Prayers of the Saints

Give us, O Lord, steadfast hearts

that cannot be dragged down by false loves;

give us courageous hearts

that cannot be worn down by trouble;

give us righteous hearts

that cannot be sidetracked by unholy or unworthy goals.

Give to us also, our Lord and God, understanding to know you,

diligence to look for you,

wisdom to recognize you,

and a faithfulness that will bring us

to see you face to face.

~Thomas a' Kempis

A Series of Prayer Quotes

A Lone Bird

Hours before suns first light, as I prepared for the day, I heard a lone bird sing. I waited to hear an echoed reply. Nothing. Silence. My heart was instantly touched with sadness.

This herald caught my attention for two reasons. First, it was the first bird I've heard sing since winter moved in. Second, my ears are accustomed to hearing a response. I tune my ear to creation's early morning praise daily in weather-pleasant seasons. I love to hear them and join in the chorus.

Had he lost his way? Returned too soon? Was he testing the area or seeking a friend?

Possibly imagined, his song did not sound joyful but almost longing.

I then recalled a conversation I had just yesterday with my good friend. We were praising God for the awesome way He is answering prayers on behalf of a family we have been praying for. I commented on my amazement at the great number of unrelated and unacquainted people that have united in prayer from across the U.S.

This family has received an incredible response of love, support, encouragement, and prayer. And it flows from the common bond of Christ alone.

They cried out in their distress and God moved others to respond. I shudder at the thought of calling out and having no reply - like that lone bird.

It brings Gethsemane to mind. Our Lord despairing even of death in His darkest hour. He had taken His disciples - His friends - to the garden of suffering that dreadful eve. He had hoped to receive comfort just in knowing someone else was there.

When we're feeling weak, just the thought of someone's presence often lends strength. Jesus cried out - no reply. His friends had fallen fast asleep. Granted, He knew God was with Him, would give Him strength; but He wanted to know someone else was keeping watch with Him. Thankfully, God sent angels to attend Him.

Fellowship within the blessed Body of Christ is crucial to our very well-being. Not only for the rich relationships God provides through it but for mentorship, accountability, prayer, and support. Jesus had been alone in His most difficult hour and He knows how wretched that feels. He knows our needs and has provided for our well-being. He has given us one another.

May we administer God's grace in all its forms - so that when a lone bird cries out there is a reply.

Dear Jesus; Thank You for good friends. Thank You for the support of Your Church and the body of believers that perpetuate Your love. Bring to my awareness someone that needs Your love today. Amen.

Other-ness

2009 Continuing Series ~ Transference
Based on John 3:30: Jesus must increase, I must decrease

Be devoted to one another

in brotherly love.
Honor one another

above yourselves.
[Rm 12:10]

When popular opinion and cultural taboos change, Christians are not to shrink back from the unchanging truth of God’s Word. Some topics challenge us and make us feel uncomfortable. (Like Monday’s post on surrender and today’s subject on submission.) They are not viewed as modern sociology. It’s tempting to avoid these subjects, but in pursuit of a growing discipleship they must be addressed.

The first three areas in this series on Transference (honesty with God, surrender to the Lordship of Christ, submission to others) are all fruits born of humility.

It is nearly impossible to honor others and be devoted to them when I am consumed with self. I must, therefore, have a transference from pride to love for others.

For my own training, I have coined the term other-ness as the practice of expressing the love of Christ towards others by putting them first and considering them above myself. I like what Richard J. Foster wrote;

“In submission we are free to value other people. Their dreams and plans become important to us. We have entered into a new, wonderful, glorious freedom, the freedom to give up our own rights for the good of others.”

Other-ness.

Inevitably one subjects himself to someone or something. It is my opinion that not only is pride at the root of resistance to submission but feeling our identity is threatened. When I allow society to dictate my value I am insecure in who I am. When I fully realize my significance in Christ I will more readily obey God and submit to others.

We are dearly loved children of God - subjected to authority. Jesus knew this full well. Being both God and God’s Son, still He willingly subjected Himself to the authority of mortal man. He submitted himself to the parental authority of Joseph and Mary; to governing authorities of Rome; to the religious authority of the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin.

He knew who He was in God, where He came from and where He was returning yet He did not grasp that as something to proudly lord over others but to freely serve others.

