GraceNotes

May You Live

Psalm 128:6

Jim Stephens

09-16-08

Scripture:

May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. May Israel have quietness and peace! (Psalm 128:6 NLT)

Observation:

This is one of the Psalms of Ascent that Israelis sang when they visited Jerusalem for the annual feasts and ascended the Temple Mount to worship and offer their sacrifices.  It was a declaration of blessing on the family and was often sung at weddings as well.

In this society where life expectancy was much shorter than in America today, it was a special blessing for someone to live long enough and be healthy enough to see and enjoy grandchildren.

Application:

This is one of my verses for daily reading.  A few years ago, when it looked as if I would not have grandchildren, I felt prompted to add this verse to my daily intake of spiritual vitamins.  Both my daughters were married, but by choice in one case and circumstance in the other, grandchildren did not appear to be likely.

Last year, the year Jean and I were 64, each of my daughters had a son, one by adoption and the other by birth.  This year, as they grow and learn, I am enjoying my grandchildren.  And I look forward to many more years of enjoying them (and maybe more!)

Prayer:

Father, I believe you both give and grant the desires of our hearts.  I believe you gave me this verse and prompted me to read it, as both a prayer and a blessing, every day of my life for the past few years.  And I believe you acted on your Word to fulfill the spoken blessing.  I purpose to continue speaking blessings to others as you have spoken blessing to me.  Amen.

Loading mentions Retweet

Each Generation

Psalm 145:4-7

Jim Stephens

09-15-08

Scripture:

4 Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. 5 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. 6 Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. 7 Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. (Psalm 145:4-7 NLT)

Observation and Application:

It’s my responsibility and privilege to keep the stories of God alive for my children and grandchildren.  I am determined to take more time to think about the things God has done in my lifetime – how he has sent us from nation to nation, how he has opened doors of effective service, how he has provided, how lives have been changed as we served him and his people from day to day.

There really have been miracles!  I need to think about them and remind my daughters of the miracles of provision and blessing and protection we experienced when they were young.  I need to make sure my sons-in-law hear those stories and know how God guided and provided.  I must make sure my grandsons hear the God-stories from the days in Jamaica, London, and Africa.

Psalm 145 says, “I will meditate, I will proclaim, everyone will share the story.”

Prayer:

Father, you have been good and faithful to me.  I have seen your hand of power, provision, and protection raised on my behalf and for my family.  I’ll meditate on these things and I’ll tell the stories to the next generations.  I know you are going to be their God as you have been my God through the years.  Amen.

Loading mentions Retweet

Speak To These Bones

Ezekiel 37:4-6

Jim Stephens

09-14-08

Scripture:

4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”  (Ezekiel 37:4-6 NLT)

Observation:

The valley of dry bones Ezekiel visited in his vision represented a real situation.  The nations of Israel and Judah were defeated and destroyed and nothing represented their spiritual, political, and economic situation better than a boneyard – a picture of what once had been full of life and energy and now was dead.

Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” (Ezekiel 37:3 NLT)

God asked Ezekiel a question the answer to which was known only to God and which God alone could fulfill.  But God gave Ezekiel a part to play in bringing life to a valley of death.  Ezekiel’s part was not medical – to heal, it was only to speak the words God gave him and to trust God alone for the results.

Application:

As Christ-followers we face situations that seem beyond help.  It may be a relationship gone wrong, a job lost, a business failed, a medical diagnosis that gives no hope.  If we tune ourselves to God’s thoughts and offer ourselves to speak God’s words, we can make a difference.  Our prayers and our spoken words can become words of life not only to ourselves but to others.  The caution?  To speak only God’s Spirit-words and not the wishes of our minds or the desires of our own hearts.

Prayer:

Father, Help me to stay tuned to your voice and sensitive to your Spirit-words.  Give me clarity and courage to speak your Spirit-words to others who need to hear a voice of help and hope and life.  Amen.

Loading mentions Retweet

No One To Buy

Revelation 18:11

Jim Stephens

09-13-08

Scripture:

The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods. (Revelation 18:11 NLT)

Observation:

Today’s reading in Ezekiel 33 tells of the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC and the reading in Revelation tells of the fall of “Babylon” in the end of the ages.  I hadn’t really thought about the economic aspect of Babylon’s fall until today.

The Babylon of the end of days was a city and nation of consumers.  When this nation fell, the bubble burst and the economy collapsed because “there was no one left to buy the goods.”

As we read through the prophecies of judgment this year I’ve been noticing that when the economy booms or busts, the people at the lower end don’t notice the change as much.  They live for the basics while people in the upper economic levels both create the wealth and keep the economy flourishing by their consumption.

Application:

Anyway, I’m no economist, but I’m more aware than ever how fragile our economic prosperity is.   My house is worth far less than it was a few months ago and if I wanted to sell it, there’s no one to buy it because our town’s housing developments are full of brand new houses that no one is buying.

I’ve got to trust  and rely on God as my source no matter how good or bad things look.  God’s provision is not a bubble of blessing that could burst at any time.  God’s provision is as dependable as his promises.

Prayer:

Father, I trust you.  I depend on you.  I rely on you.  I believe you will never leave me nor forsake me.  Help me wisely make the adjustments that changing economic times require while never taking my eyes off your faithfulness.  Amen.

Loading mentions Retweet

Our God Is Able

Daniel 3:16-18, 26-27

Jim Stephens

09-12-08

Scripture:

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! (Daniel 3:16-18, 26-27 NLT)

Observation:

I love this story!  I love everything about this story.  It’s got conflict and tension and even fire and smoke!  And I see four things in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that I want others to see in me:

·        Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a “We do not need to defend ourselves before you” approach to the conflict.

