Scripture/ Prayer/ Meditation/ Action

Psalm 136

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew[a] Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Scripture

John 17:6-19

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth.

Prayer

Father, no one likes to be hated. Our desire to be approved and liked can cause us to move away from your name. We are kept in your name through Christ. This can bring discomfort and confrontation. Give us grace and comfort in this place. Give us love to those who hate us. Keep us in your name. Amen.

Meditation

This is a threefer. I have really been going back and forth with this idea of being hated by the world. After two days i really did not believe i could write anything. I am really not sure i can even as i sit down again at the computer to write this. Not of this world. Hated by the world. Not a great advertising slogan to bring people into your movement. I think the first things is to remind myself that being hated is not something to pursue. Which means i don’t have to be confrontational or against in my living. I am hated. Jesus states it as a fact. So, if i am doing things in a confrontational and against way in my relationships with people and they hate me or are angered by me this is not a victory. This is me being puffed up in some false righteousness. I am called to live at peace with those around me. If i am antagonizing them just to get a visible assurance of their hatred I am missing the point.

So if i am living at peace with people why do they hate me? Good questioned. Ephesians reminds us that Christ came to preach peace to those who were far off and those who were near. That on the cross He put to death the hostility that is between us (both us and God and us and each other) in order to build a new body; a place of worship. So hostility no longer exist in this body (ideally). The world is not present because it is still captured in the old way. The way of hostility. That is why they hate. They are not part of the new.

If we can remember our old self, the one that seems to be our shadow continually beckoning us back, you may recall that we lived in a stance of against. In order to feel purpose, secure, liked we play a comparison with those around us. We build enemies to give ourselves meaning. The way of hostility reigns but in Christ it has been put to death so we live in peace. We do not need to pursue the hatred, it is there. We pursue peace in order to invite those who are far off to the way of peace. Kindness leads to repentance.

Action

Love those around you. Accept the love that comes from those around you. Pursue peace with all people. Give mercy and grace. Know that you are hated but it is not the primary definition of a follower of Christ. Our identity rest in HIs love and the love we express to all.

Scripture John 17:6-19

“”I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

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Prayer

Jesus you have spoken your truth in order for us to have your joy complete. We can mistake happiness for joy. We can mistake pleasure for joy. We can mistake full bellies for joy. We can mistake acceptance by the world as joy. We can mistake worldly security as joy. Lead us to your joy. You have made it complete in us. Amen
Meditation

During Advent I preached a sermon on joy. I have included the link here to listen to the sermon. Joy – Lee Hinkle, please check it out.

http://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-y2g9i-658fda  
Action

Ask God to help you make a list of where the Joy of the Lord was your strength. Take time to praise Him for those places.  

Scripture

John 17:6-19

“”I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
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Prayer

Outside of ourselves and our inner self can often feel chaotic and purposeless. It is easy for us to looks at what is happening and since despair and run toward doubt. You are not afraid by our doubt. You are not put of by our questions and fears but you provide comfort and assurance in their midst. Your knowing and revealing of that knowledge; your purposes and your execution of those purposes bring glory to you and worship from us. Let my heart race toward your purpose through Jesus. Amen

Meditation

One thing that I have grown to really like in Australia is their apparent love of the print media. That’s not to say they love the print media but they seem to really enjoy reading a newspaper. There are lots of store fronts that cater to print media. Dailys, weeklys, magazines, print journals. It is really great to walk into town to one of the local newsstands and pick up the daily paper. The news however is not as pleasant of an experience. Bad news sells so reading the paper everyday serves as a reminder of how messed up things seem to be. This world is chaotic.

At the same time many of us could look at the level of confusion in the world and say,” if only my life was that calm” broken relationship, worn out bodies, job insecurity, faith confusion. We can spiral to a place of despair very easily.

This prayer gives us light in the darkness. It is really not in a positive place. There is one who is lost but it is according to scripture. There is a purpose and plan. The cross is cruel but its purpose is beautiful and brings about forgiveness, justice and mercy.

