The Desire of Your Heart?

The Audio file is available at 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tfdj9z1oh4e3ajk/Church%20Service-2012-08-26-01.mp3

Key thought: knowing God shapes our prayers such that we pray for the right things.

At the beginning of a service I always wonder how people are doing.  Usually I have a fair understanding of the issues and problems people are facing. I have the privilege to be invited into many of those situations. Yesterday we had a wedding, last week a funeral, some weeks before a killer hail storm.  In a week school starts again. Some people are moving soon.  The list goes on. And in every case there are questions and worries.

I’ll confess that it can be overwhelming. Someone asked me recently, how do I manage when there are always so many problems?

I turn that question back to you. How do you manage? In the reality of life, with all its joys that are so easily overshadowed by worries, how do you manage?

Psalm 37 gives us some direction.

Psalm 37

Of David.

¹      Do not fret because of evil men

or be envious of those who do wrong;

²     for like the grass they will soon wither,

like green plants they will soon die away.

³     Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

⁴     Delight yourself in the Lord

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵     Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this:

⁶     He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

⁷     Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes.

⁸     Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

do not fret—it leads only to evil.

The psalm is of course a prayer. And the first three words set the tone. Do not fret. It means to worry or be overly anxious. And it goes on to say that in prayer God will give the desires of our hearts

A couple of weeks ago I gave the opportunity to fill out a survey on prayer and bible reading habits. I found the results encouraging and interesting. Just about everyone who filled it out prays at meals, but only half have a regular habit of praying each day as the day begins or in times of need.  That suggests to me that we pray thanking God for what He provides – and that’s good – but I wonder, do we pray over the daily schedule. After all don’t we have times of need every morning in deciding what to do and how to do it? Isn’t it just possible to be so used to things that we can go a whole day without really thinking about what we’re doing? Sort of swept away in business so that at the end of the day or week you wonder now what did I do today? I know I did stuff but I think I missed out on something.

I want to draw your attention to a single verse, verse 4 where it says: “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. “ Does that sound good to you? Does that sound like a good thing? The psalm tells us how to make it happen.

In the whole psalm there are three simple suggestions for personal prayer.

The first is to ask God, where am I going? Our Lord makes some strong claims about life here and all over the Bible. There are two ways to walk in life. With God in contentment (v 3), sure hope (v 9), peace (v 11), generosity (v 21) and wisdom, (v 30), which define a successful life. Or walk without God and copy what the world does. It’s tempting because as verse 1 says it seems to lead to wealth and security, but a road littered with victims of anger and worry (v 8), envy and greed (v 12 & 21), violence, (v 15), and lying (v 30).

In prayer God can and will show the truth of which road a person is on and what the end of that road will look like. All anyone has to do is ask. God is faithful to lift us from where we are to a better way of being.

In prayer a person can ask, am I an angry person, do I worry too much, am I violent in how I go about my day and what is that doing to the people I love. Sin is a serious problem and often believing people are blind to their own sin. Believers need to meet God in prayer to know the truth about their lives. The values we hold are given as an example to our children and are our witness about Jesus to the world.

At some point in the day – every day – meet with God and ask, “Where am I going”?

The second suggestion in the psalm is to look up and see the truth. The fact is that everything I just said in suggestion number one depends on suggestion number two. The only way people change for the better is if they hear God’s voice in prayer. Learn to trust him, commit to him and delight in him.

Our Father invites our trust. It’s in prayer that we put our worries before God and reassured of his love and power leave them there. So that we can go and do what we can with what we have. It’s in prayer that we learn that prayer isn’t magic. There is a real and personal God who loves; not some power force that can be controlled or forced into doing what we want. How else can we cope with reality? War, death, hail storms and the like?

I remember many times praying something like: O Lord if only you would do this or that, everyone would see how amazing you are. I’ve learned that a far better prayer is O Lord, I’d really like this or that and it seems to me that’s how everyone would see how amazing you are, but your will be done.

This can be hard but as a loving God, God may not give what we ask for because it would do more harm than good. It may not happen because something bigger is going on that can’t be seen. It’s only in prayer and with faith that anyone can accept with courage and joy the result of prayer and God’s answer.

At some point in the day – every day – meet with God and ask, “Give me faith to trust you more.”

Third and last suggestion is this, be constructive with your life. Verse 7 explains the heart of the Psalm and of prayer. Be still before the Lord. Wait for God to speak. Isn’t it true that most of our prayers are just going in one direction? We talk God listens: hello, good stuff, good stuff, blah, blah, good stuff, Amen. Would you ever have a conversation with someone who always did that? Who never let you speak? It’s a good thing God is patient.

Prayer, is a conversation and like with anyone else it takes time and attention to have a good one. I have a very busy mind. It goes from one thing to the next easily. I am also a capable intelligent person. I read a lot and learn on the job. I’m pretty sure I can find solutions and make things happen in the moment. Slowing down is hard for me. But It’s the difference between life and death for me.

Unless I slow down and breathe deeply. Quiet my mind and thoughts, unless I wait for God in prayer. I become overwhelmed, ineffective and depressed. The work is endless and joy is replaced by busyness. I’ll admit to you it’s hard and takes time. First thing in the morning I’m itching to go and get things done. That’s fine is you run the 100 meters but in the race of life, the marathon – it won’t work.

At some point in the day – every day – meet with God and ask, “help me to be still, I want to hear your voice.”

Why got to Texas? Part 1

I was in Texas recently for a short term missional trip. My co-leader and I went with 6 youth and joined a church also called Sunrise (they spell it with a ‘u’) in their work among the people in South Austin. There were a variety of work sites, but one theme recurred: homelessness.

One site was at a different church and their effort to make space available for homeless people to find their way again. The contact person had been there for about 18 months. He was overwhelmed that 10 people had come to help clean up the workrooms and storage area. As I got to know Bill and Len, his buddy, I found out that he was a recovering alcoholic and once homeless too. Now he was in charge of keeping the place tidy and while the evidence suggested he wasn’t quite up to it, he was eager wanting to help people who probably still had more than he had. He told us about the retail network they had established and showed us the paintings, jewellery, lamps and birdhouses that had been made in whole or part out of recycled materials. The artisans received the income from sales and yet another organization rented them used RV’s at $25 a month so that they had a chance to life full lives again.

Later the director joined us and explained that it was their mission to treat discarded wood and other materials just as Jesus treats discarded people and people who don’t know right from wrong. By reclaiming and redeeming them/us.

We left about 3 hours later. The retail shop was set up. New display shelves on the wall, floors mopped and clean. The wood bin still held used 2x6 lumber, but now there were no nails in them. Somehow through us God made things new again. Overwhelming.

Storm's a Coming,?

It’s been quite a summer for weather so far! Having lived in Alberta for only a year and a half, we’re still unaccustomed to the violent and sudden storms that happen so often here. Where we lived before, storms would move in off of the ocean and slowly but surely cover the valley like a thick blanket. Often staying for days on end. Storms on the south coast rarely had lightning or hail as part of the bargain. Usually it was rain, cloud and darkness. Here, storms are lively mixtures of lightning thunder, rain and often destroyer hail. But this you already know.

What we also know is that with the storms comes moisture for field and crop. Not everyone suffers when the storm hits, after all. More than most have a benefit and somehow even those beaten up survive and see recovery. And it’s not like some people are hit harder than others for any particular reason. After all Jesus once said that the rain falls on everyone regardless of their life direction or faith convictions. I expect he was and still is trying to explain something to us.

I sometimes imagine people as storms that can blow uninvited into an otherwise calm life. They’re just a thunder cloud waiting to happen, they sneak up on us and blast away with whatever the issue is. Others are more like a gentle rain, but hang like a wet blanket. Of course that’s one point of view.

