It’s been a tough and amazing season all at once, but one thing is for sure, the sense of God’s amazing love and grace is overwhelming. The truth of Philippians 4 has become a living, breathing reality for me recently…
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Verse 13 is probably one of the most misquoted verses in Scripture, so often taken completely out of context. I can’t go out an bench press 325lbs this morning because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But I can learn to live in a way that is independent of my circumstances, I can learn to not be controlled by the situations and challenges that I might face, but rather live in a place of absolute dependence up the One who is in control. In this passage Paul is borrowing language from the Stoic Philosophers of the day to show us how Christ uses the circumstances and situations we face each and every day to initiate us into this path and life of complete dependence upon Him. I can only face life, and do the things that are in front of me, through His strength, by drawing upon Him, my source of strength. It’s a life of dependence, not divorced from circumstances, but recognizing that those circumstance are being used by God as an opportunity to engage with His way of viewing and walking through life. It’s why Paul said this in Philippians 3:
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
So back to God’s love… that’s where we started. Read this from Prodigal John last week and I think it sums it up well. “God doesn’t need me. He loves me.” You see He is God. He is complete. He doesn’t need my additions. Because of His passionate love for each one of us He welcomes us into this partnership, better said a relationship, of dependence upon Him.
So click on the video below, close your eyes and make a commitment today to allow yourself to depend upon Him. It’s His love.
It was one incredible weekend… God did some amazing things and an increasing number of people are seeking God at Cornerstone. Today has been a day of quiet reflection… life is complex and the soul desperately needs Him. Been contemplating these verses from Lamentations 3 and Psalm 37:
“My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”
“Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
The wicked borrow and never repay,
but the godly are generous givers.
Those the Lord blesses will possess the land,
but those he curses will die.
The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.”
I heard ths at Catalyst last October and haven’t been able to shake it… it’s one of those songs that just gets you, moves you, causes you to want to go to another level of devotion. I’ve been listening to it on a you tube video since then because it hasn’t been released anywhere yet. Steve Fee just put together an stripped down acoustic version to show the chords etc… Moved everytime.
You need to download and allow to wash over your soul… We’re in perhaps an unprecedented time in our history. Fear and confusion are running rampant on a personal, cooperate, national and even global level. These seven worship songs have engaged my faith and spirit and reminded me who’s really in control. Over the past week I’ve had the opportunity to reconnect with my true north. Go ahead and take a listen.
1. Breathe On Me (Todd Fields – Louder Than Creation)
2. Psalm 62 (Aaron Keyes – Not Guilty Anymore)
3. God of this City (Chris Tomlin – Passion: God of this City or Hello)
4. All Because of Jesus (Steve Fee – We Shine)
5. We Shine (Steve Fee – We Shine)
6. Everlasting God (Todd Fields – North Point Live)
7. Help Me To Find You (Todd Fields – North Point Live)
Many of us have cried while singing the song and then stood confused and perplexed by the admission of Michael Guglielmucci that he had lied about his cancer. It was a sad episode, the song’s still anointed and many around the world responded by praying for him, his family and his church. The video below is an interview that Michael Guglielmucci did recently and I think it the beginning of a restoration and I love how the church has responded graciously, decisively and with humility in the midst of being shocked by what unfolded.
I’m sure you’re probably aware of the whole Mike Guglielmucci (author of the Healer song) episode and while it’s sad what has happened, there’s a grace that I’m sure Mike’s experiencing as he gets the help he needs and God can still anoint a song regardless of the messenger. The blogosphere has been passionately abuzz with opinion and comments about the story. But this morning I stumbled across this post, and it added fuel to a fire that I’ve been investigating in my own soul. What am I allowing in my life to ruin me for the cause of Christ? Or have I so bubble wrapped my life that I’m insulated from “feeling” anything too deeply and as a result not moved to do anything too outta the boat. Rather moved to play it safe and live in balance.
I’ve always been inspired and challenged by Royce and Elizabeth Iverson. A couple who many would say had everything going their direction and living a great life in Portland, Oregon. However they were ruined for the cause of Christ when they allowed themselves to see things from an eternal perspective. I remember Royce on many occasions telling me, “all this stuff won’t mean a thing in heaven. I’ve only got one life to live and I don’t want to get to the end of my life and have regrets.”The ruining had begun. And it would radically change the trajectory of their life – they quit jobs, sold homes and possessions and moved from their comfortable, nice neighborhood in Portland to Uganda with their two kids to start a medical clinic and orphanage called Hope Village (video here). They had been ruined and moved to never look back. It was forward with what God had put in their heart or death of a vision which would slowly antrophy the rest of their spiritual existence. They chose to be ruined, and as a result choose life.
So in the midst the Mike Guglielmucci episode, or whatever local level irritant you’re encountering let me ask you what is ruining you? As we head into the fall, back to school, back to what might be a normalizing of work and corporate schedules is there something that’s going to ruin you this fall? Is it something with your kids that will cause you to change your schedule or lifestyle so you can invest in them. Is it something in your church, your community or in the world that you know is God challenging you to let yourself be ruined by it, so moved and changed from the inside out that you have to do something about it. A neighbor that needs your support and encouragement. A community that has needs they can’t meet on their own. An area of your church that’s struggling because you’re not there passionately engaged in making it better.
Whatever it is, let’s allow God to pop the bubble wrap!
I serve as the campus pastor at Cornerstone in Albany, NY. While I'm the campus pastor, I'm not immune to an occasional "oops should I have said that?". Cornerstone doesn't pay for or approve this message. My thoughts are my thoughts, but don't let that scare you.