Providence, God’s plan, is hard to explain and even harder at times to understand. “Why” can be a common response to things. I think of it as a dance with God leading. He knows the steps, He chose the music and He can change the tune at His desire. He is leading us through the dance He knows and we are just learning. Anytime you learn a new dance (granted i don’t know this empirically, don’t let my wife know that we should probably take dance lessons for me to keep using this illustration) there will be bumps and bruises as you fight against the one who is leading, forget steps, get distracted and lose count with the music. Trusting that your dance partner knows the dance can be hard. Jesus, in this prayer, acknowledges and reminds us that God knows and will dance with us through life.

Action

Find a place where you won’t get embarrassed and dance around as a prayer and reminder that God leads the dance. He knows His plan for us and will fulfill it.

Scripture John 17:6-19

I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth.
Prayer

Let us be kept in your name Father. Hold us there with your mercy and love. let our lives be a reflection of your name. Your name is above all names. let is rest in your protective care. Amen.
Meditation

When I was in high school I wrote a persuasive paper against running away from home. In the introduction I had to admit that I came from the perfect family. Now we all know that no family is perfect but mine was pretty close.i know that many people did not so this line of thought can be difficult. I pray that the Family of God will be this for you. My family is a place of unconditional love, safety, openness, compassion, protection and a passion for each other.  

When we think of being kept it seems restrictive and limiting. We may ask, “what freedom am I losing?” In Christ we are kept in God where there is complete freedom. It is free because it is a place of unconditional love, safety, openness, compassion, protection and passion. God holds us because He and only He knows who we are to be. We are His and the best place to be is kept in His name.  

Action

Write a love letter to God listing all the ways being kept in Him brings you freedom. 

Scripture/ Prayer/ Meditation/ Action

Psalm 136

Scripture and Prayer

Psalm 85

Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.

Meditation and action.

I like to practice the art of adoration, confession and assurance. We do it in our services and we can practise it in our private prayer time. There is adoration in in verses 1-3, a sense of confess, more like a crying out for relief in verses 4-7 and then assurance in vs 8-13.

The best meditation will take away from these words, “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”

Maybe there is something more to write but today, “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”

Grant us Salvation. Show us your steadfast love. “Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”

Scripture

John 17:6-19

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth.
Prayer

We see differences more quickly than similarities. We see disagreements more accurately than agreement. We see failed expectations more readily than generosity. You grace is sufficient in this Father. You can place on us and in us your name. Your name can hold us and bind us together. Your name is love. In Christ we say, Amen.
Meditation

There are certain things in our lives that we continue to go back to. Things that build into us a deeper appreciation of God’s name, His grace, His love, His pursuit. Verse 11 is the beginning of that hard understanding. Are we one? I really need to spend more time with this and let it push me. But something I do come back to again and again that helps me rest in the moment and leads to understanding of where I stand with all humanity before God is a song by the Lost Dogs. Here is a link and below are the lyrics:
Politicians, morticians, philistines, homophobes,

Skinheads, deadheads, tax evaders, street kids,

Alcoholics, workaholics, wise guys, dim-wits,

Blue-collars, white-collars, war-mongers, peace-nicks.
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
Suicidals, rock idols, shut-ins, drop-outs,

Friendless, homeless, penniless and depressed,

Presidents, residents, foreigners and aliens,

Dissidents, feminists, xenophobes and chauvinists.
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
Evolutionists, creationists, perverts, slum lords,

Dead-beats, athletes, Protestants and Catholics,

Housewives, neophytes, pro-choice, pro-life,

Misogynists, monogamists, philanthropists, blacks and whites. 
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
Police, obese, lawyers, and government,

Sex offenders, tax collectors, war vets, rejects,

Atheists, scientists, racists, sadists,

Biographers, photographers, artists, pornographers. 
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
Gays and lesbians, demagogues and thespians,

The disabled, preachers, doctors and teachers,

Meat eaters, wife beaters, judges and juries,

Long-hairs, no-hairs, everybody everywhere.
Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God,

Breathe deep,

Breathe deep the breath of God.
It is the desperate need of all of us.  

Action

What are the commonalities you find with those you disagree with? Write them out, go talk to them about what you have in common. Ask God to help you move beyond the division that is caused by disagreement and differences toward the place of unity.

Scripture

John 17:6-19

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself,[c] that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth.

