Year: 2020

She Sleeps Peacefully

Yesterday was “Daughters Day” and I stumbled upon a poem/song that I have been working on for some time now:

“She Sleeps Peacefully” by Harold Ballinger

I remember bringing her home for the very first time
Watching every car on that road
Driving so slow and taking my time
Mindful of every bump in the road

I remember that first time I sat up straight in bed
Listening quietly for her sleeping by our bed
Afraid that she needed me and I wasn’t there
Realizing it was all in my head

Listening to her sleep peacefully that night
I’m in awe of this sweet, precious gift
I wonder how I’ll ever live up to the task

I sure don’t want to let her down
I sure don’t want to fail
There is so much at stake in her sweet little life
There is so much that she’ll have to face

I remember the first time we camped in a tent
Our start to campfires, smores, and stars
We laughed, we played, we sang aloud
And watched our breath like fog in the air

I remember that first dance, her dressed like a princess
Smiling, laughing, swaying to music late into the night

I remember our trips building memories together
Seeing new sites, towns and folk
Walking, running, and playing pretend together
Until the fun of the day had us spent

Listening to her sleep peacefully that night
I’m in awe of this sweet, precious gift
I wonder how I’ll ever live up to the task

I sure don’t want to let her down
I sure don’t want to fail
There is so much at stake in her sweet little life
There is so much that she’ll have to face

Today is the day she’ll wear the white dress
And I’ll walk her down that long isle
In truth I’ve dreaded this moment since her birth
I don’t know how strong I’ll need to be

But I’ve been blessed with this daughter of mine
Who is so precious that everyone can see
It’s no wonder she caught the eye of some sweet young boy
But I doubt he will ever love her like me

Will he listen to her sleep peacefully at night
And be in awe of this precious gift
I wonder how he’ll ever live up to the task

Lord, don’t let us let her down
Please don’t allow her fail
Lord, there is so much at stake in their sweet new life
There is so much that they’ll have to face

There’s a new little girl that we met just today
Snuggled against my girl’s chest
I see that same look in my son in laws eyes
That I knew not so long ago myself

He’ll listen to her sleep peacefully tonight
And be in awe of this precious gift
And he’ll wonder how he might ever live up to the task

He sure doesn’t want to let her down
He sure doesn’t want to fail
There is so much at stake in her sweet little life
There is so much that she’ll have to face

And as part of me is in awe and wonder of this wonderful opportunity to be a dad to an amazing daughter — another part of me ponders how wonderful my heavenly Father’s love is for me every step of The Way.

Did He sing to me and read to me even when I was still in the womb like I did for my daughter? Or was it even more wonderful than that in ways too difficult for me to comprehend?

How many moments has He shared by my side that were so precious and sweet that I might have overlooked at the time?

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” Luke 11:13 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.11.13.NLT

My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. My child, don’t reject the Lord ’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:1‭-‬12 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.3.1-12.NLT

A Convicting Call to Repentance

Listen! The Lord ’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin. Your lips are full of lies, and your mouth spews corruption.
Isaiah 59:1‭-‬3 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.59.1-3.NLT

This morning, I am inspired by these verses that a friend recently highlighted in the Bible App. I’m encouraged because the gospel of Jesus Christ is not just a “get out of hell free card” or “key to prosperous living” or “way to look religious/good to others” — but it is a convicting call to repentance.

We see that Jesus is quite focused on repentance as “not just some type of optional condiment” to be made available beside the Christian meal — but these table that He sets for us in the presence of our enemies has humble repentance as our cross to bear. Conviction that leads to personal repentance is the activity in our lives that is so different to the way of the world that Christ is put on visible display to even the blind when we are faithful in this way.

The way of the world says, “If you hear something that makes you uncomfortable or that might call you to change your ways or consider a different perspective — go into self- defense mode and make war against whoever spoke it.” And both the lawless rebel and the religious hypocrite both know this and live it well. Just look at the division ands warlike behavior that takes place on social media, in political debate, etc. So the way of the world is clear.

And haven’t we even acted this way towards God? I’m not talking about “them” with a pointing finger. I’m talking about “we” — us who call ourselves Christians and seek to sit at His table and sup with Him. How often have we been eager to drink the milk of forgiveness, eat the bread of glorifying God, but stopped short of the cutting and chewing and digestive work of personal repentance?

