Bach

Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:11 HCSB

Where there is devotional music, God is always at hand with His gracious presence. Johann Sebastian Bach*

Johann Sebastian Bach was a worshiper and a worship leader. Throughout his life and career, he sought the Lord’s guidance as he composed. At the beginning of every composition, he would write J.J. (Jesu Juva – Help me, Jesus) or I.N.J. (In Nomine Jesu - In the name of Jesus). At the bottom of the manuscript, he would write S.D.G. (Soli Deo Gloria – To God alone be the glory).

Unfortunately, Bach’s life was full of sorrow. He became an orphan at the age of ten. His first wife died leaving him with four young children. Ten of his offspring died in infancy. Known for his bad temper, he struggled with church and civic government his entire life. Because of cataracts and failed surgery, his latter days were spent in almost total blindness. Through all of these struggles, however, Bach continued to compose music that would help people experience the presence of God.

Lord, refresh us with Your presence today as we worship You in song.

*brainyquote.com

Fellowship of Joy

What we have seen and heard, we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 1 John 1:3-4 HCSB

Joy is not in things. It is in us. Richard Wagner*

There’s an older man I know who always greets me by saying, “The Christ who lives in me greets the Christ who lives in you.” I once asked him what he meant by his unusual greeting. He told me something like this:

“When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, he limited Himself to living within the confines of one human body. His life exemplified the presence of God. After Jesus was crucified and resurrected, He was no longer limited by His body. Instead, He lives within each of His followers, everywhere, all the time. Therefore, the presence of Christ is constantly working in and through each of us. We are His body and His presence makes our joy complete.”

Lord, thank You for the joy that comes from our fellowship with You and with each other.

*thinkexist.com

On The Roof

Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me. Psalm 139:7-10 HCSB

“Mrs. Frady!” said our frantic neighbor over the telephone. “Your son John is on your roof!”

My mother quickly ran outside to look. Sure enough, there I was, a two year old, sitting on the roof of our house. Somehow, I had managed to sneak out of her presence, go outside, and climb up a ladder to the roof. Carefully, she climbed up the ladder and carried me down to safety.

As a two year old, I was able to escape my mother’s presence, but we can never escape the presence of the Lord. It doesn’t matter if we’re at work, at church, on vacation, or at home on the roof, He is there with us, offering us guidance, security, and peace.

Lord, thank You for always being with us, wherever we go.

Away In A Manger

Several years ago, I was singing through Away In A Manger one afternoon and thought that the song wasn't finished, so I wrote two more stanzas. I thought that I would share them with you today:

No longer a baby, He grew to a man,
Sent to us from Heaven to fulfill God's plan.
He died on a cross to atone for our sin,
Then rose from the dead to be alive again.

This precious Lord Jesus is all that we need,
If we make Him our Savior and our Lord indeed.
Oh, please, wondrous Jesus, be with us today,
Fill us with Your spirit we now humbly pray.

Merry Christmas!

John

Without Your Presence

“If Your presence does not go,” Moses responded to Him, “don’t make us go up from here.” Exodus 33:15 HCSB

The presence of God is the most real thing we ever encounter. C.S. Lewis*

After the Israelites had sinned against the Lord by worshiping the golden calf that Aaron had formed, Moses set up a tent outside of the camp and called it the tent of meeting. Anyone who wanted to consult the Lord would go to the tent. Whenever Moses went to the tent, the people would stand and watch him until he entered. Then, they would all bow in worship as the pillar of cloud symbolizing God’s presence covered the entrance to the tent, for the Lord was speaking to Moses.

Moses, and all of the Israelites, realized that it was impossible for him to even attempt to lead the Israelites without God’s presence to guide him. What an amazing difference it would make in our lives if we would only depend upon the presence and direction of God the way that Moses did.

Lord, help me not to consider any new direction without first being conscious of Your presence in my life.

*Miracles

Frustrated

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 HCSB

I was frustrated out of my mind, trying to figure out the will of God. I was doing everything but getting into the presence of God and asking Him to show me. Paul Little*

Kathy and I were married in 1991. We’ve always liked a lot of the same things and enjoy the fact that we know each other very well. But no matter how well we’ve known each other, I’ve discovered that if I want to continue knowing her well that I have to spend quality time with her and take the time to really communicate.

The same is true with our relationship with God. We get so busy trying to serve God based on our prior relationship with Him that we simply forget to get into His presence on a daily basis. Only when we do this can our minds truly be renewed so we can discern His will for our lives.

Lord, when I long to know Your will, draw me closer to You.

