Life Journal 04-27-2010

A Life Well Lived

(S) Scripture

Psalm 142:7

Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.

(O) Observation

The psalmist is praying. David is in a cave and asks for God's help and protection.

(A) Application

I just received the news of J.D. Johnson's death earlier this morning. J.D. was 92 and lost his battle with cancer. In these months since his diagnosis J.D. showed us all how to live by showing us how to die. Until about a month ago he went every day to the wellness center for excersize and conversation with his friends there. Although his body weakened his spirit was strong. J.D. loved Jesus and lived his life in a way that honored his God. His mind was sharp and his wisdom was something I sought out often. He was a "young" thinker. He was not afraid of change and only wanted what would point more people to Jesus.

As I read this scripture this morning I thought of J.D.. His prison was his diseased body. Today he is cancer free and enjoying his home in heaven, reunited with the love of his life, Sybil, and in the presence of the Lord. In the days ahead we will gather around his casket and thank God for for allowing John to touch our lives. It was through God's goodness that I called John my friend. I will sorely miss J.D. but rejoice that he is with the Lord.

His faithfulness in life and death are lessons in faith we can all learn from.

(P) Prayer

Father, thank you for allowing me to have a friend like J.D.. I thank you for his influence in my life. Let me influence others the way he influenced me. Amen

Life Journal 04-26-2010

The Prayer Before I Preach
(S) Scripture

This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand. ¹⁴In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
" 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
¹⁵For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'¹⁶But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

(O) Observation

Jesus comments on why he teaches in parables. The religious who profess to see do not and the repentant are given eyes to see and ears to hear so they can understand what Jesus is teaching.

(A) Application
It was in a DMin class with John Guest that I was touched by this scripture and the impact it could have in my preaching ministry. John suggested that in a prayer before we speak, we invite people to focus on seeing and hearing with their spiritual eyes and ears. It made sense to me and so before nearly every message I lead the congregation in this prayer. "Lord, open our spiritual eyes to see and hear what you have for for us today. Open our hearts to understand and then give us courage to obey you."

It is a simple prayer but packed with power if we are honest and faithful when we pray it. The power of this prayer is that it invites God to transform us and to make us more like His Son. It allows us to live life as god intended it to be lived. Sadly too many in church have their eyes, ears and hearts closed so they do not see, hear or understand anything that God has for them. Today I want to have my eyes, ears, and heart open to whatever the Lord has for me. I ask for the courage to live out whatever I understand God to be saying to me.

(P) Prayer

Lord, open my eyes and ears so that I can see and hear what you have for me today. Open my heart to understand your will and give me the courage to obey you. Amen