Prayer

We can see ourselves through a glass dimly. The shadow of who we are appears to be more real. We gravitate toward the negative elements of our hearts when we in silence think about our lives. Or we see ourselves as innocent in the face of evil. We are pushed upon by forces that seek to do us harm. We are not broken but shattered by the actions of others. Or we see ourselves as glorious and lovely, we are the pinnacle of humanity. We are kind and thoughtful seeking the care of others above ourselves. Or we are thoughtless of ourselves. We have felt so invisible to those around us or overlooked that we believe that we are non-important. Our absence would go unrecognized. We have become non. Jesus, help us to see ourselves through your eyes. Help us to hear your prayer so that we can live in our truth identity. Amen

Meditation

Our house is filled with broken pieces of coloured glass. My wife is a glass artist. The glass rest in window sills and other places strategically placed for the sun to shine through the colour and paint the floors and walls with light. Broken pieces of glass that were salvaged in Indianapolis from our church. There had been a group of people repairing and replacing the stain glass in the building and when the project was completed the remains of glass were put in storage. Some years later as the storage was being cleared out for more important things to store or a classroom to fit in the storage room the glass was moving to the trash bin. My wife claimed it or saved it depending on your point of view. It came to our house and sat in our garage. Two large rubbermaid containers full of broken pieces of coloured glass. Trash or something that could create beauty. A few pieces made it into windows in Indy but when we moved to another house they were stored. As we began to pack for our around the world move, the move from one hemisphere to the other, I strongly suggested that the glass pieces did not need to make the move. Why would we put broken glass into a container that was being shipped. We have limited space and this does not need to be part of our stuff. I am happy to say that I was wrong. I was not happy when i loaded the majority of the glass up in boxes to travel but I am now. The glass paints colour across our walls each day reminding us of God’s beauty and the beauty of the community we have been a part of.

Broken pieces of glass. Jesus prays that He is glorified in us. That is hard to believe. Our view of ourselves can be deceptive. We can feel great about who we are, we can feel we are a lost cause, we can feel that we are most deserving or not deserving at all. We can feel used or an overcomer. Our perception of ourself can be defined internally and externally. The mirror tells us one thing and the mirror of society tells us another. But Jesus says that we glorify Him. No matter our view, His view is that in Him we bring Him glory. Broken pieces of glass that paint colour across the world. Worthy to be kept and worthy to be sent and worthy to be displayed. We bring Him glory.

Action

Take time to recognize, celebrate and practice the art of giving glory to Christ just they way you are. Just the way He has made you.

Scripture

John 17:6-19

“”I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
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Prayer

You pray for us. You intercede for us. You speak to the Father for us. Teach us to trust that your pray is effective. Let us rest in your prayer. Spirit hold us as you groan with incomprehensible sounds. Let us rest in you.

Meditation

Christ executes the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us. That is the answer to question 25 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, how does Christ execute the office of priest? He intercedes.

My favorite musical artist is Sting ( i know that my coolness factor has fallen in some of your eyes now) with the police they sang a song, “Oh My God” here are the lyrics:

Everyone I know is lonely
With God so far away
And my heart belongs to no one
So now sometimes I pray
Take the space between us
Fill it up some way
Take the space between us
Fill it up, fill it up
Oh my God you take the biscuit
Treating me this way
Expecting me to treat you well
No matter what you say
How can I turn the other cheek
It’s black and bruised and torn
I’ve been waiting
Since the day that I was born, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up
Take the space between us
Fill it up some way
Take the space between us
Fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up
Fat man in his garden
Thin man at his gate
My God you must be sleeping
Wake up, it’s much too late
Take the space between us
Fill it up some way
Take the space between us
Fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up, fill it up
Do I have to tell the story
Of a thousand rainy days
Since we first met
It’s a big enough umbrella
But it’s always me that ends up getting wet

Here is a link for the song if you want to hear it. https://youtu.be/XKCrT_DnwgY

Take the space between us and fill it up some way. Often we can feel that space. God seems to be holding the umbrella and we are still getting wet. In this prayer Jesus says he is praying for us. He intercedes for us. When we don’t feel like praying He is praying. When we don’t have the right words He is praying. When are words are forced His are true. Christ prays for us.

Action

We can pray for those around us know that Jesus is praying for them. Find yourself praying with Jesus today for those around you. See if you can say a prayer for every face you see. As simple as that you for this person please rest on them today. You will be attached to them in a new way.