hope

Lamentations 3:26
26 So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the Lord.

I would never think of bragging about my salvation. I certainly praise my Savior, however. It’s all about him. In the meantime, I want to serve others, reaching some with the good news that I heard for the first time long ago. I never get tired of hearing it.

Pray that the astounding hope of Jesus in your life never gets old.

all

Isaiah 53:17
7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.

Jesus knows his suffering and death are for us. So, he takes it as it comes and he let’s all the injustice of it die with him. That injustice he goes through turns out to be our healing and eternal life. We deserve what he received, so we might receive him. How could I worship any other??

Thank Jesus for what he has done.

peaceful

Isaiah 32:17
17 And this righteousness will bring peace.
Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.

When we are right with God, we can handle all the “drama” that comes our way. Notice, I didn’t say we won’t have troubles, it’s just that we face them with God as our partner and so they aren’t really troubles in the long run, are they?

Pray for God’s eyes when you face challenges in your life.

the city

why does God love big cities so much?

(thanks to Rodney Stark and Tim Keller for background info)

available

Isaiah 30:15
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.

We don’t want to end up like God’s people, whom Isaiah is speaking to here. They are not willing to listen. It’s always a good idea to listen to God, but you can’t listen if you are doing all the talking.


Pray for God to guide your listening in prayer, as well as your requesting.

light

Proverbs 11:12
It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor;
a sensible person keeps quiet.

If you think advice would be helpful for someone else, then it takes great skill to actually earn the open attention from them to hear what you would like to share. If you want to criticize or show how much more you know than them, just know no one appreciates it deep down and you appear foolish, though people might not share that because they figure you wouldn’t hear it anyway.

As Stephen Covey once wrote, “Be a light instead of a judge.”

Pray for God to quiet your judgments.

how to be a genuine Christian without being a jerk

Dana is guest speaker at Oasis Christian Center
live and unplugged!

satisfied

Ps 131.2
Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

A child learns to trust that he/she will be fed by his/her mother, and no longer needs to cry out when hungry. Same goes for us with God. We do not have to have our needs met by God if he doesn’t agree. A few less “give me this/ give me that’s” in our prayers might be just what God needs to “hear.”

Pray for satisfaction of what you have already been given.

resting

Ps 62.1
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

Without knowing I get to live with Jesus forever, I would have great fear wondering if I measure up. Thank God Jesus dies for us while we are yet sinners. We don’t earn what is not ours to possess. Life with God forever comes through Jesus, not my effort.

Pray for an extra anointing of God’s grace today.

defender

Ps 39.9
I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.

When we sin against God there is no court of appeals. We are 100% guilty 100% of the time. We can’t talk our way out it. All that is left is to throw ourselves on the mercy of the court. Thank God for our prosecutor who ends up being our defense, as well. The honorable Jesus.

Pray for honesty in your confession.

fade

Ps 4.4
Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent.

There is no law that says we have to speak up every time something ticks us off. It may be just as good for us to leave it inside and let it die out as it is releasing it, to “get it off my chest.” Many don’t have a hard time lashing out in anger, but few are skilled at letting it die inside, even though this may be as good or better a response.

Pray for patience and holding your tongue.

quiet

Job 13:5
If only you could be silent!
That’s the wisest thing you could do.

In this day of instant recordings, instant blogging, instant everything, everything you say can and will be used against you, if someone decides they want to put you down. Public figures can no longer deny saying something they said. Now, they can only say, “I didn’t mean what you think I meant.”

Leaving things unspoken unless our speaking is absolutely necessary to bring good into the situation may be a discipline to take on if you are challenged by speaking too much.

Pray for the ability to be quiet.

Bible study on John 2:1-11

celebrate life Jesus style!

Jesus has eternity to plan his first public miracle,
so, naturally he helps two young newly weds keep the party going , and avoid social embarrassment-
what's with that??

ignore

Job 6:24
24 "Teach me, and I will be quiet;
show me where I have been wrong."

If I stay busy enough, then I don’t have to be concerned about my sin. Too many things to do, right now, urgent and compelling-- to notice what I am already doing that is wrong or what I am not doing that would be right. Clever Tempter, good luck, God now has my attention.

Honestly confess the things you have done or left undone in the last week that have gotten in the way of God.

