Prayer & Aunt Beulah's Pancakes

Joy to the World, the Lord has come!!

Where do you find joy in the day to day?

For me it was always at Aunt Beulah’s. Whenever anyone of us got sick, mom would send us down the long dirt road for some of her famous pancakes. On the way back, we weren’t any less sick, just happy in the taste buds!

If we could capture the predominant emotion circling the throne of God, I believe it would be joy. The kind every new husband feels seeing his bride walk the aisle. (Rev 21:2) When God gives us Himself, He gives us joy. Call Him the pancake for the soul—our vital connection through prayer! “In His presence is fullness of joy, at his right hand are pleasures for evermore.”

There will be days when we drag our weary bones into His presence, not feeling especially affectionate, or motivated to be there. Yet, if we remain, it doesn’t take long before God lifts the chin, and lets us see a bigger picture stretched out farther than our immediate. Nothing has changed in circumstance, only in circumference. God has pushed our vision beyond the tired and tedious, and let our eyes rest on a landscape filled with His perspective. Our spirit is buoyed by joy’s transcendent nature, which often comes through genuine encounters with God.

The hard part is waiting. But try this. Pretend you’re resting in the lap of your mom or dad, and they’re reading your favorite bedtime story. Don’t fret over how long you’re there, just “Taste and see that the Lord is good….” We can be satisfied in the spiritual taste buds by waiting on God who wants to give us a heaping portion of what will make us truly happy—His presence! When that happens He lifts us up to a broad place, sort of how Aunt Beulah’s pancakes used to put a smile on my face.

Wait at the throne until you touch the King!

Christ's Mission, Our Devotion

During Christ’s final week He taught in the temple, “and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives.” We don’t know what he did on that hardscrabble heap, certainly didn’t get a good night’s rest. I’ve been there, nothing but rocks and roots! I bet he prayed though. A lot! In fact, my guess is He was interceding for the disciples, asking the Holy Spirit to finish the work He began.

Intercession. It’s what Jesus modeled, and is still doing “at the right hand of God.” (Romans 8:34) He’s in the crease stretched out between heaven and earth, uniting our hearts to our home in heaven, and lifting up tired arms.

When we intercede in prayer, we join the suffering of our fellow man, while at the same time drawing closer to God. A person who has learned to pray becomes a lonely prophet, for he lives in the place where love for men draws him closer to their sin than he wants to be, and love for God draws him away into a solitary spiritual rest. Jeremiah is a good example—a lonely outpost of spiritual intensity; misunderstood, obeying when nothing felt right, and playing the prophets hand for the prophet’s reward—sorrow & suffering.

The next time you ascend your ‘hardscrabble heap’, remember that Jesus prays for you. What does he ask the Father? I imagine it’s the same as He did for those first disciples. “Holy Spirit, remind them of your eternal presence, sweep them into Father’s arms, cleanse them from sins of dominion, build courage from the throes of failure, overcome their reluctance to pray, motivate them to faith, and breath life into their tired limbs.”

When we participate with Christ in intercession, we are doing what He constantly does, and therefore becoming more like Him with every pleading breath.

Invite around you a team of seven to intercede for you.
Take note and follow through on what God shows you during prayer.
Ask God to give you a hunger for the ministry of intercession.

Crazy Uncles Can Make Good Soldiers

“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” Ps 36:9

It was David the fugitive, who found himself surrounded by 400 men,“distressed, in debt and bitter of soul.” Not your typical ‘band of brothers.’ How would you have handled this company of crazy uncles? Counseling session? Finance seminar? Marching drills?

You know what’s the first thing David did?

He took them to war!

The logical was erased by the theological! After God tells David to go save the city of Keilah,* David tells the 400, but they balk. “We’re too scared to fight,” they say. So David inquires of God a second time. But now something changes—in David! Notice the response from his men after David returns. They jump to their feet and follow! You know why? In God’s light a fresh face of courage returned to David.

What kind of face are you wearing these days? Fierce? Fatigued? Fallen? When we encounter the living God we will jump to our feet and follow Him. Here are a few items to help us find the light of His presence.