I am called to have regard for others over any presumed rights I think I’m entitled to. We are commanded to:

• submit ourselves to God [Jms 4:7]
• to governing authorities [Rm 13:1, 5]
• to every authority [1 Pt 2:13; Heb 13:17]
• in our Christian relationships [Eph 5:21; Mt 20:25-28]
• in our spousal relationships [Eph 5:22,24; Col 3:18]
• to our master [Tit 2:9, 1 Pt 2:18]

As Christians then, submissiveness is a responsive obedience to God. Having the mind of Christ through surrender to the workings of the indwelling Holy Spirit enables me to love with His love.

Only by faith in God’s ultimate authority can we voluntarily have a submissive attitude and maintain good citizenship in a world not our own.

I find the instructions God inspired Paul to write to the Philippians as my most helpful guide in this area:

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
[Php 2:1-5]

That is ultimate other-ness. Ideal other-ness. Other-ness perfected. An important step in my Transference journey.


I humble myself to Your authority, Lord, and subject myself to the authorities You have placed above me. May I have the same attitude of Christ, considering others better than myself and doing nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Teach me to love as You love and serve as You serve and to devote myself to the body of Christ. Grant me a keener sense of other-ness. Amen.

Title Transfer

2009 Continuing Series ~ Transference

Based on John 3:30: Jesus must increase, I must decrease

“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.

Does a clay pot argue with its maker?

Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,

‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’

Does the pot exclaim,

‘How clumsy can you be’?”

This is what the Lord says—

the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:

“Do you question what I do for my children?

Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?

I am the one who made the earth

and created people to live on it.

With my hands I stretched out the heavens.

All the stars are at my command.”
[Is 45: 9, 11-12NLT]

Basic to this transference process – surrender.
... Without reservations.
...... Without question.
......... Without conditions.
............ Utterly, irrevocably.

Surrender to God must be based on complete trust and devotion to God. I must be given over in my will – for no other reason or motivation than that He is God. Period. In humility, Job realized this:

Then Job replied to the LORD :
"I know that you can do all things;

no plan of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel
without knowledge?'

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me to know.
[Jb 42:1-3]

It’s a transference of wills. I lay mine down in order to let Jesus take control and help Himself to my life. I then allow Him to replace my desires with His and slowly transform my character in His likeness.

Upon my confession and commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ I relinquished ownership – call it a title transfer. And thank goodness for it! I have learned that living independently is burdensome. He is willing to lift that burden if I will only let go.

Don’t let the words fool you into thinking that I’ve yet given over complete control to my Lord. If I am no longer my own, why do I continue to strive as if I am? That’s precisely why I’m faced with the need to give this crucial area attention as my first priority.

If I were to ask myself, “Can I put faith in myself?” my only honest reply is a resounding “No!” Regardless of any bit of competency I think I possess. Can I live the life God desires of me on my own? No!

When you read the strong language used in the Isaiah verses above, the stubborn and rebellious nature of the created toward the Creator is obvious. The pride and audacity in my nature to question the Omniscient One is revealed. Presented in this manner, however, I am easily persuaded of my offensive attitude.

Am I to the point where I will agreeably surrender as such?

“And yet, O Lord, you are our Father.

We are the clay, and you are the potter.

We all are formed by your hand.”
[Is 64:8 NLT]

Verse after verse the spiritual act of surrender is exemplified and espoused in the Bible. We are to deny ourselves (Mk 8:33-35) and become living sacrifices (Rm 12:1-2). We are to be crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20) and to set Him apart as Lord (1 Pt 3:15). Paul gave us tremendous insight into His union with Christ in that he died to himself everyday (1 Cor 15:31).

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said,

“If any of you wants to be my follower,

you must turn from your selfish ways,

take up your cross,

and follow me.

If you try to hang on to your life,

you will lose it.

But if you give up your life for my sake

and for the sake of the Good News,

you will save it.

[Mk 8:33-35 NLT]

I choose surrender that I might become the bond-servant of Christ. I want to be so consumed of God; as the flames engulfed the bush calling Moses to be used of God. Sometimes we will experience a life-crisis before abandoning ourselves into the merciful hands of God. Hopefully, once proven as a safe Refuge and reliable Protector and Provider, I will not consider taking back control.

What do I do when times get tough or uncertain? What then? Will I take my life back then? Will I think I am better able to control things then? Peter addressed that in 1 Peter 4:19;

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God,

keep on doing what is right,

and trust your lives to the God who created you,

for he will never fail you. [NLT]

Even in suffering we must remain committed to discipleship. It is then that we need God all the more. We are then dependent upon His all-sufficient grace, wisdom, strength, and comfort. Trying to weather the storm on the open seas is not a plausible option.

This life of faith is counter-cultural, for sure! Raised in the “land of the free”, it’s almost un-American to admit that it is more beneficial to surrender. This life of faith in God is often paradoxical. While it is for the weak, that His grace might be exhibited through us, it is not for the weak or faint-hearted.