*Affirming the Will of God

Joy To The World

Shout to the Lord, all the earth; be jubilant, shout for joy and sing! Psalm 98:4 HCSB

Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room, And heav’n and nature sing… Isaac Watts*

Isaac Watts began writing hymn lyrics when he was a teenager. While he was still young, Isaac became an ordained minister. Sadly, Isaac’s hopes to be married were shattered when Elizabeth Singer, to whom he had proposed, responded by saying, “If only I could say that I loved the casket (case) as much as I loved the jewel it contained.” Later, Isaac was forced to resign his position because of health problems. Instead of diving into depression, Isaac set out to write a series of poems bases on the Psalms. As a part of this collection, Isaac wrote the lyrics to Joy to the World! based on Psalm 98. The classic song is still, after 300 hundred years, loved by both the sacred and secular communities alike.

Lord, when all seems lost, help us to worship You with joy as we continue to serve You with all that we have.

*Joy To The World

Observed

The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 HCSB

I am convinced that He (God) does not play dice. Albert Einstein*

Recently, while driving in Kentucky, I saw a church sign which proclaimed, “Don’t make me come down there! - God.” As I continued to drive, I wondered, “What would it be like if God did come to live down here? How would we treat Him? How would He treat us? Where would He live and what would He do?”

The truth is that God has already done this. He chose to be born as a baby, experience growing pains, go through adolescence, work hard physically, pay taxes, begin His teaching ministry when He was 30 years old, live a totally sinless life, die an excruciating death, then rise from the dead after three days. Isn’t it amazing that He would do that for us? He purposefully became a person, lived among humans, and gave people the chance to behold His glory.

Thank You, Lord, for lowering Yourself to live among us.

*thinkexist.com

False Testimony

Six things the Lord hates; in fact, seven are detestable to Him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19 HCSB

New information has emerged to show the evidence upon which I relied in sentencing Mr. Morales to death, Mr. Samuelson’s testimony, is false. Judge Charles McGrath*

On January 8, 1981, Terri Winchell, a California resident, was murdered. Two years later, Michael Morales was convicted of the crime, based on the testimony of Bruce Samuelson, a jailhouse informant. Samuelson testified that Morales shared with him the details of the murder in Spanish. Judge Charles McGrath and the jury believed that the death penalty was the only suitable punishment.

Two months before Morales was to be executed, Judge McGrath sent a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, asking that he grant Morales clemency. Much of the damaging evidence against Morales was based on the testimony of Samuelson, who claimed he conversed with Morales in Spanish, a language that Morales does not speak.

Lord, help us be honest in everything we say.

*Ventura County Star

Innocent Blood

Six things the Lord hates; in fact, seven are detestable to Him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19 HCSB

Power is no blessing in itself, except when it is used to protect the innocent. Jonathan Swift*

The Lord hates hands that shed innocent blood. The sentence itself is sobering for two reasons. First, the Lord hates it. He doesn’t just dislike it or avoid talking about it. He hates it. That in itself demands our attention. Secondly, the term innocent blood brings to mind violent acts such as assassination, murder, and abortion. Certainly most of us are innocent of this, right?

However, the Lord sees the heart of people as well as what they do. He sees those with a murderous and cruel disposition. He sees those who would do harm to the innocent rather than have their own plans frustrated. He sees those whose lives are defined by out and out cruelty.

Lord, help us to never be guilty of shedding innocent blood.

*Gulliver’s Travels

A Lying Tongue

Six things the Lord hates; in fact, seven are detestable to Him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19 HCSB

It is hard to believe that a man is telling the truth when you know that you would lie if you were in his place. Henry Louis Mencken*

Do you remember the story of the shepherd boy who cried wolf? Whenever he grew bored while watching the sheep, he would cry out “Wolf! There’s a wolf near the sheep!” The villagers would all come running and he would enjoy watching them scurry around to help. However, one day, a wolf really did come near the sheep and the shepherd boy cried out “Wolf!” for real, but no one believed him.

In this day when so many cry out wolf for their own entertainment, may those of us who are shepherds for our Father never be guilty of similar fabrications.

Lord, help us to have honest lips instead of lying tongues.

*A Little Book in C Major

Arrogant Eyes

Six things the Lord hates; in fact, seven are detestable to Him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19 HCSB

The image of the Lord had been replaced by a mirror. Jorge Luis Borges*

When I was in high school, I was in awe of many Christian musicians. They had a confidence about them that I knew could only come from the Lord. I could see it in their eyes. I wanted to be one of them.

When I first went to college, I was surrounded by an ocean of confident, talented musicians. I realized that their confidence came more from their effort than their devotion to the Lord. I could see it in their eyes. I worked hard to become like them.

Years later, I passed a mirror and didn’t recognize myself. My passion for my own talent had replaced the Lord’s presence in my life. I could see it in my eyes. What had I become?

Lord, help us never replace Your presence with our own arrogance.

*thinkexist.com