Another is that regardless of which, it isn’t the people or their actions that come into our life that make life good or bad. It’s how we receive them, right? Sometimes we need the storm. It gets our attention and calls us to action. The random shootings that happen more and more often are a signal call: there is something wrong with our culture, economic policies and goals. Sometimes the storm is a reminder that hurting people hurt others and what they need most of all is a listening ear.

Sometimes we need the ‘dreary rain’ of paying attention to those so often judged as not being ambitious or smart enough by current standards. How many powerless, lonely people are just craving a friend? It seems that weather has a way of stopping is in our tracks; every storm front is an opportunity to re-evaluate. Where is my life taking me? Who is along on the journey with me? What in my life has actual value?

The band Queen wrote a song about this; it’s called “Limited Company.” It’s on the Night at The Opera album. The song is a story told by a man who in young age was advised by his father to "take care of those you call your own, and keep good company". In his younger years, he follows his father's advice, keeping his friends and marrying a girl named Sally. However, after their marriage, he begins to lose interest in his friends, who gradually disappear. As he grows older, he becomes increasingly skilled at and dedicated to his occupation, working long nights and neglecting his family.

Eventually, the man's efforts are “rewarded,” the lyrics go:

“All through the years in the end it appears
There was never really anyone but me
Now I'm old I puff my pipe but no one's there to see
I ponder on the lesson of my life's insanity
Take care of those you call your own
And keep good company”

It seems to me that all we really have in life that has real value is people. Family, friends and random strangers that appear if only to help us see the truth: love one another.

How Do You Hear?

Today’s text is from the Psalms. The first one. The first of many prayer poems and songs that ask questions and talk honestly about life. When it’s going well and when it’s not. When God seems interested and involved and when it feels more like – where are you?

So in the Psalms we can find words to help us sort life out. The first sets the tone. So, here it is.

Psalm 1

¹     Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

²     But (instead) his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

³     He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

⁴     Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff

that the wind blows away.

⁵     Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶     For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm one is short, sweet and to the point. In a colourful way – using trees and streams - it asks a simple question. What kind of people do we want to be?

Righteous or wicked? And if that sounds too harsh then an acceptable way to say it is one who walks with God or one who doesn’t. Neither term ‘righteous’ or wicked’ refer to the kind of person someone is. It’s not about being good or bad. It’s about life direction. Wicked people may well be pretty nice, generous and kind; it’s just they don’t acknowledge God or want honor God. Ironically, righteous people can be pretty bad-tempered, drink too much or work too much; it’s just for them, there is an honest desire to acknowledge God as Lord and to honour God even in their brokenness.

The Psalm tells us, as the entire Bible does, that though God loves all people, some choose to walk with him willingly as a response to love and some reject God and his love. All are loveable; not all receive this life changing grace.

So, that’s what the psalm asks, which path? The righteous one or wicked one? But what else should we take note of? Well, the word blessing is worth talking about. Blessed is the man, woman, person who does not. And then there are three does nots.

The term blessed describes a person who is in a good situation and deserves to be congratulated. The Hebrew word does not exactly mean that God blesses, or rewards, such a person; it actually means that such a person is happy, or fortunate, deserving congratulations. This is an important point. Some people think that so long as a believer does the right thing, say honour their father and mother then God will and must give them something in return. A give to get if you will. Like working for wages. It’s about motives. Instead of ‘doing the right thing’ from a sincere desire to honour God; ‘Doing the right thing’ is sometimes an outward show - a way to get stuff. Keeping this straight is very important. Not every so called good deed will be rewarded in the way we may want. Sometimes doing the right thing is the reward in itself. After all Jesus said when we give stuff away don’t let the left hand know what the right is doing. That is – at times giving anonymously is the right thing to do. The secret reward is usually having that deep sense that God loves you.