I guess I liken surrender to traversing monkey bars. I must release my grip and let go of the bar I’m on. Shift grasp. Transfer from one lesser (self) to one far greater (Jesus).

“And after you surrender – then what?” wrote Oswald Chambers. “Your entire life should be characterized by an eagerness to maintain unbroken fellowship and oneness with God.” Now that’s godly wisdom!

Will you ask God to create in you willingness for absolute and immediate obedience in all things? Ask Him to cast away all fear and replace it with trust in His undeniable and unwavering goodness. Hand over the title, the rights to yourself, and transfer control to the Omnipotent Jehovah God.

I yield my will to Your Lordship, Jesus, in faith and devotion. I surrender all rights to myself that You might have Your way with my life.

I have been crucified with Christ

and I no longer live,

but Christ lives in me.

The life I live in the body,

I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

[Gal 2:20]

A String of Hosannas

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;

make known among the nations what he has done.

Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.

Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Look to the LORD and his strength;

seek his face always.

Remember the wonders he has done,

his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, [Ps 105:1-5]

Sing to the LORD, all the earth;

proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;

he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols,

but the LORD made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and joy in his dwelling place.

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength,
ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name.

Bring an offering and come before him;

worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"

Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;

let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

[1 Chron 16:23-34, 36]

to the only wise God be glory forever

through Jesus Christ! Amen. [Rm 16:27]

A Weekly Posting of Praise from Scripture

A Superlative God

But the ministry Jesus has received

is as superior to theirs

as the covenant of which he is mediator

is superior to the old one,

and it is founded on better promises.

[Heb 8:6]

My daughter inspired this entry. She is on her school’s Yearbook Committee and was designing a form on the computer for those voted “Most Likely To………” She titled them “Superlatives”.

While “most likely” should not necessarily be part of our faith-language, God is certainly deserving of our highest awards of praise. He should get our highest honors - being the One That Surpasses All Else.

He is not the one “most likely to” but the One that “most certainly did…….”

• Create an entire universe in 7 days


• Fill it with stars, moons, planets, and light


• Add flora and fauna and beauty all around


• Top the mountains with snow


• Fill the depths with sea


• Part the waters of deliverance and doom


• Topple Jericho-walls


• Slay a giant with a boys stone


• Come to us as a babe in virgin mother’s arms


• Dazzle with miracles, signs, and wonders galore


• Give up His spirit that others might live


• Put to death the written code of condemnation


• Raise from the dark tomb of death


• Return to heaven to send our Guide and Comforter


• Reigns on high interceding for the saints and preparing our eternal home
  

And He most certainly will return for final judgment and slay the enemies of God - to restore peace as the Unparalleled Warrior.

He alone qualifies for supreme position of every virtuous comparison. Most Magnificent, Most Superb, Most Transcendent, Most High. He has rights to the highest degree of every “most” adjective. He is superlative grace, superlative wisdom, superlative love. (Note I did not say He has but He is.) And more.

Let creation praise the Creator today and forevermore in offering our highest praise; for only He is to receive all honor as the One and Only Superlative God.

God Most High; You are deserving of all praise and honor. Upon every remembrance of Your deeds throughout history – and especially in my life - let my lips praise you even more. In the supreme name of Christ Jesus, Amen.

.

Photo taken by Tulay Palaz, Turkey

Less Is More

I'm clearing out space - making room -

in the spiritual, invisible places.

Purge the lack-luster, the man-made

out with the meaningless, the needless, the clutter.

Bury it deep in Calvary-soil.

Take every cultural ethos,

remove counter-kingdom values;

exchange them for more of You.

Transfer back to the world
my opinions, habits, vanities;
forsake it all as loss.

Create wide, open spaces;
that my Lord might increase within.
Take over this temple, I pray,
before trivialities crowd in.

Less - I want less -
far less of me.
Give me Jesus
- more Jesus -
eternally.

2009 Continuing Series ~ Transference

Based on John 3:30: Jesus must increase, I must decrease

Copyright Debbra Stephens
Use by permission only

Get Real

2009 Continuing Series ~ Transference
Based on John 3:30: Jesus must increase, I must decrease

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper,

but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

[Pv 28:13]

The power company frequently scopes neighborhoods for tree branches that interfere with power lines. If a tree happens to make contact, it is promptly pruned. This is to eliminate any potential hazard or possible service interruptions due to extreme weather. However wise, it leaves in its wake a rather peculiar sight.

