Revitalize Your Church

“I watched them tearing a building down, A gang of men in a busy town. With a ho-heave-ho and a lusty yell, They swung a beam, and the side wall fell. I asked the foreman: "Are these skilled-- And the men you'd hire if you had to build?" He gave me a laugh and said: "No, indeed! Just common labor is all I need. I can wreck in a day or two What builders have taken a year to do." And I thought to myself as I went my way, Which of these roles have I tried to play? Am I a builder who works with care Measuring life by a rule and square? Am I shaping my deeds to a well made Plan, Patiently doing the best I can? Or am I a wrecker, who walks the town Content with the labor of tearing down?” -- Edgar Guest

Faith, the seed of heaven planted by surprise in earthen soil. The barren ground reluctantly invites, mostly disdains this small possibility of hope. Stirs slightly, irritated, yawns and then settles back in lazy slumber mostly convinced that the interruption is merely a burial of another empty dream. Entombed in heavy darkness the seed of heaven sings as it reaches for a land beyond its grasp and hopes for the hand of God it cannot see. But no dark place can silence the song of faith and hope. And calloused soil cannot withstand for long refreshing rains. Slowly, steadily, the seed of heaven toils upward, onward, through the dark towards heaven's gate. Sometimes singing. Sometimes sighing. Always longing for destiny awaits. Heaven beckons, Earth responds. That is the order of all created things. The earthen tomb becomes a womb of life anew -- and resurrection! A seed, a sprout, a stalk, and then a splendid crimson flower Blooming where it first began it's morning hour. Look...

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow if death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."   -- Thomas Merton

In honor of the 42nd Birkie today, I am re-posting this delightful story from my first book, Filled Up, Poured Out: Hayward is home of the American Birkebeiner , North America’s largest cross country ski race. 10,500 skiers come from almost every state and many nations to compete in this world-class event. Spectators line snow-covered Main Street, ringing cowbells and cheering weary skiers across the finish line. For two decades, I've been a Birkie cowbell ringer. A day or two before the Birkebeiner, I always pine a little, wishing I had pulled the skis from the rafters and joined the throng of brave souls testing the limits of their endurance. But, as Birkie day arrives, I find myself content to ring cowbells. After all, if everybody skied the Birkie, there wouldn't be anybody left to cheer. Normally, we ring in the elite skiers who finish first. Usually the winner is some Olympic European who hardly broke a sweat. I’m always impressed. The best part of the race, t...

The settled happiness and security which all desire, God withholds from us by the very nature of the world; but,joy, pleasure, and merriment, He has scattered broadcast. We are never safe but we have plenty of fun and some ecstacy. It is not hard to see why. The security we crave would teach us to rest our hearts in this world and pose an obstacle to our return to God;a few moments of happy love, a landscape, a symphony, a merry meeting with our friends, a bath or a football match, have no such tendency. Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns but will not encourage us to mistake them for home. -- C. S. Lewis

You fearful saints, fresh courage take. The very clouds you so much dread Are filled with mercy and shall break With countless blessings on your head. -- William Cowper "He delivers me from all my fears" Psalm 34:7

In the gleaner’s path may be rich reward, Tho’ the time seems long, and the labor hard; For the Master’s joy, with His chosen shared Labor on, labor on, Keep the bright reward in view, For the Master has said He will strength renew; Labor on till the close of day. (More Here) -- Christopher R. Blackall (Civil War Surgeon, 33rd Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers. Later, a prominent and tireless soldier for Jesus in Baptist Sunday School work.)

All the Way My Savior Leads Me by Fanny Crosby All the way my Savior leads me; What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who through life has been my Guide? Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell! For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well; For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well. All the way my Savior leads me, Cheers each winding path I tread; Gives me grace for every trial, Feeds me with the living Bread. Though my weary steps may falter, And my soul athirst may be, Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! A spring of joy I see;Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! A spring of joy I see. All the way my Savior leads me O the fullness of His love! Perfect rest to me is promised In my Father’s house above. When my spirit, clothed immortal, Wings its flight to realms of day This my song through endless ages—Jesus led me all the way; This my song through endless ages—Jesus led me all the way.