Abide! Andrew Murray says, “The Branch Life gives power for prayer.” Theologically, to go to war means to get on our knees. The devotion of prayer pours perspective and energy into us without fail.

Lift your chin! Ask God for a fresh vision of the Captain. Listen to Him, look into his fierce eyes, and follow His lead. Don’t be surprised if what He says doesn’t seem logical!

Enjoy! If it’s been a while since you spent an unhurried day with God, plan it now! When’s the first relatively free day? Go ahead, put it in. It will take herculean effort to plan it, and God’s favor to execute. But you will go on the strength of it for many days.

Share Christ! There’s nothing more invigorating than listening to the Holy Spirit extol Jesus Christ using your dialect. If it’s been a while, drop everything and go!

Dream! “Will you ignore the voices that scream, “you can’t,” and embrace God’s promise, “Nothing is impossible with Me?”

When we inquire of God, He will take us to war!

Spicing up your love life

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”
II Thess 3:5
“Prayer is being loved at a deep, sweet level.”
Richard Rohr

Paul prayed that the Lord would ‘direct hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. Love and perseverance are two sides of the same coin. Christ loved us by walking under a weight of suffering. It was sheer obedience that kept his feet moving toward the cross. And He did it for the joy set before Him! Perfect devotion and duty melded into a single act of love. Honestly, I find it hard to walk the razor sharp line between the two. How do we keep love embedded in our hearts as we seek to obey His will? Check these out:

Read the Word as a love note. In 7th grade Lori Sweeny and I had a hot romance going. Only problem was I was too shy to talk to her. So we passed notes in the hall, and when I got to my next class I would pore over hastily scribbled and cheaply scented morsels of her intent. I had to know what she was thinking. God minces no words in telling us His thoughts. Whether it’s a hard word, or a promise, they’re all there to build capacity to love Him.

Run the race for love not place. The African long distance runners are kicking the world’s tails; have been for two decades. Their secret is found in their training. When asked how far they run, they respond, “I don’t know.” How long do you run? “Not sure.” What do you do for training? “We run until we tire. We love to run, why count miles or minutes?” Herein lies the secret to a great prayer life. Pray until you tire—because you love it, not for any other reason.

Francois Fenelon said, “There is only one way to love God: to take not a single step without Him, and to follow with a brave heart wherever He leads.”

Love and perseverance mark healthy devotion. Just as Paul prayed for God to direct hearts to that sweet spot, so let us do the same for the young hearts that grow under our care.

God's Love Coming Back!

Have you felt God’s love coming back to you recently?

In the novel, The Gift, Pete Hamill ends the story by saying, “I hadn’t received much for Christmas in any ordinary way; but my father loved me back, and there was no other gift I wanted.”

For the first time that December, the son on leave from boot camp, risked entering his father’s sanctuary (a bar). As it turned out they fought together defending the honor of a lady. Partnership, respect and pride had passed between them. It’s what happens when we pray.

In Romans 8, Paul tells us that the Spirit ‘helps our weakness,’ literally meaning that he picks up the other end of an object we can’t carry ourselves. When we approach prayer correctly, we are partnering with His Spirit, interceding in the will of God. Prayer brings the child and the Father together, to fight the imps whose foul words and disrespect needs to be put in place. Together, Father and child, we stand back to back, fighting for the dignity and destiny of a generation.

When you step on campus, you’re back to back with your Father, fighting for students to wake up!

When you share your faith across the table at yet another fast food joint, you’re not getting indigestion, you’re standing over the enemy after a knock out punch, looking into your Father’s eyes and knowing His great love toward you.

It’s the joy I sense in abandoning my will to Him in worship, holding out my heart as though it’s all I can give, and feeling as though God is saying…

’I love you, not your worship.

I love you, not your service.

I love you, the person I created, and the person I redeemed.

We are standing together you and I, back to back, and the fight is the thing. Obey me, and you’ll feel the pleasure of my presence, and especially know how proud I am of you. I will love you back, if you risk my sanctuary.

To know God is to know His love. Enter His sanctuary and the Spirit will help you see the Father beam.

Anyway, isn’t that all we ever really wanted?

Whose Voice Do You Hear?

