Tell it to a Friend

If you peeked at my journal entries over the past 6 years you would notice how my whining and bartering sounds an awful lot like the pleas of King David's in Psalm 13. How long Lord? When will it get better? How much more do I have to endure? 

Psalm 13:3 (NIV) 

Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;

I wonder if King David found as much comfort when he wrote down his worries and concerns as I do when I write in my journal each morning. Sometimes I sound like a broken record, but I know God understands.

David had a wonderful friendship with Jonathon, King Saul's son. That relationship is an example to all of us. Good friends like this are people we can confide in when we need a sounding board, when we need someone to steer us in a different direction. It is wise and helpful to have that ‘someone’ in our life who knows us and wants only what is best. They will listen and love and laugh with us.

Sometimes all we need to do is talk a problem over with a friend, That is what my journal writing practice is for me; talking it over with a friend. What a friend we have in Jesus. He will listen, speak to my heart or point me to a person I need to share with, listening to my friends, sometimes sharing and other times learning from them. 

Jesus,

Sometimes when we feel the burden of life closing in, sensing that it just isn't fair, give me someone to talk with. If that someone is you, open my ears to hear. Thank you for always being my confidant. 

Psalm 13:1-3

The Story - Chapter 24 - No Ordinary Man

Mark 4:9 (NIV)
^"Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."  

These words can and will change your life; it did mine.  For years I attended church, thought I understood what it meant to be a follower of Jesus, to be Christian, but in fact I was clueless.  It was all 'act' and no 'fact'.

I put on the face, said and did what I thought everyone expected.  I volunteered, took center stage and led, but, I did it without heart; it was all an act.

One day, but I can't give you a date, everything changed.  There was no fanfare, I just began to change.  I do remember being tired of the way I lived.  I did not feel like there was a lot of purpose or joy to life.  I decided to try something different.  I went into my home office, closed the door and began to read a book on prayer. Then I tried to pray.  I did this for a number of weeks when I added journal writing during to this quiet time.  That is when it all began to change for me; and I mean all.

Life Application Bible Notes explains Mark 4:9 this way. The hearing Jesus wants from us is not the kind we use when we listen to background music or when someone starts to recount a long story we've already heard. To truly "hear" Jesus' words is to believe them, to use them immediately in decisions and attitudes, and to base life on them—your recreation and work, family plans and money matters, praying and singing. To hear Jesus' words is to make Jesus your true Lord. (Bold emphasis mine.)

What is Jesus saying to you?  Faith, trust and hope are the words that keep me moving forward every time I hear God's Word for me.  What about you?  Do you have a story to tell us?

Read Mark 4-6 here

Listen to Mark 4-6 here

The Story - Chapter 23 - Jesus' Ministry Begins

Mark 1:2 (NIV)
"It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"--

Let's get personal for a moment.  Do you ever feel like God is preparing your way, or do you feel alone?  Do you go through each day fending for yourself?  Is this mystery we call life getting you down and holding your head under water?

This happens sometimes.  Some seasons of our lives are so intensely troubling that we do not know what to do next. We can be encouraged though. What breaks our heart today may heal a heart tomorrow. The turmoil that keeps us awake this night could grow us emotionally stronger for tomorrow.  Lent is a time to draw closer to God...a time to recognize He is coming soon. There are those times when we have to peak at tomorrow to find direction for today.

I have shared before that I read from a number of devotionals each morning (2 or 3), seeking some wisdom for the day.  More often than not, God gives me a special Word I feel is just for me.  Today, while reading from February 28 I was coming up empty.  The Scriptures were rich, as always, but did not speak to my heart like I was accustomed to.

While I was journaling these feelings I remembered that there is a writing in each of these books for February 29 - the leap year reading.  Guess what, my Word was waiting there.  I simply had to turn the page and peak ahead.  This is the sense I get when reading about John the Baptist assignment, to "...Prepare the way for the Lord..."  As John prepared the way for Jesus, Jesus is preparing the way for us. But once in a while we have to turn the page.

Read Mark 1-3 here

Listen to Mark 1-3 here

Philippians 4:1-23

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV) 

How do you, "present your requests to God?"  During this time in life, given the unstable financial situation we find our personal lives and our country's future in, what might this look like?  How do you approach God and ask for help?  Are you specific with your requests, asking questions like, "I need your help to pay the mortgage today, Father?  Please show me what to do.  Or do your prayers remain very generic like, "You know my needs God, and I place them in your hands."

Praying is a personal matter and a public one.  My personal prayer journal is filled with specific petitions which often God will answer in a specific way.  But, there are also prayers that are merely cries for help, needs that I don't know how to express.  Sometimes I don't know how I would envision an answer to my plea; I have no idea what the answer should be.  These problems require God sized intervention.  That is when I surrender to His will.

Today let us consider our prayer life.  Today let us practice giving God control, give up anxiousness and fear.  As Christians, we might not understand the process but we can be confident in the outcome.  "God...will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Read Philippians 4:1-23 here

Listen to Philippians 4:1-23 here

Luke 9:37-43

But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. (Luke 9:42-43)

Have you ever been amazed at the greatness of God?  If you are anything like me you do a lot of looking back at your life, and then see how God has been working during some difficult days.  I smile knowing our God is an amazing God.  I write in a journal regularly and that tool gives me opportunity to experience this any time I choose to take a look at an entry from a year ago or five years ago.  It is very eye-opening.

Those times I struggled most, God was there.  When I felt alone, God was there, loving and forgiving me. Some days he used other people to minister to me, sometimes music made a dark day light.  Mostly His Word is speaking, guiding and comforting.  I begin each morning in my journal with "now I am seeking your Word for me today."

Each day when I do this and read the scripture in the devotional I use, God speaks.  Our amazing God will do this for you to.  You can read the same verses I read and hear a totally different message.  Amazing, simply amazing!

And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. (Luke 9:43)

Read the Luke 9:37-43 text here.  Listen to a reading of the Luke 9:37-43 text here.

Pray Continually - 2 Timothy 1:1-7

As I was writing in my journal this day, I was listing those I am praying for and acknowledged the list was getting longer each day.  The prayers ranged from health issues, to financials concerns, to petitions that some lost friends and relatives find Jesus.  There are varying degrees of urgency to these requests, but I ended my list with "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  I noted in the margin, "How does one  do that?"

The text today speaks of Paul praying continually for Timothy.  Again I ask, "How?"

"I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers." (2 Timothy 1:3)
Now, granted, Paul has lots of time as once again he is in prison, but Paul has been praying for Timothy since they first met.  So what does praying continually look like?  For me, I am sure I fall short of Paul's practice, but I have faith that once I give my requests to God He has them covered.  Therefore, if I live my day and my life in close contact with God, connecting with Him all day on every issue before me, I consider this praying continually.

Paul's love for Timothy and the faith he has that Timothy will carry on the convicted man's work of spreading the Gospel, give Paul strength and reason to pray continually for their ministry of love.

Read the 2 Timothy 1:1-7 text here