Monthly Archives: July 2024

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭143‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

To remember what He has done is to build trust.

“Be not silent, O God of my praise!

For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues.

They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause.

In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.

So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭109‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

With 15 days and 10 locations behind me, I’m taking a couple of days off to rest, read and reflect.

Here’s two books I’ll be working through:

A Simple Way to Pray by Martin Luther

and

Communion with God by John Owen

Luther teaches his barber how to pray. He advises preparing to pray using the 10 commandments, the Creed (I’m using “The Apostles Creed”), and the Lord’s Prayer as preparation and guide.

As I began rereading Dr. Luther, this was the view from my room⬇️

Owen has been reminding me of the joy of communicating with, and worshiping the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Here’s an outline for living in communion, in love with God:

“It is indeed made up of these four things:– 1. Rest; 2. Delight; 3. Reverence; 4. Obedience. By these do we hold communion with the Father in his love.”

Some will complain that this is too formulaic. Maybe, but in my experience those whose communion with God is the rushed aren’t afraid of formula.

The converse also seems to be true.

A man struck up a conversation with me on the train. He asked: “Why are you here?” So I told him. “I’m a preacher telling people about Jesus.”

Now, this usually does one on two things, it either shuts the conversation down and that’s fine. Or it make the conversation more interesting. On that day, it was the later.

In the end, this fellow, who wore a yamaka, and I discussed who Jesus is. I asked him: “Do you believe the Torah and the Prophets and the Psalms?” He replied: “Sort of.” Well, long story short (it’s ok to sigh in relief) – it was a very pleasant conversation and in the end, we both got off at the same stop and he saw me from a distance and shouted “Goodbye rabbi!” He blessed me.

Just now, as I did my Psalms for today, I read this:

“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!” Psalm‬ ‭66‬:‭16‬-‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This ⬆️ is the call. Engage in conversations in which we point to Jesus. It is Jesus who intercedes at the throne for us. It is Jesus who performed the greatest act of steadfast love, on the cross. Blessed be God indeed!

Since Tuesday afternoon, I have been in the northern mountains of Hungary. These mountains are known as the Mátra mountains. thanks to a dear friend, whose family owns a house in a village. It is a place of extreme quiet. It is a place for rest, reflection, and refreshment. Just now, as I finish up my Bible readings, I read this:

“But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.” Psalm‬ ‭59‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Ministry travel teaches me that I cannot figure everything out. It also teaches me that God is sovereign, has a plan, and knows so much better than I. He has worked out problems that I don’t even know exist.

Meditate on the greatness of God, His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. He is greater than the heavens.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