As I drive along I often take notice of their handiwork. Laid bare in winter, these trees expose their scars at the hand of men.

In the summer months foliage covers these deformities and they aren’t nearly as noticeable. The marred trees are better able to hide their shameful form. Except in extreme cases (as shown below).



With Transference ever on my mind, this anomaly caught my attention even more than usual. Transference of ownership to more of Christ and less of me will take courageous searching. Asking God to search the depths of my heart will uncover the flaws, the wounds, the scars. Done with sincerity, I’m sure to be shown character flaws; unconfessed sin; lack of forgiveness. If I am willing to be honest before God, laid as bare as those trees of winter, He will point out some serious defects and deficits hidden under the cover of self-applied camouflage.

Adam and Eve walked naked before God -- until they had something to hide. Oh, to be shed of the shame we use as camouflage! We are not hiding something He cannot already see. It would serve me well to remember that His grace cannot reach what I do not expose to Him for healing.

Adam & Eve tried to hide from God rather than face Him. It’s a real temptation we face today. Whether from fear of disappointing Him, or to avoid honestly admitting our sin, we try to run. Whatever we do we must not break communion with God. We must remain steadfast in prayer through the pain, through the embarrassment, through the consequences and allow Him to do His work.

We must have the determination of that wounded tree set to the harsh winds of winter and dig deep with strong roots in Christ. Anchored deep into fertile soil soaked with His life-giving blood. And wait for the promise of the new growth of Spring.

Paul’s advice for the Romans to think rightly of themselves applies to me as well. It is to my detriment to think more highly of myself than I ought [Rm 12:3]. I must begin with the painful, yet advantageous, process of allowing God to see the good, bad and the ugly within. To examine my heart and recognize the gaping wounds that require His grace.

There is a season we approach in our relationship with Jesus when we must get real with Him. I must determine to drop the pretense and shameful covering. Bare myself to the God of all grace just as the trees drop their leaves in due season.

The question then becomes will I opt for a transference from feeling:

• Hidden to open with God
• Fake to real with Him
• Wounded to healed
• Ashamed to peaceful
• Incomplete to whole
• Ugly to lovely
  

Yes, the world will try to reshape us, leaving scars along the way. But grafted into the Branch of Jesse we will experience healing at His compassionate Hand and will be made beautiful by our Creator. We will truly experience the blessedness of an authentic relationship with Jesus that allows Him to grow.

El-Roi, Our All-Seeing God; I bare my heart, mind and soul to You. I want to be real with You and move from reserved and guarded to open and honest with You. Show me those things within me that must be dealt with so that You might dwell in its place; ever-increasing the space You reside in within my heart. In Christ, Amen.

2009 Series Introduction

2009 Continuing Series ~ Transference
Based on John 3:30: Jesus must increase, I must decrease

Stuck on replay mode in my heart:
“Jesus must increase –
I must decrease.”

“Is that the Holy Spirit convicting me?” I ask. Testing the thought, I reason; “It is within the will of God that I reflect Him in becoming more like His Blessed Son, Jesus Christ.” After much prayer on this subject, I’ve come to the conclusion that this will be an avenue to journey throughout this newly birthed year.

Motivated purely by my devotion to God and a desire to abide in His Word I feel guided in this attempt to apply this thought - that it might come alive in my life.

The words of John 3:30 will be the central theme of my personal study this year in hopes that it may become an actuality to a greater degree than is now evident.

As eluded to in Discipleship Persistence, it begins with surrender to God’s sanctifying work. It is not within my power or ability to recreate only what He is able to create. Then what? What discipline of the mind is needed to then be applied? By God’s grace, how do I put this into practice?

How do I simply define this focus for better understanding and clarity? I applied the term Transference. Can that be an accurate descriptor?

Dictionary.com defines transference as:

1. Change of possession (noun)
2. Pass possession to (verb)
3. Shift of emotions from one person to another
4. Transferring ownership
5. Redirection of feelings and desires
   
   

Does it apply? I think so.

I am no longer my own; I was bought at a price, the price of Jesus blood shed on a cruel and shameful Roman cross. My intent (as is God’s also, I’m hoping) is that in God’s redemptive work of transformation into a Christ-like character in me I will relinquish possession to His exclusive Lordship. That my focus will be on the persons of the Trinity and that their sovereign control will reign preeminent– transferred from that of the world and self. That attention will be redirected from me to Him, the All-Glorious One.

