Feeling Anxious?

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." - Psalm 139:23, 24 (NKJV)

“It’s OK to be afraid. It’s not OK to be afraid and disobedient.” - Chip Ingram

What is God asking you to do?  Preach?  Go into the world and teach?  Pray?  Serve a specific group of His children?  Feed the hungry?  Clothe the needy?  Give?  Love the unlovely?  Are you obediently answering His call or are you afraid you lack the necessary qualifications?  Are you allowing feelings of insecurity keep you from doing the work God has gifted you to do?  

If you allow anxieties to control your actions, you may tend to tread cautiously, if you take any action at all.  This lack of boldness in activity highlights a lack of faith.  ^"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).  It is with this knowledge that you can confidently face your fears and take steps of obedience.

Happy Birthday

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
     Before you were born I sanctified you;
          I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
               - Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV)

How do you celebrate your birthday? Do you send invitations, order balloons, cake and ice cream? What is your favorite part about the day? Do you spend time with family and friends? What about presents? Do you look forward to packages wrapped in pretty paper?

Everyday is like your birthday with The Lord and He wants to daily bless you.  Do you see how He blesses you with gifts?  Are you willing to look for them?  When you receive them, do you acknowledge their source?

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah"
     - Psalms 68:19 (NKJV)

Arrangement

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

In a previous blog post “His Ways” I began to define God’s Orchestra using Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary.  While I didn’t have any clearer understanding of the meaning of God’s Orchestra, I found a clue which gave a direction to follow.  The definition of orchestra emphasized the word arrange, so the next logical step was to look up the definition of arrange and for the sake of defining His Orchestra, I will replace ‘orchestra’ with ‘arrange’ and God’s Orchestra becomes God’s Arrange.

Arrange is a verb, circa 1789, with it’s etymology from Middle English arangen; and from Middle French arangier; from Old French, from a- + rengier to set in a row, and from reng, which means row.

ar·range,  -ranged; -rang·ing,  transitive senses,1 : to make preparations for : PLAN <arranged a reception for the visitor>
2 : to put into a proper order or into a correct or suitable sequence, relationship, or adjustment <arrange flowers in a vase> <arrange cards alphabetically>
3 a : to adapt (a musical composition) by scoring for voices or instruments other than those for which orig. written b : ORCHESTRATE
4 : to bring about an agreement or understanding concerning : SETTLE <arrange an exchange of war prisoners>
intransitive senses
1 : to bring about an agreement or understanding <arranged to have a table at the restaurant>
2 : to make preparations : PLAN <arranged for a vacation with his family>
synonym see ORDER
- ar·rang·er, noun

From the definition of arrange, I could see the emphasis on the word plan.  So following my earlier notion and replacing arrange with plan, God’s Arrange becomes God’s Plan.  

Now, I think we are getting somewhere, but can it really be this simple?  Would I find the meaning of God’s Orchestra, His Plan, in the dictionary? 

The definition of arrange shows me that God’s Orchestra can be defined, in part, when we allow Him to arrange the details of our life.  

When we allow God to direct our life, He will take our cacophonous circumstances and create a melodious arrangement for our good and His Glory.

In Word or Deed

"Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."
I Thessalonians 5:11 (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to continue "just as you are doing." What are you doing to support your neighbor; your fellow Christian?

Are any among you hurting, sick or in need of encouragement?
If the way you are treating them is anything other than a loving and positive response to Paul's directive to comfort and edify, can you honestly say "...whatever you do in word or deed, [you] do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17 NKJV)?

Heavenly Father, show us where and how to extend the love of Christ to our brothers and sisters. Give us eyes to see the pain we inadvertently cause when we continue to focus on, or judge, their past instead of celebrating their mercy-filled present with you. May Your will be done, In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Read Between The Lines

"...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls." - Hebrews 12:2-3 (NKJV)

Have you ever felt cold with the sun on your face?

Ever feel alone in a crowded place?

The pain inside,

You never fully can hide.

The past is always there

To haunt without a care...

Have you ever felt as though no one understood you?  As if you were all alone in a situation?  Perhaps the circumstances of life have left you feeling like no one has your back.  When you feel this way what are you focusing on?  Are you dwelling on your problems, stressors and worries? Or, are you able to change your perspective and view your situation differently?

We have all felt lonely at one point or another, but none of us have ever felt as lonely as Jesus must have felt on the cross the night He freely gave His life for us.  Feeling forsaken by His Father, the profound loss He experienced was expressed in agony as He cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"(Matthew 27:46).

If He freely remained on the cross for you and I, despite the loneliness, loss, betrayal, hurt and confusion then we should be able to look to Him when our emotions run parallel.   Remember where to keep your focus when you are feeling lonely, for it is in the midst of your circumstances that you find Jesus and realize you were never alone.

His Ways

     You are God’s song.  As His people, we are called to be a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth, by telling of all the good he has done unto us. 

“Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.”  - Jeremiah 33:9

   

     David repeated over and over in Psalms to sing unto the Lord for the marvelous things he has done,

“Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.” - Psalms 98:1

     We are to make a joyful noise unto the lord.

“Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!”  - Psalms 100:1

  

     As I prayed about the meaning of God’s Orchestra, and how to define it, I was led to look up the definition of orchestra.  According to Merriam-Webster OnLine, the word orchestra, a noun, was first used in 1606, well after the Bible was written, but it’s etymology is Latin; and from Greek orchestra; and orcheisthai to dance; 

"or·ches·tra, 1 a : the circular space used by the chorus in front of the proscenium in an ancient Greek theater b : a corresponding semicircular space in a Roman theater used for seating important persons
2 a : the space in front of the stage in a modern theater that is used by an orchestra b : the forward section of seats on the main floor of a theater c : the main floor of a theater
3 : a group of musicians including especially string players organized to perform ensemble music."

     For this discourse, I would like to focus our attention to the third definition.  God’s Orchestra could then be described as “a group of musicians including especially string players organized to perform ensemble music”.  Since orchestra is a noun, I needed the verb, which would describe the ‘how to’ of God’s Orchestra.  

The word orchestrate, a transitive verb, found it’s beginning around 1880 and is derived from orchestra. 

"or·ches·trate, -trat·ed; -trat·ing, 1 a : to compose or arrange (music) for an orchestra b : to provide with orchestration <orchestrate a ballet>
2 : to arrange or combine so as to achieve a desired or maximum effect <orchestrated preparations for the banquet> - or·ches·tra·tor also or·ches·trat·er, noun."

From this definition we can see the emphasis on the word arrange.  

While we may not understand how God arranges His Orchestra, we can choose to trust Him enough to play our instrument in God's Orchestra.

Waiting On The Lord

"I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech." Psalm 17:6

"Lord, hear my cry," I asked of Him who is Faithful to hear and answer. "What would you have me do in this particular situation?"
Specifically, I wanted to know whether it was His will for me to be involved with a particular ministry. To assist through prayer, finances or service. Through prayer, reading His word and even asking friends to pray with and for me, my pleas with The Lord to "let us reason together" (Isaiah 1:18) went unanswered.
It seemed the the more I asked, the less I heard. While waiting for guidance on the matter, I finally realized the absence of an answer is sometimes the answer itself...wait longer.
You see, we are not the only ones waiting, The Lord is waiting on us. His timing is perfect. God is good to open the doors He desires for us to walk through as He orchestrates every detail. And He is as equally good to close the doors He does not want us to walk through (Revelation 3:7) but we have to wait on Him and His timing.

"Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him." Isaiah 30:18