As our verses today point out first and foremost, “Listen! The Lord ’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.” He is not to weak to save us from our sin, nor is He too far away to hear us. But have we shown up at the table ready to eat? Have we picked up that phone of confession? Have we turned back from the prodigal road in repentance to walk with resolute focus the narrow path home?

Each of us has something that we should repent this morning. Like the verse says, “It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin. Your lips are full of lies, and your mouth spews corruption.” And if our pride has us too religious to admit our own shortcomings, our own missing the mark, our own sin — how deep is that darkness that we call light?

So do not be afraid to come to the fight of the Blood of the Lamb to be washed clean. Do not be so proud that you cannot hear conviction and let it have its way to work upon your heart. Do not be so rebellious that you are offended and hear conviction to repent as condemnation to perish. Do not be so lukewarm and immature as to pick at your spiritual meal and be malnourished.

He loves you just like He loves me — that makes us “we” — and we are in this together, Christ follower. So let’s dine on this full meal and grow strong in humility and even stronger in repentance together for His glory. Amen.

And you who might read this and feel that you aren’t sitting in the inner courts with Jesus at the table — for those who feel they might be in the room but not at the table — or for those who feel they might be on the outside looking in — come, there is a seat for you. In fact, you can have mine, because I was just finishing and heading out to welcome more in to feast. Don’t worry, He has plenty of seats for me too. Come, say your prayers of thankfulness, of belief, of confession, of repentance, and enjoy this full meal. The dessert of blessing is amazing once you finish your plate.

God bless!

Talk is Cheap

A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
Matthew 7:17‭-‬20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.7.17-20.NLT

There’s an old saying, “Talk is cheap.”

Whether in our home, in the workplace, in the church, offer in public — who we really are shines through in our actions, regardless of our words. And that doesn’t mean that we avoid being a hypocrite by “not talking about it”. It means that we need to:

1) test ourselves to be sure that we have genuine faith (a faith that we live out each day bearing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self- control) that results in obedience to God’s will for our lives

2) repent, confess, and accept forgiveness for anything we have let become hypocrisy or a hindrance to our testimony of what Christ Jesus is doing in our lives

3) align our thoughts, words and actions with God’s will each day and abide in Him through the day

4) give God all the glory for the life abundant that we experience when truly living in this way

Now we have said it to ourselves. We have read it. We have understood it.

Now let’s walk it out, by the power of the Holy Spirit in us who is sufficient and fully capable of such amazing things!

If you aren’t sure about this Holy Spirit power thing… pray and ask God to give you this good gift that comes down from heaven. Repent of your sins, believe that Jesus Christ was dead and buried and is now raised to heaven, confess Him as your Lord and Savior, and receive the Holy Spirit to conform you to the image of Christ and restore your right relationship with God. He does not wish that you should perish as a hypocrite, but live as an Ambassador of The Way. Amen.

The Very Flame of the LORD

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord .
Song of Solomon 8:6 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/sng.8.6.ESV

The song “You Won’t Relent” by Songwriters Cassie Campbell / David Brymer / Misty Edwards has the lyrics:

“You won’t relent until you have it all
My heart is yours
You won’t relent until you have it all
My heart is yoursI’ll set you as a seal upon my heart
As a seal upon my arm
For there is love that is as strong as death
Jealousy, demanding as the grave
Many waters cannot quench this love”

Does the fire burn inside of us?

Is there a flame upon our heart?

Is it burning away all those things of self?

Do we know He is right here with us in this place?

Can we say “my heart is yours”?

Thank you Jesus, for the fervor with which we can live this life on fire for you.

Thank you to my friend Chad Branum for highlighting this beautiful passage from Song of Solomon that reminds ne this morning of the passion and fire that burns in us as we walk closer with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Lord, stir up in us revival — that fire of spirit change burning away the things of self and revealing you in us as a light to give you glory and draw other men, women, young and old to your saving grace. May you be that seal upon our hearts that shows in everything we put our hands to. Help us to live on fire for you, unashamed, unwavering, firm and steady. Amen.