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,

I wait for God my savior, my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7

Prayer—a soul hunger,

born on a limb,

because I dared obey a Voice.

God has been teaching me that words don’t have to accompany prayer. Sometimes I pray in silence, absorbed by a desire to get close enough to feel His heart beat. But other times, I hear myself chattering on, emptying my grocery bag of requests, quite impressed in fact with the length and profundity of my entreaties. To be honest, after those times, I don’t feel any closer to His heart. That’s because as Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it, “we have heard only ourselves…’

Words normally build intimacy in relationships, because they define feelings and commitment. But with God, who sees right through us, words are not a necessary reinforcement. Are you saying words have no place in prayer? No, not at all. But sometimes He leads us to wait, with a singular focus at attempting to discern His voice. He is pleased by our quiet desperate posture of silence. In fact, at times like these words may even get in the way. Isaiah 30:15 says, “In quietness and trust is your strength.”

So, how do we know if words are getting in the way, or building intimacy?

First, humility will mark our approach. The meek Lamb of God indwells us, and so being filled with Him leaves pride at the threshold.

Second, a peace settles over our heart. We are not rushed, pushed by agenda, or pulled by deadlines. It could be the only time in our day where pure rest happens.

Third, we will listen more than speak. Self test: If I am talking more than half the time, I am speaking twice as much as needed.

Finally, we will leave determined to live holy. True prayer will always leave us hungry to please God, and stronger to obey. It acts like a trickle charge to our spiritual batteries.

Lord, teach me how to watch, to hope and to wait. You will hear me, when I cry from my heart.

Nine Words to Live By

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

Luke 5:16

Could there be any nine words we need more to hear?

“But Jesus”—we need to realize that taking cues from Jesus will have us swimming up stream. Everyone was clamoring for a piece of Him, yet He took paddle in hand, and did the hard work of getting alone. Will you?

“Often”—how often we don’t know. He does it again in chapter 6, right before He choose the disciples. Right before he puts in place the corner stones for the entire future of Christianity! Let’s just say it wasn’t hit or miss, but regular, and when God had something monumental to say, He was there to receive it. Will you be there?

“Withdrew”—how strong is your will when it comes to deciding to act independently? Jesus’ intended to hike up the mountain, and He did it. Will you?

“To Lonely Places”—It’s not physical laws the govern focus, but heart attitude. The other day an old woman was locked in prayer on the 8:02 express, head lifted to heaven and lips moving, while silver strands of light danced across her ancient face. Squeezed between two sleeping commuters, she had found her ‘lonely place.’ Have you?

“And Prayed”—Several times over the past year Jesus has asked me; “when will you get it, that there’s nothing more important than prayer in keeping your love alive?” The great goal of Satan is to keep the saints pre-occupied. That way, activity will replace intimacy, and indecision will replace courage.

Drain-Out

On the train approaching my stop, I politely asked the man seated next to me if he could get up. “We’re not there yet,” he said, “what’s the hurry? “ I stared in disbelief. The thought actually raced through my mind—“I’m glad I didn’t try to share my faith with this jerk.” Imagine! I kept leering, and he finally rose from his seat, but not happily. At the door our spat continued. “See, we haven’t stopped yet,” he said, pointing to the moving train. That was it. I leaned forward into his face, and measured my words, “If—I—want—to—get—up—I’ll—get—up,” I seethed. He backed off. I guess my body language scared him.

The incident exhausted me in the moment, but later I realized that I had drained out long before. My routine hadn’t changed, still rose early for devotions, and tucked in the day with prayer. Yet, unbeknownst to me, life had seeped out.

Drain-out differs from burnout, in that it’s a vague tiredness, a heavy step rather than a buoyant skip. The long obedience needed in our call exacts a toll, that unless replenished leaves us fatigued, and a little numb.

The solution? An invitation with a promise.

“Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

It was said of Moses, that he would often go outside the camp to the tent of meeting, and there meet God. He made an extra effort to sit with Him, while the eyes of a young man named Joshua absorbed a picture of intimacy, a portrait of rest.

How are you? If you feel drained, take a trip ‘outside the camp.’ Sit with Him in order to prepare yourself to be poured out through finishing the school year well—Getaway and all. He is only one step away from the routine.

