A is for Ascribe Greatness To Our God, The Rock

Written and composed by Don Moen, this song has a particular significance to me; it was used at a tent mission that I was invited to attend by a work colleague back in the early 1980s. The words still stick with me. I can see that this occasion was the first step of a spiritual journey that eventually led me to making a commitment to Christ in 1988. The lyrics of the song are inspired straight from this piece of scripture:

Deuteronomy 32:1-4 (ESV)
"Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb.
For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he."

Waiting

Psalm 40:1-2 (NIV UK)
"I waited patiently for the Lord ; He turned to me and heard my cry.   He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."

It's been a busy weekend. I have (once again!) crammed so many things into two days that I feel exhausted just thinking about it.

Because, every day, I've been challenged.

On Friday night, when I was very low, He reminded me that I was remembered and loved by Him even when others had scattered and things were looking awfully bleak...

Then on Saturday I was challenged to once again acknowledge other people's struggles. You might think you have it tough - others go through similar problems - some, even worse...

This was followed up on Sunday by a terrific but very personal assurance of His own promises to me. A reminder that I don't face these things alone. He's there with me; He knows what I need. A personalised acknowledgement card from the Almighty. He's on the case!

I'm still waiting for some of these promises to be fulfilled. But I know the answers are almost here.

I'm waiting patiently.

A Problematic Day

"Problems, problems, problems all day long
Will my problems work out right or wrong?"

from 'Problems' by The Everly Brothers, lyrics written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant

It's one of those days today. The issues are coming thick and fast; no sooner as one problem gets resolved does another get raised. I don't know whether I'm coming or I'm going today. And I think I'm getting a headache!

The one thing that keeps me going today is my faith in my Father in Heaven. He's the reason I can survive today.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (The Message)
"No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it."

Wise And Foolish Builders - part two

The bible passage contained in my previous blog entry is one that keeps cropping up in my daily reading, so perhaps it's a good one to focus on this week. This follows on from a recent Bible Study at our Corps, when Graeme asked the group to meditate on whether our lives were truly built on Christ's solid Rock.

I've been pondering this for a while, as long-time followers of this blog will recall. A recurring prayer of mine has been 'Lord, lift me from the miry clay and place my feet firmly on the Rock'.

There was a particular quotation from Alexander Solzhenitsyn in that bible study, taken from a time when he was stripped of all dignity and hope, imprisoned in a Russian labour camp. He writes about the day "when I deliberately let myself sink to the bottom and found it firm beneath my feet - the hard rocky bottom which is the same for all."

In all my pleas for God to lift me from the mire, to plant my feet on the Rock, it dawned on me. The Rock wasn't something I was missing; it was already there. Underneath the mire, holding me up all this time. It's already the firm foundation of my life.

Wise And Foolish Builders

Luke 6:46-49 (New International Version, ©2011)

"Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

More on this later...

Lead Me To The Rock!

Psalm 61 (New International Version)

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

2 From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.

4 I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

5 For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6 Increase the days of the king’s life, his years for many generations.

7 May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

8 Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

You Are My Shield And Protector

Psalm 3 (The Message)

1-2 God! Look! Enemies past counting! Enemies sprouting like mushrooms, mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery: "Hah! No help for him from God!"

3-4 But you, God, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high; with all my might I shout up to God, His answers thunder from the holy mountain.

5-6 I stretch myself out. I sleep. Then I'm up again—rested, tall and steady, Fearless before the enemy mobs coming at me from all sides.

7 Up, God! My God, help me! Slap their faces, first this cheek, then the other, your fist hard in their teeth!

8 Real help comes from God. Your blessing clothes your people!

.

Jump the Shark

I love to chase down interesting phrases or sayings, don't you? I stumbled across one I've never heard before tonight, reading a review in the evening paper. It referred to a TV show having 'jumped the shark'... This is a colloquialism used by TV critics noting that point in the programme's history where the plot spins off into absurd story lines or where there are major changes with the cast or characters. This may be due to flagging ratings, with the show's producers desperately trying to rekindle interest in a show when viewers have started to drift away. This could also be due to a lead actor suddenly quitting.

The phrase refers to a scene in a 1977 episode of 'Happy Days' called 'Hollywood', where Fonzie (Henry Winkler), wearing swimming trunks and his trademark leather jacket, jumps over a shark (in a water tank) on water skis. It has been said by some critics to be the point the show started to go downhill (although, to be fair, the show did last another seven seasons).

Do you sometimes feel that the situation you are in has 'jumped the shark'? That the best days are already behind you, that it's all downhill from now on? I guess we can all think of circumstances where that is so... but rest assured, there's still hope ....

...and my Hope is in the Lord!