That’s what blessed means here and most often means in the rest of the Bible. The “do nots” of verse one follow. Each builds on the next so that those who walk in the counsel of the wicked will eventually behave as wicked people do.

Step 1: They don’t listen to the life shaping word of God. Instead they listen to other advice. Advice that suggests there is no harm in greed, lust or abuse.

Step 2: Those who stand in the way of sinners: “Here, sinner means the same as wicked;  people who refuse to acknowledge God. A step beyond listening, these people follow the advice given by non-believers.

Step 3: Those who sit in the seat of scoffers: Scoffers are those who say God and his ways are stupid, foolish, limiting.

The Psalm says that taking life advice and direction from people who reject God is risky. So don’t; don’t join or, associate with people who make fun of faith or, of God. So, be aware, listening leads to doing and at some point left unchecked, it leads to life far apart from God and meaningful blessing. Life becomes futile – a dusty field of broken dreams.

On the other hand, the Psalm makes bold claims about what kind of life is available for those who meditate on the “law of the Lord.” Those who learn to combine faith in God with every activity and moment of life. Those who look for what God is saying about life in every way God’s revealed it. The Bible, Creation, human creativity and so on. Those who do this drink living water, grow and mature spiritually, become fruitful and a blessing to those they spend time with.

The comparison is drastic and it’s meant to be so. Life matters, choices matter. Psalm 1 reminds us that there are two very different ways of life.

Choose to walk with God and know blessing.

Choose to walk away from God and suffer.

Beyond being baptized or doing profession of faith, which way are you walking?

Where is life taking you? Where are your choices taking you? Where is the Lord taking you?

And are you sure about that?

Here’s a question I struggle with personally. How can anyone know which path they are on? We live in the world that is. Customs, opinions, the ways of farming, doing business and even doing church are all affected by our society. How can we know, really know which way we’re traveling?

For instance Jesus says, Matthew 6.19-21, 24: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Those words seem so clear and simple. But aren’t we challenged by the idea that putting money away from retirement is a good idea? Or that providing a good living for our families is also right and good? And what exactly does it mean to serve money? And does that always look the same one person to the next? Does the amount of wealth a person has matter or is it just the rich who might have this problem? How about the honest and very real difficulty of figuring out how much is enough?

Sometimes preachers make it all the more complicated because the solution is made overly simple or guilt is thrown in or worse. Sometimes people are just encouraged to give more money to the church as a way of paying off a guilty conscience. It’s like saying don’t think about whether work and money plays to large a role in life, just make sure the contributions come in.

Is that what Jesus meant? Is that why he gave this and so many other teachings?

It seems far more likely that the point of a passage like this is to open the eyes. To not miss the point of life: to think about choices because loving God above all is the foundation to finding satisfaction and purpose. And loving one another is more rewarding than any amount of money could ever be.

You see, Jesus’ message is just like the message of Psalm 1. Choose well so that life is successful in the ways that matter most. And the only way to choose well is by listening to the Spirit as much as possible. So that the other messages, values and opinions can be evaluated and either used or discarded.

Psalm 1, the Bible, God the Father, Son and Spirit are asking each one of us, are we learning to integrate life and faith so that the life we have will matter?

It’s not enough to say I believe in Jesus and then do as I please. That may still result in going to heaven someday, but it certainly will mean missing the blessing available each day between now and then. The Bible teaches us that only God judges the heart. Outward appearances are deceiving. I’m curious how this congregation is doing and I refuse to judge that on Sunday morning attendance. In the same way, I’m also committed to helping people have opportunities to engage God and scripture as often as possible.

So, in your bulletin there is an insert. It’s a devotional life survey that I invite you to read and fill out right now. It’s meant to remind all of us that there are many ways to hear the Spirit and many places where life priorities can be talked about and truth known.

The survey is not about guilt, but by filling it out you may fell some conviction that though God speaks constantly, there are life paths that make His voice harder to hear.

The survey also provides ideas for how to gain back or expand opportunities to hear God’s voice.