A Taste for Solitude

“I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me and heard my cry.”

Psalm 40:1

The word patiently here actually means intently, and conjures an image of intense focus, elevating a single desire above all others. It’s like the solitude needed by athletes getting ready for the big game. Spiritual leaders train themselves in this discipline, because from it comes the creative juices needed to hatch fresh ideas, and the candor required to lead out of conviction.

If a leader denies the tug of the Spirit for solitude, he forfeits a well-spring of foresight-where God’s leading, insight-how He’s leading, and hindsight-why God’s taking him there. The early church fathers didn’t give over-activity a second thought. When confronted by the church to help with a logistical challenge related to irate widows, they responded, “no” by reiterating their priorities. “We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” A “no,” even to very good things, is always the fruit of a stronger “yes.” How strong is your yes to the invitation for solitude?

The great challenge of our day is to exchange fragmented sound bytes and data, with an unbroken stream of mercy gushing like a cataract from above the throne of grace. Solitude helps us taste that river like nothing else will.

If solitude eludes you, try the following, but keep in mind baby-steps that lead to progress are better than bounding gaits ending in failure.

Find a place: Whether it’s a park, an attic or a walk in closet.

Make a space: Long enough to settle; nothing scheduled after, and no chance of interruption.

Breathe grace: Listen for kindness and compassion. If you hear anything to the contrary, though you’re alone, you may not be with Jesus. Remember, we wait intently at the throne of grace.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good.” Ps 34

God's Front Door

“Call to me, and I will answer you, and tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

I have always thought of Jeremiah 33:3 as God’s telephone number. But after a recent study, I’m more inclined to say it’s His front door! Here’s a translation in the New KJY version. “Cry aloud from a place of desperation, I will answer with My Presence (and it will be unmistakable-conspicuous!), in order to reveal and unlock inaccessible places.”

When we enter times of prayer, our mental list of urgent requests can lead us to petition too quickly, when all along God wants us to simply rest, wait and trust that His presence will be enough. Often I am more excited to bend the knee in order to unload my baggage, rather than humble myself before God and enjoy the silence that can often sit between friends. Don’t get me wrong. God says to ask, and don’t stop asking. But it’s His presence that reveals the answers, because during that exchange God lifts my eyes away from the request, and brings my gaze up to His level. Here He speaks. Here I absorb strength. Here demons cannot tread. For a little while at least, I am captured by a love that reassures, a peace that settles and a courage that lets me rest upon an invisible Bosom. When I can hear His heart, I will not give pause, find excuses or rationalize away what He says to do.

The battle can leave us exhausted, thirsty and too tired to care, yet God has a silver lining. Beth Moore says, “He never meant for us to sip His Spirit like a proper cup of tea. He meant for us to hold our sweating heads over the fountain and lap up His life with unquenchable thirst.” It was when Elijah was at his wits end, that God had him ‘stand upon the mountain before the Lord.’( At His front door!) Prayer is holding our head over that fountain of living water.

When we want His presence, we knock on a door He opens. He makes Himself conspicuous in the hard work of fighting for a time and place where earth drops away, and nothing remains but us, together. In these moments words fail, and love prevails, deepening His hold upon us, and unlocking inaccessible places.

‘In His presence is fullness of joy, at his right hand are pleasures forever more.’

A Spiritual Chess Match at 37,00 Feet

His name was Igor, a Russian software developer from Atlanta, bound for St. Petersburg, Russia. The DC-10 was seating perhaps 100 passengers with vast stretches of empty seats, yet there we were squeezed side by side next to the window. At first I wanted to move across the isle, to stretch my cramped legs and enjoy some reading. I’m glad I didn’t. We started talking about the Hermitage museum, and particularly the enormous six by eight painting of the prodigal son on display there. It was easy to transition from that into faith. Igor told me he was Jewish, but that his faith had not been a central part of his life. Twenty-three years ago on his honeymoon, during a four-day train ride he had shared a car with an Orthodox priest, and had been intrigued and challenged by their long conversations. “This feels like that time,” he said, “only I see it much clearer now, the way you put things.”