God

1 Kings 19:12
12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came the sound of sheer silence.

“Sound of sheer silence.” With apologies to Simon and Garfunkel, God knows about this first. This is not a koan, as in Buddhist thought. “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” and such. Literally, to truly hear from God it is a much a matter of our preparation to hear as it is his availability to communicate with us.

What is God saying to you at 12 noon today?

intensity

1 Samuel 1:3
Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk.

Nothing like prayer to help on the booze budget. Now we know why they call it, “spirits.” Hannah is not drunk, however. She is just concentrating in the quiet of the hour. Focusing on her God. Praying intensely. Is intense prayer so rare for us that it seems unusual?

Pray intently for the Holy Spirit to come to you for a set period of time. “Spirit fill me.”

who trusts teenagers? God!

our best days are ahead of us and God working through young people is why

the model of King Josiah is alive and well today

attention

Tuesday
Genesis 24:21
Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.

Communication is about 90% non-verbal according to communication mavens. We hear with our “eyes.” Also, practically, we all know what we miss in conversation because we are not really listening as much as trying to think of what we are going to say next.

With God, our richest communication can occur by just paying attention to the world around us and see where he shows up.

Pray for deep listening skills with loved ones.

silence

Friends-

We have been focusing on scriptural passages that deal with issues of practical living with God (the “with-God” life), and actively praying about this. A key discipline of growth and renewal for Christians is practicing silence and solitude. In our information overload era, these are among the toughest ways to open up to the Spirit.

So, of course, we will do just that for the remainder or the year. I don’t know about you, but I always get a little frazzled from now until New Year’s. Not now! We are going to get a Bible vitamin every week day, starting today. Enjoy!

Silence: Closing off our souls from “sounds,” whether noise, music, or words, so that we may better still the inner chatter and clatter of our noisy hearts and be increasingly attentive to God (The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible)

Spend some time in quiet today and pray for guidance on this.

John 1:35-50 Bible Study

God works through relationships
Jesus starts building his team

forward

Rev. 22:5
And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

When we are with God forever there will be no darkness. Everything will be completely out in the open. We will live exactly as God has designed us to live.

This life with God has already begun with the resurrected Jesus. We have glimpses of what will be our eternity, today. We call this the “Kingdom Life.” Notice it isn’t sitting back plucking at a harp and eating bon bons. We will reign with God in the new creation. He is bringing the Kingdom in for good and we are part of this plan. Together we move his Kingdom forward.

Pray for more trust so God can use you in even greater ways.

blessed now

1 Pet. 5:6-7
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

God is ready and able to be a blessing to anyone. In the long run, there is no worry or care that can stop God from blessing us. All that is necessary is a desire to be blessed. Do you want God in your life?

Come to Jesus.

Pray for God to renew your relationship together, or begin it.

sides

1 Pet. 3:12
"The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
against those who do evil.”

Whose side is God on? Those who are always looking in his direction. Those who look to him for life. Those who follow him and repent when they stray.

Who does God oppose? Those who do evil. So, Whose side do you want to be on?

Pray for common sense when it comes to God.

partner

Heb. 13:6
So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

When it comes to following Jesus or following people always choose Jesus. There is nothing someone else can do for you or to you that is greater than what Jesus can do. This works in all areas of life. Jesus is the best partner you can possibly have.

Pray for progress in the confidence you have in Jesus.

what did you say?!

sharing the gospel isn't a matter of technique it is a matter clarity

bridge

Heb. 7:25
Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

Without Jesus, we are the enemy of God. We are not capable of living right lives on our own, not to the extent of being right with God, and if we worship or follow any other “god” it is living a lie.

Jesus is our bridge. He wants all people to come to God through him and he has already made it possible.

Pray for those who are following other “gods” to keep seeking.

preaching at Oasis

Friends- I will be preaching at the 6 p.m. service at Oasis Christian Center, in Hollywood (the Godchicks church!) this Sunday, November 4th. Worship is at Oasis Theatre, located at 5100 Wilshire Blvd, in between La Brea & Highland. I am giving the message, seven reasons why people say they aren't Christian. Here is a sample essay that will be handed out.

Christians are way too exclusive

You must be kidding. When Carl Sagan, the most well known scientist of my generation, gave the keynote address at the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal organization’s annual meeting, he said this.

