Early or Late

I get asked this question, "Is it better to have your quiet time in the morning or at night?" My answer is usually this: "Do whichever works best for you." Some people are just not morning people.  For me, again, FOR ME, it just works better to start my day with Him. Through the years this psalm from David has been very meaningful to me:

Psalms 63:1 NKJV  "O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water."

There are several reasons. I'm just fresher in the morning, I enjoy giving my best strength and focus to prayer and Bible reading.  My thoughts are much clearer early rather than later in the day after I have met with people and led all day.  I want to hear His love whispers before the demands of the day begin to shout at me. I do enjoy lighter reading late at night that helps me wind down and rest better (this is another post for another day).

His Example

We are told in the gospels that Jesus prayed both early in the morning:

Mark 1:35 NKJV  Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

and into the night:

Luke 6:12 NKJV  Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

The bottom line for me is that we don't have to pray, we get to.  We have the privilege of dialogue with infinite wisdom who LOVES us. How great is that?  

Just Do It

So here's my conclusion.  Do it. Just make time.  We all clear time in our schedule for what is truly important to us.  Morning or night, spend time gazing at His face in prayer and in the Scripture.  It will change your perspective and possibly your life. 

Bless Your Pharaoh

Do you ever read a Bible passage that makes you shake your head? So this morning I stumbled onto a couple of strange verses:

Genesis 47:7 NLT  Then Joseph brought in his father, Jacob, and presented him to Pharaoh. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
Genesis 47:10 NLT  Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh again before leaving his court.

Weird huh?  So the "ruler" of the known world who owns everything lets this old, wandering shepherd touch him and speak a blessing over him.  Why would he? And why would Jacob want to bless him? 

Why would Pharaoh want Jacob's Blessing?

He would want Jacob's blessing for several reasons.  First, this guy is 130 years old and still getting around.  Pharaoh also recognizes the blessing and favor of God that is on him.  He has 12 sons and his entire clan numbers 70 people and, oh, they are very rich.  Most importantly, Pharaoh has been the recipient of God's wisdom and blessing that has come through Joseph. 

Why would Jacob bless Pharaoh?

Perhaps Jacob blessed him in recognition of Pharaoh's kindness toward his son, Joseph, by promoting him to be his "Prime Minister".  Perhaps he was moved by ancient custom or tradition to honor royalty. I am not sure, however, some theologians think he was just offering "shalom" to the ruler as a standard greeting.  As I have pondered this passage, I think there are a couple of implications from Jacob's simple act of blessing. 

First, Jacob is taking another step in fulfilling the promise of God to Abraham that through him, "all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him." (Genesis 18:18) Jacob as Abraham's grandson is blessing the nation of Egypt by blessing her leader.

More importantly, Jacob is prophetically pointing to his descendant, Jesus, through whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed.  

What does this mean to us?

As Christ-followers, we are called to bless and not curse. (Romans 12:14) More importantly, we are instructed to live by the law of love.  Love believes the best and speaks the best.  Let's find ways to bless our families, our communities, and the nations with words of peace and hope.  I dream of a church that is known more by what we are blessing, rather than what we are cursing.  Do you find yourself in a difficult place today? Bless and do not curse. 

Greatly Loved

Daniel 10:19 ESV  And he said, "O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage." And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."

Nothing strengthens my heart like the revelation that I am greatly loved by the God of the universe. His unconditional love causes my weak heart to beat with passion for Him.  As the light of this truth dawns across the landscapes of my life, sowing and reaping takes place.  God’s love is active. He is sowing love into my heart and those seeds begin to rapidly sprout.  Empty, cold prayers and passionless devotions are overtaken with a new crop of divine love.

This planting is not content to remain in the safe confines of my personal quiet garden.  The first command of "love the Lord your God" empowers me to love myself and my neighbor.  Divine love fuels and fills my heart with acceptance, forgiveness, and sacrificial giving.  True Kingdom living is built not on the brick and mortar of rules but the organic growth of love.

Expose yourself to the radiant glow of His love. You will emerge from His presence changed.  Is it possible that revival or societal revolution is waiting in the Lord’s secret chamber? 
 

