery, as if no one else has ever walked this particular shadowland before.

How would it be possible to fear no evil in a place of such “suspense and surmise,” in which “the evil of evils is uncertainty”[i]? The answer comes in the pivot point, verse four, “For you are with me.” Earlier, David told us that the Lord, third person, is his shepherd; now he addresses the Lord directly:

“You are with me.”

You, the King of kings, are with me.

You, the lion of Judah, are with me.

You, the crusher of Satan, are with me.

Take heart, dear friends. His light, the light that has overcome the darkness, has flooded this dark valley. The Lord, your Shepherd, who counts you as his sheep by his rod, who protects and guides you with his staff, is with you.

Prayer

Lord, You are our Shepherd. We trust you to guide us, protect us, and secure us in this dark valley of deep uncertainty. Surround us with your love and mercy that we may never stray from you. Amen.

Further Encouragement

Read Psalm 23.

Listen to “God Is My Shepherd,” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtDXHgTi-5s.

For Reflection

What dark valley are you walking through right now? What is uncertain and frightening? How does it help to know the Lord is your shepherd?

[i] Charles Spurgeon, THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH NO. 1595 https://www.spurgeongems.org/vols25-27/chs1595.pdf, 3.

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Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash