Author: Don Guthrie

How would you describe the activity of Heaven?  How do the citizens of that BRIGHT LAND do God’s will?  Joyfully?  Immediately?  Wholeheartedly?  Completely?  The Puritans used to say that “God loveth adverbs”.  ie how we do God’s will is as important as that we do it.  Honest, what is your attitude about doing God’s will today?  Do you complain? procrastinate? accomplish the bare minimum?  When I pray the Lord’s prayer, I sign up for more than  doing His will.  I surrender myself to doing it in a heavenly way!  May this reflections on the words of Christ and our memories of  His wholeheartedness inspire all of us as we make our way to a place of worship this morning.  What would worship on earth look like if it were patterned  after the worship in heaven?

(re: post from Jan 9)

If God is our Father, then we must be children.  “Unless you are converted and become as children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven, and whoever humbles himself, even as this child, is greatest in the kingdom” (Matt 18:3-4)  Praying the Jesus-prayer means that we embrace the joyful dependence of a child.  It means we reject any sense of self-sufficiency, every burden of self-reliance.  The aspect of childlikeness that Jesus is affirming is humility, says John Piper.  ” If my people will humble themselves and pray”. . .either you will be certain that you are adequate for the challenges of life, or you will be certain that He is adequate.  When you pray, today, will you be a joyful, confident child?

(re: post from Jan 8)

Have you ever been to a holy place, a place where you felt the need to be silent and respectful?  Maybe a cemetery or a sanctuary?  William Barclay says that  “hallowed be thy name” is often the least understood part of the Lord’s prayer.  When  Jesus used an adjective (holy) as a verb (let it be regarded as holy), he was teaching me to pray that people (all people, including me) would have a similar reaction of respect and reverence for God (His name).  God’s command is “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:12) but stillness, much less reverence is, often, NOT what we give Him.  Today, ask God for this miracle!  Ask Him to open our eyes so that a deep stillness will come over our hearts as we think about the Lord and speak to Him in prayer.

(re: post from Jan 7)

Dear Friends,

The pastor is away for a few weeks (first for vacation and then for youth camp).  In his absence I hope you will find encouragement from a few ‘repeat blogs’.  The pastor will begin blogging again (in real time) on July 23.

Thanks for your support.

Mikel Allen
Director of Communications.

This is going to be a good week!  Our read-this-together-with-your-friends-at-FBC-for-a-blessing-from-God passage this week is 2 Samuel 11 and 12.  It is a study of Samuel as an old man.  Samuel after he counsels Israel not to choose a king.  Samuel after they go ahead and do it anyway.  Samuel who feels, unappreciated and rejected.  ” far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you”, he says in 12:23.  After praying for Israel his whole life, Samuel is unwilling to let a chapter of disappointment, legitimate as it was, keep him from his task.  He is determined to “pray through” his disappointment.  Not to do so would be sin.  The kingdom of Christ would advance faster if His sons and soldiers would learn this lesson.  I do not pray because I feel loved and appreciated by others.  I pray because I have been loved and blessed by God.  It is something I do for Him.

Good morning.  In a few hours the people of FBC will meet to seek the Lord by listening to His word, together.  Our text for today is Judges 4 and 5.  Deborah was a mother who realized that her nation, and therefore her children, was captive.  Led by the Lord, she became convinced that they should FIGHT.  Most of us have no idea how captive we are.  “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a SLAVE to sin.”  (Jesus, John 8:34)  To be free we must fight.  Faith isn’t passive.  Prayer is a powerful weapon, but it must be used or it is useless.  “Therefore, take up the full armor of God. . .with all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit”  (Ephesians 6:13,18)  As you pray this morning, dear friend, will you cry out to God against our captivity?  Will you remember that others are praying with you?

It rained Wednesday.  We prayed and it rained.  Coincidence?  No!  Tomorrow (Sunday) at FBC we will think together about the leadership/courage of Deborah.  As worthy of our admiration as she is, my attention has been on vs 3 (Judges 4) “the sons of Israel cried to the Lord.”  Prayer was the first cause.   It always is.  God sent Deborah  because people prayed.  Prayer  is the breakthrough moment when the people of God realize their captive condition and remember their gracious God.  This morning as you pray, will there be a “cry” in your voice and heart.  Have we become so complacent that we can no longer grieve over the state of the church and the world?  Will we cry out to the Father for kingdom and bread and forgiveness and protection?  He will hear and send the rain.