Link Love - Anger

I have a confession to make. There might be a marriage blog or two in my reader.  I want to become a better husband and father. One of those blogs is called The Generous Husband. Today, He writes a very good post  on anger.

He links an earlier post by Seth Godin, the marketing and thought guru, also on anger. I reposted the link for your ease of access.

I am challenged by these post and the Scripture on Anger. I hope this helps us live out Ephesians 4:26. Have a great day!

Bible Journey: A Man of Understanding

Proverbs 28:2 ESV  When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.

I have a simple prayer today.  I want to be man of understanding and knowledge. It doesn’t sound complicated, does it? Our society and our churches are torn like the land described in this verse. What does a man of understanding look like? It is not an easily obtained answer…if it was there would be more of them. One thing is that he is a man growing in wisdom and the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). I am learning what that looks like in my life. I’ll share more in later posts.  Pray for me.

What is your simple prayer for your life?

Like A Dream

I'm sure people that much smarter and more experienced than I am have written on dreams.  I am not writing a complete treatise on dreams just a thought I had this morning. In Psalm 139:18 the psalmist says:

"I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, You are still with me!"

In context there is no indication that the writer is sleeping. It seems to me that the writer is so carried away with his meditations on the goodness of God that it seems like a dream to Him. Suddenly He comes to the realization that he is not asleep...God is still with Him.
I was convicted. So often I am so focused on what is not happening that I miss what God has done.  Perhaps If I would spend more time reflecting on His abundance and less time focused on my needs the two would seem closer together, more like dream. 

Twists & Turns

Just when you think that you have the will of God figured out He throws you a curveball. Memorial Drive Wildcat alumnus will remember that I wasn’t great at hitting fastballs (or anything) much less curveballs.

It has been a CRAZY year. So here I am again, willing to follow Him anywhere and everywhere. Need a verse?

Proverbs 16:9 NLT “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.”

Are you more spiritual than I am? Do the “changes” in God’s will ever bother or unnerve you? How do you handle it?

Bible Journey: Unforced Rhythms of Grace

I tend to make it so complicated but He sets a buffet before me. Yet another reason to fall deeply in love with Jesus:

Matthew 11:28-30 MESSAGE "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. (29) Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. (30) Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Isn't that better than performance and struggle and rules and etc? There is no better way of life! Need more information? Click here. Have a great weekend!

Anniversary - The Call

Today's date is July 7, 2009. It has been two years since thousands of us gathered at LP Field / Titan Stadium to fast, worship, and pray. To the casual observer things have gotten worse not better. The Religious Right is out of power & low on influence, we've lost a seat on the Supreme Court, and the economy has gone to crap.
So was it just an exercise in religion and nothing happened? Hardly! There are advances in the Kingdom of God that are not seen to the naked eye. The power of God is never seen in demonstrations of political power or economics. As a matter of fact we have a couple of verses to the contrary:

Zechariah 4:6 (NIV) "So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty."

1 Corinthians 2:4 (English Standard Version) "and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,"

Here's to the power of prayer. Don't give up!

Bible Journey

Romans 11:29 MSG "God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty--never canceled, never rescinded."

Do I need to hear that today. God help this passage make the jump from my head to my heart.

Bible Journey: Yoked with Him

Today is Memorial Day.  I want to pause and thank God for the men and women who gave their lives for our freedom.  I am working at living healthier and free.  I know I am coming into the best days of my life and I want to stay close and clean with my Savior. One of my life goals has been that those the closest to me to respect me more that the crowds.  The only way to do that is to live authentically.  This passage has come to life to me again this weekend:

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Only Jesus and your family know the real you. Not the crowds. Not the fans. Not the congregation. It is only living at His pace, under His teaching and lifestyle that keeps me real.

What does this passage speak to you?  What other passage(s) inspires you to daily walk with Jesus?

Favorite Bible Verse

I have several favorite Bible verses. Lately I've been meditating on Jeremiah 29:11 again.
Here's the verse in case you have forgotten what it says:

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

FYI: Beth actually had this verse engraved in my wedding ring....

What's your favorite verse?