In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion. (Carl Sagan, 1987 CSICOP keynote address)

I’ll leave politics out of it, but there are a few little events that have occurred to change the way people think about religion, like say, Christianity out of Judaism, the whole Protestant Reformation, or more recently, the rise of Mormonism out of Christianity. Whatever you think of the merits of these outcomes, Carl, change does happen, even in religion.

So why would someone as brilliant as Carl Sagan be so naive concerning religion? I am most familiar with my own faith, of course, so I’ll ask the question this way. What’s your problem with Christianity? Actually, people have a lot of problems with Christianity. One strong criticism of Christianity is it is so exclusive.

“Christians think they are right and everyone else is wrong.” “Christians think they have the inside track to the truth.” “Christians are intolerant toward others.” What is really going on with these and similar statements?

Actually, everyone is exclusive. Everyone thinks they are right about their viewpoint. It’s just that Christians are honest enough to be open about their exclusivity. Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life.”

I mean, really, who doesn’t think they are right about the way they think? Christians aren’t saying there is no truth anywhere else, because we think whatever is good and right and honorable comes from God, anyway. We just think Jesus is the ultimate truth. If you want to see potentially unhelpful exclusivity, for example, stay tuned for the current presidential election. Do you think the candidates think they are right about their viewpoints? How about what the other candidate thinks? Perhaps it goes something like this.

“My opponent has some great ideas; actually quite similar to my own. In fact, I wish I could adopt a couple of his positions because they really might work well, but I can’t, because they are ideas he supports. Instead, I need to try to convince you that he is Satan incarnate.”

Everyone thinks they have to be right. Everyone believes they have the exclusive truth. Even people who say there is no truth think they are right. That is the latest theory. A very white, European idea floating around for the past couple of hundred years. Relativism.

Relativism asks the question, “Whose to say your truth is anymore real than my truth? It is just your opinion based on your cultural bias. Truth is simply a contextual thing.”

Well to say, “There is no ultimate truth” is, in and of itself, an ultimate truth statement. Everyone thinks they have the truth. Christians are just honest enough to admit it.

I like what author, Anne Lamott said, at a National Pastor’s Retreat a few years back. She was commenting on the phrase, “Well, that’s just your opinion.”

Yes, that’s just my opinion but I think I am right. If I didn’t think I was right I would have another opinion.

Yet, if everyone is exclusive in his/ her viewpoint, isn’t that being intolerant? I don’t know how this could be intolerant because the very definition of tolerance includes thinking you are right.

Tolerance says, “I respect you as a human being and I respect your right to have an opinion and I think your opinion is wrong.” You can’t be tolerant with people you agree with. You would be, “agreeable.” You can only show tolerance with people you disagree with.

To be intolerant would be to not respect people as human whom you disagree with, and/or not respect their right to have a worldview, and actually try to force that opinion to never be uttered. If you actually know anything about Christianity you would know that is the furthest thing from the model or message of Jesus. Here is what he said about people who disagree with Christians.

‘If people vehemently disagree with you, tell them you think they are wrong, leave them alone, and find some other people who might be more open to your viewpoint' (Luke 10:10-11).

Wow, how exclusivist and intolerant can you get? “Leave them alone.” You can see how this whole issue is a matter of full disclosure and honesty. If you are going to criticize Christians for being exclusive, you must criticize every human who ever lived, including of course, yourself. Everyone thinks they are right. Everyone is exclusive.

(Dana Hanson 2007 www.christcast.net )

source

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God’s word is the source of life. Jesus is the Word. His word brings life in abundance. His word drives us to repentance and new life if we but hear it and respond. In a world filled with so many words constantly immersing us with verbiage, God speaks softly and we strain to hear. Yet, these are the words we must here. Out of honesty and truth, they are for us and for our healing.

Pray for the desire to be faithful in hearing God’s word.

Bible study on John 1:10-34

Word become flesh and John the Baptizer
with insights from the work of Pastor Mark Driscoll

watch

Hebrews 1:14
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Angels are not people who have died and are with God directly now. Angels were created by God before the beginning of the universe. They are messengers for God, protect God’s people, and have a special role of protecting children. There are greater things going on than we can see. Thank God for these servants.

Pray for the children in your life and the protection of their holy angels.