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
SASB 745 - Edward Mote (1797-1874)

Faithful One

Faithful One, so unchanging.
Ageless One, You're my rock of peace.
Lord of all I depend on You.
I call out to You again and again.
I call out to You again and again.

You are my rock in times of trouble.
You lift me up when I fall down.
All through the storm,
Your love is the anchor,
My hope is in You alone.
(Brian Doerkson)

I continue to pray...

Worse Things Happen At Sea... part two

The best place to be in the middle of a storm is of course to be safely in port, safely anchored to something firm. What is your anchor when things get rough in life? I know what mine is!

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.
SASB 280, verse one & chorus (Priscilla Jane Owens, 1882)

Worse Things Happen At Sea...

The words of encouragement mentioned above have sparked off today's blog entry, inspiring me to reflect. The history of the phrase itself seems to be lost in the mists of time, however it seems to be something that mums or nans used to tell their children so that they would see things into proportion... To a seafaring nation like us the peril of being 'all at sea' would make things far worse than those who have dry land and solid rock beneath them. Hmmm...

We will survive!

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (The Message)
If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralised; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorised, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!

Get Out!

Acts 2:38-40 (The Message)
38-39 Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptised, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites."
40 He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, "Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!"

I'm working on the changes right now.

Trust In The Lord

I've been reflecting (once again) on Psalm 20 this evening. I find I have blogged on these words before, probably around the time my car was written off (see verse 7). Or it might have been when something particularly scary was happening to me. I won't therefore repeat the whole Psalm again, but just want to emphasise two verses tonight.

Psalm 20:4-5 (NIV)

4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.

I'm still praying.

Much More...

It's Day Three of my campaign of dedicated, persistent, specific prayer against certain strongholds in my life. Going to really ramp it up this weekend. However, just had to blog the following - after popping out to lunch today, the following chorus popped into my head by means of encouragement.

Much more hath God in store,

Much more, much more.

Greater glories we may yet behold,

Greater blessings as the days unfold,

Greater triumphs than have yet been told:

Much more! Much more hath God in store.
Chorus 44, SASB

I'd like that. Thanks to those friends who have passed on their encouragement as I get down to some serious business with God. I continue to pray.

Be Specific

I'm encouraged enough today, on this day of all days, to be specific in my prayers. I'm told that if you want a specific answer, you need to make a specific prayer for it. So, today, there'll be none of the prayers that ask for 'deliverance' from an undesirable situation, or for 'blessing'. I'm going to be spending some serious time to make a concerted and specific request of God.

Even though I don't list that specific prayer here on my blog, those that know me very well will know exactly what I am praying for today.

Amen.

Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Matthew 21:22
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Luke 11:9-10

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

(All scripture verses New International Version)

Blessed be the Rock

I Will Call Upon The Lord
Who is worthy to be praised.
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

The Lord liveth, and blessed be the rock,
And let the God of my salvation be exalted.

Words and Music by Michael O'Shields

Things could be worse...

I was miserable, then someone told me "smile and be happy, things could be worse". So I smiled and was happy...and they were right, things did get worse!

I suppose the person who told me not to worry today had the best of intentions in mind. But the words he chose have stayed with me for most of today. "Don't worry - things could be worse". He then proceeded to give me a list of things that would be worse than the current issues that I'm working through at work... however, I couldn't help but remember the phrase at the top of this entry. Those who read this blog regularly know that I'm seeking to trust God more and more in all aspects of my life. Psalm 55:22 (NIV) says "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." Therefore, I am trusting Him to see me safely through the mire that I see all around me. I'm assured that those that wait patiently for God do not wait in vain. What I don't know is God's timescale, or how He's going to do it. Or even if things could get worse before they get better.

Lord, hear my prayer.

More from the Psalms

Psalm 84:10 (NIV)
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Hold On Tight!

I've had one of those days today. You know what I mean. I can only describe it as 'hopeless' - in the sense that I was unable to find any aspect of my working day when I could find any hope. Having been strangely calm and positive for a few days, I was quite taken aback with such a change today. Taking stock of my working hours on the way home, I often spend some time to be quiet and share time with God. Tonight, He spoke to me - through the words of ELO's song, played on Radio 2 when I got off the train tonight.

Hold on tight to your dream
Hold on tight to your dream
When you see your ship go sailing
When you feel your heart is breaking
Hold tight to your dream.

When you get so down that you can't get up
And you want so much but you're all out of luck
When you're so downhearted and misunderstood
Just over & over & over you could

Hold on tight to your dream
Hold on tight to your dream
When you see the shadows falling
When you hear that cold wind calling
Hold on tight to your dream.

Click here for full lyrics

John 15:7 (NIV)
"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."

I'm holding on to my dream. Thank you Lord!