·        Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had an “Our God is able to save us” faith.

·        Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had an “Even if he doesn’t” commitment to God.

·        Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a “Didn’t even smell of smoke” attitude after the furnace experience.

Application:

I can see elements of each of these parts of their story in my trials and difficulties and I’m not as solid on all four as they were.  As I face my challenges, I’m tempted to waffle on any one of these and I want to do better.

Prayer:

Father, thanks for the example of these heroes’ “Our God is able” faith.  Please grace me with their other qualities as well.  I don’t want to go around “smelling of smoke” and complaining to others about how tough things are.  Keep my spirit sweet and my faith strong.  Amen.

Loading mentions Retweet

There Is A God

Daniel 2:27-28

Jim Stephens

09-11-08

Scripture:

27 Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed…” (Daniel 2:27-28 NLT)

Observation:

Daniel is one of the greatest heroes and noblest men of all time.  He served in various capacities as a ruler and an advisor to the King of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar of Babylon, Darius the Mede and Cyrus, Emperor of Persia.  He left prophecies of world events that have been fulfilled and some that await the end time.

Daniel was personally humble and submitted to whatever authority he served under, but confident and bold in his faith in God.  What a guy!

Application:

Confidence with humility isn’t very common.  I want to live it and I love to see it in others.

Prayer:

Father, I am a submitted person.  You have taught me respect for authority and to use my gifts and abilities to serve well under authority.  Please give me confidence with humility like I see in Daniel.  Amen.

Loading mentions Retweet

My Loss

Lamentations 3:20-26

Jim Stephens

09-10-08

Scripture:

20 I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. 21 Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: 22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” 25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. 26 So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.  (Lamentations 3:20-26 NLT)

Observation:

Jeremiah poured out his pain and sorrow in this poem of grief – this lamentation.  He was lamenting the loss of his nation, his way of life, his friends, his livelihood – he had lost everything that defined who he was and where he fit in the scheme of things.

Application:

We don’t lament much – at least not publicly with our clothes torn and dust and ashes on our heads.  We “suck it up” and just get on with life.  I wonder what that does on the inside of us.

If we never express our grief over our loss – whether the loss of a loved one (last Saturday was the memorial service for Jean’s Mom), the loss of a relationship, the loss of an income, the loss of a business we invested our heart in, the failure of a project, loss of freedom due to failing health – if we never “lament,” we may never get through to the renewed faith Jeremiah found.

I don’t know much about the psychology of it all, but I know we can get messed up inside and stuck in our grief and loss if we never find expression for it.

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for Jeremiah’s Lamentation.  I’m sorry for him that he had to go through it all, but glad for us that he expressed the faith that comes after grief.  Help me to use all of life’s experiences to help others who are on the journey with me or coming along behind me.  Amen.

Loading mentions Retweet

You Stood Aloof

Obadiah 11

Jim Stephens

09-09-08

Scripture:

For you deserted your relatives in Israel during their time of greatest need. You stood aloof, refusing to lift a finger to help when foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem. You acted as though you were one of Israel’s enemies. (Obadiah 11 NLT)

Observation:

The nation of Edom was descended from Esau and Israel was descended from Jacob, many centuries earlier.  There had always been some conflict between them, partly caused by the resentment Edom felt because of God’s preferential treatment of the Jews, his “chosen people.”

Now that Israel and Judah were experiencing judgment and tragedy, Edom was rejoicing with the attitude, “You finally get what’s coming to you!” and even joining in with Judah’s enemies in plundering the helpless.

Application:

We must be very careful not to allow jealousy or resentment or a judgmental attitude to develop toward someone we feel has hurt us, treated us unfairly, or received preferential treatment.  God alone is in a position to determine judgment and to administer corrective judgment with compassion and mercy.

My response to the misfortune of others should be to pray for them and to offer assistance where I can, but never to gloat or secretly approve of their suffering.  It’s a heart issue.

Prayer:

Father, I know that it is because of your great mercy we are not consumed.  Help me never to have an attitude of superiority or contempt towards someone who is suffering misfortune.  Help me not to assume that the misfortune of others is the judgment of God.

Loading mentions Retweet

Truth And Consequences

Jeremiah 43:4-7

Jim Stephens

09-08-08

Scripture:

4 So Johanan and the other guerrilla leaders and all the people refused to obey the Lord’s command to stay in Judah. 5 Johanan and the other leaders took with them all the people who had returned from the nearby countries to which they had fled. 6 In the crowd were men, women, and children, the king’s daughters, and all those whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had left with Gedaliah. The prophet Jeremiah and Baruch were also included. 7 The people refused to obey the voice of the Lord and went to Egypt, going as far as the city of Tahpanhes. (Jeremiah 43:4-7 NLT)

Observation:

I really admire Jeremiah’s commitment to the people God sent him to prophesy to.  After years of persecution for his unpopular messages of coming judgment, when the axe finally fell, Jeremiah was offered a life of ease and safety by the Babylonian conquerors.  He chose instead to stay with the Jews in Judea and when the rebels killed the governor and the Babylonian officials and the rest of the people decided to flee to Egypt, Jeremiah faithfully delivered God’s message to them.  When they determined to disobey, he went with them to Egypt and suffered the same judgment he had been warning them against for years.

Application:

It’s one thing to warn people of the consequences of their sinful actions.  It’s quite another thing to love them enough to stay with them through the consequences and remain a good and godly influence even in the worst of circumstances.

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for Jeremiah’s example of truth-telling even when it costs everything.  But I thank you for his example of loving identification with the people even more.  Help me to speak the truth in love.  Amen.

Loading mentions Retweet