That is my selected course of study. More specific concepts I will explore as 2009 unfolds are:

• Transference from desires for the temporal to the eternal


• Transference of strength from my frail fallibility to His Mighty Spirit


• Transference of kingdom citizenship


• Transfer unity with the world to unity with God and His Body, the church


• Transference of worldly alliance to allegiance with God


• Trading human nature for Christ-like character
  

That’s just a sampling from the thought laid before me. I have delved into this study but wary to share here. I am confident in God’s goodness. I know that He wants me to grow in His grace. I know that His Son must increase and I must become far less. But is that something to be kept just between us? Is that something I am to share? As I waited upon His leading, I now proceed with excitement - yet caution. This is unfamiliar territory but I step forward in faith.

I encourage you to seek the very personal word He has for you. Spend time with Him daily in prayer and in His Word that you might receive the blessing of a deeper relationship with Him and continued spiritual growth. Seek out truth for yourself from the inspired Scriptures and the teachings of Christ, by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I can’t guarantee that blessing. I am merely an untrained pilgrim. I have chosen to share this here and pray that if you choose to travel along you will glean encouragement for your faith journey. But even more, it is my earnest prayer that you will have an even greater desire for God. That you will spend more time with Him and His Word than here. That He might increase in your reality.

Faithful Heavenly Father; You have purchased us by the life, death, and resurrection of Your Most Beloved Son, Jesus Christ and I am eternally thankful. May He increase and I become less. May this endeavor stretch beyond this year and into a lifetime of striving to be all You have created me to be. I pray this in faith of the redeeming work of Your Son and my Savior. Amen.

Praise~Bites

Like sound bites, video bites, or computer bites, Praise~Bites are snipets of praise from Scripture offered from the heart for Sunday worship. Join me in reading a portion of Psalm 113:

Praise the LORD.

Praise, O servants of the LORD,

praise the name of the LORD.

Let the name of the LORD be praised,

both now and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the LORD is to be praised.

The LORD is exalted over all the nations,

his glory above the heavens.

Who is like the LORD our God,

the One who sits enthroned on high,

who stoops down to look

on the heavens and the earth?

New Year Prayer Poetry

~by Frances Ridley Havergal~

Another year is dawning;

dear Father, let it be,

in working or in waiting,

another year with Thee.

Another year of progress,

another year of praise,

another year of proving

Thy presence all the days.

Another year of service,

of witness for Thy love,

another year of training

for holier work above.

Another year is dawning,

dear Father, let it be,

on earth, or else in heaven,

another year for Thee.

A Series of Prayer Quotes

Code Alert

And this is the testimony:

God has given us eternal life,

and this life is in his Son.

He who has the Son has life;

he who does not have the Son of God

does not have life.

[1 Jn 5:11-12]

Is Christ missing from your life? Have you been kidnapped by the world?

We have the Amber Alert for abducted children and Maddie's Alert for the missing elderly. Shouldn't we have one for those in Christ? Something that will alert our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith when one is in distress? Allowing them to apply the ministry of God's grace in it's various forms of encouragement, supplication, correction, and compassion?

John has provided some answers in 1 John that will aid our recognition of those in need. One firmly planted in the world and its temporal trappings is an obvious sign of one without a thriving life in Christ [1 Jn 5:4-5]. Jesus taught that man cannot serve two masters. He made this statement when referring to God and money but I believe it applies here as well. The heart cannot be divided and still give itself totally over to Jesus as Lord and Master.

Do not love the world or anything in the world.

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man,

the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has

and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.

The world and its desires pass away,

but the man who does the will of God

lives forever.

[1 Jn 2:15-17]

1 Jn 2:3 states that we know we have come to know Jesus if we obey His commands, this is also how we show our love for God [1 Jn 5:3]. Quite simply, there are two commands: love God and love others. I'm thinking therefore that is another recognizable sign. Those living in Christ are loving one another.

And this is his command:

to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,

and to love one another as he commanded us.

Those who obey his commands live in him,

and he in them.

[1 Jn 3:23-24]

These are the three things I can use to measure my life in Christ. Am I attached to the things of this world that are in opposition to God? Am I loving Him without distraction or exception? Am I loving others?

That's could be our Christian code of alert. If you see any of these demonstrated in my life, please heed the warning and pray for me and offer correction to my disobedience that my life in Christ might be restored.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus, his Son,

purifies us from all sin.

[1 Jn 1:7]

Holy God; Thank You for Your Son and hope of eternal life. Thank You for giving meaning and purpose to my life in loving you and loving others. Thank You for placing others in my life that keep me walking in Your light. Give us strength and courage to be honest with one another when we are in need of Your grace. In Christ Jesus Name, Amen.