I think your heart will be touched by this beautiful poem, written by my friend, Michelle Meade (Creator of Remember Me Jewelry .) A Heart's Cry many a tear, many a sigh times of wondering, questioning why is there purpose in the pain? will the sun come out again? all i see is steady rain hear this faint heart up above hear me calling out to ~ Love Love's Response yes, My love you'll fly again higher and farther than you've ever been above the mist of the past you'll soar with Me, free at last don't give up, don't give in keep the ground your standing in I'm right here next to you holding you up, seeing you through with every breath Trust in Me with every step, press closer to Me look for the rainbow in the rain and hear Love calling out your name... "Beloved, you are Mine."

A wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Lord, A wonderful Savior to me. He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, Where rivers of pleasure I see. He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, That shadows a dry, thirsty land; He hideth my life in the depth of His love, And covers me there with His hand . -- Fanny Crosby

A great post by Mark Batterson: Out of Nowhere

When You Are Down to Nothing, God is Up to Something!

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand, True to our God, True to our native land. James Weldon Johnson (Quoted in benediction prayer at the inauguration by Joseph Lowrey)

This is a re-posting of something I wrote a couple of years ago. I used it in my sermon this morning, and several people asked for a copy of the poem. It's a touching story. One day, after making a hospital visit in Duluth, Minnesota, I was drawn by the spire of the old First Presbyterian Church. A kind secretary opened up the sanctuary for me to sit and pray for a while. Gazing around, my eyes fell upon a beautiful stained glass window. It was the picture of a gravestone with dark purple and black hues overshadowing it. But at the top of the window, squarely in the center of a black night, shone a bright golden star -- which seemed to exude hope and light. The star was the focal point of the window. At the bottom, the following words were inscribed: In memory of Sarah Agnes Graff 1853-1889 Build a little fence of trust around today. Fill the space with loving work and therein stay. Look not through the sheltering bars upon tomorrow. God will help thee bear whatever comes, if joy ...

If you need an Inspiration Break -- Try This.

Commit yourself to something greater than yourself! The world has enough people who go through life seeking their own personal gain. There are plenty of folks who just “go with the flow.” We need individuals who will stand up and dare to be different. What are your convictions? What principles guide your life? A life without principle and conviction is like a boat without a sail or rudder. Nobody knows where it will end up. If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. Those rare people who really make a difference are those who stand on their convictions. This is called character -- a priceless gem available to anybody who is willing to pay the price. Somebody said, “If you stand, just stand. If you sit, just sit. But whatever you do, don’t wobble!” Once you determine your values and convictions, hang on to them for dear life! Don’t wobble! Keeping commitments is hard work. Standing strong in the face of adversity is sometimes lonely. But keep on. Hang on. Don’t wobble....

A few weeks ago, I received the sad news that my friend, Shirley, had died unexpectedly. She and her husband, Dannie, were pillars of our church before they moved to Missouri a few years ago. I immediately called Dannie on the phone. "Dannie, I heard the news about Shirley and I'm so sorry." Dannie was glad to hear from me. I continued, "I want you to know that all of your friends up here in the northwoods are praying for you." "I can tell," he replied, "I've been amazed at the peace and strength I've had all the way through this terrible ordeal. It has been just unbelievable. How could I possibly have such peace at a time like this? Then I thought, 'I know why! Someone is praying for me..'" Dannie continued, "You know, Pastor Mark, light travels at 186,282.397 miles per second. But I've discovered something that travels even faster than that! It's the prayers of God's people!!" "Losing Shirle...

O weary saint cast down, Who mourns in barren field, Whose heart and flesh now fail And naught but weeping yield– When fears increase as life departs, Where is the balm for broken hearts? The weary Savior died And in the grave was sown To bear the wrath of God For sin though not His own Then He arose from where He lay, The firstfruits of the harvest day. O weary saint look up For from the barren field Will rise, in Christ, His own With heart and flesh then healed. Our hope is this, that death is gain, Our tears and sighs will not remain. John Ireland (1918) Reformed Praise