It was as though time stood still, God melding our hearts together in a seamless stream of theological and cultural facts and anecdotes. At one point he asked me with a serious scowl, “why do Jewish people convert to Christianity?” I remember praying, O God how much better could you lead this discussion? The next hour was filled with animated gestures, sullied brow, anger and smiles of revelation. It felt like a chess match, and my Russian counterpart seemed to be always two or three steps ahead in trying to piece together this amazing story about Jesus. I had the chance to tell it in detail, from the cradle to the cross, and watched as God opened his mind and heart to the possibility that it all could be true. God forged a friendship in those hours, and as traffic at JFK backed up, and the flight was delayed on entry, I silently thanked God for the extra time to answer the myriad of questions he still clung to. Pulling up to the gate, we exchanged information, and plan to have dinner this spring when he comes to New York.

Sitting at the Feet of Jesus

Over the past month an image of sitting at Jesus feet has taken hold in my imagination. The madman in Luke found himself there, “dressed and in his right mind.” Mary sat there, content with only Him. Another woman, “who the Scriptures say, “lived a sinful life,” poured perfume on Him there, and wept in great broken sobs of love. Jairus fell down there, and “pleaded earnestly with Him, “My daughter is dying.”

That one got me. Our oldest daughter Audrey, has been ill now for some time. I have felt gnaws of uncertainty as doctors scratch their heads, and prescribe what may cure. Like Jairus, I have fallen in a heap at Jesus feet and cried for her deliverance, both physically, and spiritually. Sometimes the most powerful prayers course down our cheeks.

Do you find yourself today at Jesus feet? Though many of the instances in Scripture include desperation, we don’t have to wait until the bottom falls out before we go there. His invitation comes to us incessantly, fervently—“come!” As easy as it may seem, how difficult it turns out to be, and how subtle the lies that keep us aloof. Oswald Chambers said it best: The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not the answer.” I like that.

Before you close this, take a moment and imagine yourself at His feet. What do you want to tell Him? What questions are still unanswered? Is there something you dread, that consumes your waking nights? Have you given up on anyone? Have you suspended your faith, traded it for something more manageable or secure?

Nothing is off limits at the feet of perfect Love.

Vision

“For lack of vision, the people run wild….”
Ginnette and I joined staff in the summer of 82.’ We were at CSU along with about 40 other fresh legs, and to say we were ‘Gung Ho’ is putting it mildly! Even so, listening to our leadership reiterate the mission refreshed us, and built a solid frame around our own vision.
Since then, I’ve occasionally needed to step back and kick the tires, so to speak. Do I still believe the mission is possible? Am I still as passionate about reaching every student as when I began? Will I still sacrifice as God leads, putting others first and my own needs behind?
Honestly, I can go a long time without knowing my ‘tires’ need attention. But certain symptoms alert me that my vision has blurred, and my faith has atrophied. I’ve forgotten those first heart stopping, mouth gaping God sightings that kept me lean and hungry in the Great Commission.
Here are a few nails I’ve had to pull from the tire over the years.
I think the organization exists for me. The subtle shift from remembering why I’m here and taking personal responsibility, to thinking corporate owes me. It’s a mental, backward step from adult to child, and it keeps me thinking small. The worst part; it can affect younger leaders. Remember, status quo is a transferable concept.
I think security is found in a place, or through ministry partners. The subtle shift from knowing my hope and trust lie in God, to thinking I’m in God’s will because things run smoothly, or my needs are being met. Fear of change is the single greatest detriment to fresh visionary leadership. When that suffers, the movement shifts into neutral.
I think proven methods equal God’s heart for the mission. The subtle shift from knowing that; ‘unless the Father draws them,’ to thinking because I saw fruit before, I will do this again, and again, and again. I need to ask myself; is my strategy based on history, or the leading of the Holy Spirit?
I think ministry gives life to my spirit. The subtle shift from knowing that love fuels my devotional life, to thinking that my call and duty in ministry will reward my spirit with energy and purpose. If I cater to this usurper, I will eventually find myself in a time capsule, unable or unwilling to move forward through fresh revelation.
At the start of the new decade, ask yourself: Do I remember the mission? Do I believe the mission is possible? Do I remember why I joined the mission, and what I meant to do?