Archive for the 'Consecration' Category

03
Sep

A Little More Gray…A Little Less Dead

By pasturescott 10 Comments
Categories: Consecration, Crucified Life, Hunger, Intimacy, Jesus Christ, Loving God, Prayer, Reign of Christ, Surrender and Worship

“He must increase; I must be being decreased.”
–John the Plunger, 1st century

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
–Paul, mid-1st century

“Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.”
–2 Corinthians 4:16, Amplified

The math is easy.  Two thousand and seven minus nineteen hundred and sixty equals forty-seven.  I did that without using my fingers, a calculator or calendars.  When you get to be my age, you hesitate a little longer when someone asks how old you are.  In a few years I’ll hesitate when someone asks my name but so far I’m good on that front.

Today I turned 47.

I hopped in the van this morning, headed for some TWG (Time With God) and as I locked my wheelchair into the driver’s side, I stole a quick glance into the rearview mirror.  It may have been the way the sunlight highlighted the right side of my head but I had to do a double-take at the increased number of silvery strands that reflected back at me.  Did it bother me?  No, not one bit because I quickly referenced in my noggin the times that gray hair is meant to be a good thing in the Bible, even desirable. 

Now, balding?  That’s another matter altogether.  I’ve moved from a hair brush to just moving some hairs around with my fingers.  Soon I’ll just need a washrag.  God is pretty much silent on the subject, too.  Some people’s hair he numbers.  Others (like me), He puts an asterisk beside.

(Total is pending.)

Sometime after my two older sisters came to be, my Mom suffered an unfortunate miscarriage.  Had that child been born, I may not be here today.  So, in celebration of this auspicious day in my life, come along with me into the courts and inner chamber of the Maker of Life.  I’m SO glad to be alive!  Even though I can squint and see fifty, and though flecks of gray are gaining momentum, I rejoiced today that with each passing year, I’m a little less ’dead’.  I’m so tired of carrying about this body of death that every turn of the calendar means I’m getting that much closer to putting on immortality!

Please indulge me for yet another entry into my prayer journal:

My Father, God and King,

This is the life!  Early Fall, temperatures are becoming more civil…the color of the world even seems to have changed into richer tones…and I’m here with You on my birthday, looking forward to Your Presence to hold me and reveal more riches and the richness of Your grace and Life.  Show up, Lord!  Speak to me.  Let me hear from Your Throne and heart; I invite You to tarry with me here this while.  Walk with me and expound Truth to my ears and heart that I might gain a fuller revelation of the Son of God and may my heart BURN—burn on and burn out—for You. 

Overwhelm me with waves of mercy, grace following grace, glory to glory and faith to faith.  Baptize me in Your deep, deep waters and bury me in them that I might rise in power with You.  O God!  Fill me to fullness!  Complete me!  Finish Your work in me!  May Christ be fully formed in me…pull me into Yourself that I might come to the complete measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ with no vestige left of Scott-the-old-man.  I want You.  I long for You.  I can even say in this moment that my soul aches for You—please don’t let this ache go away!  Bubble up through me, O Living Water!  Fill me up to overflowing.  I worship You. 

My…

Faithful God.
Wonderful Friend.
Caring Shepherd.
Loving Companion.
Patient Counselor.
Ever-present Helper.
Constant Hope.
Loyal Defender.

I feel deep pools rising up within me.  Look at me when Your eyes look to and from on the earth because I’m raising my hand so You can spot me.  I’m here, looking at You, beholding You.  Come to me, O One Who reigns!  I owe my whole life to You and bathe in Your grace.  Take me deep into Your waters but as they rise to find their level, raise me with them. 

I’m not after counterfeit and make-believe or manufactured holiness or any ‘virtual’ oasis in this desert.  I want You to reign in me and through me.  I can’t wait for the day when Your Kingdom truly comes in all its fullness to me and completely shatters and displaces all the flesh and mortar kingdoms of my heart.  I long for the day when You reign supreme and there is no rebellion, hypocrisy or conditional love in me.  I cry for the day when Your radiance is so seen in me that “I” become transparent—yea, removed—that all that is seen is divine glory, and the fragrance of Christ so permeates me that all stench is removed.  When LOVE pours out of me in measures only known in Heaven.

Thank You for life! 

Thank You for bringing me into existence that I might feel Your Touch, love and redeeming grace.  Thank You for allowing me to be “in the story” and for giving me a place in it where I can demonstrate Your Life and not be stumbling around in the darkness along with the whole of humanity.  Praise You!  I love living and today is an opportunity for me to tell it to my heart… 

I’m a little more gray today but a little less ‘dead’, too.  Each passing year gets me closer to removing entirely this body of death and to be fitted for the garment You are tailoring for me.  I only ask for fabric that breathes, that is porous enough to more readily, quickly and noticeably display Your glory abundantly throughout eternity…“Not unto me, O Lord.  Not unto me.  But to Your Name I give the glory—“ (Ps 115:1)

A little more gray.  A little less dead.

Today, as I look forward from this place in the time I have left, I recommit myself to these things:

·         A little more death, a little less me
·         A little more praise, a little less indifference
·         A little more surrender, a little less selfishness
·         A little more patience, a little less judgment
·         A little more intention, a little less waste
·         A little more passion, a little less paralysis
·         A little more glory, a little less relevance
·         A little more love, a little less self-protection
·         A little more fasting, a little less indulgence
·         A little more worship, a little less preoccupation
·         A little more pilgrimage, a little less Egypt
·         A little more faith, a little less rationalism
·         A little more poor, a little less rich
·         A little more listening, a little less noise
·         A little more God, a little less theology
·         A little more risk, a little less resignation

Thank You for my life, Lord.  It’s Yours.  Thank You for Your Life, Lord.  It’s mine. 

Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
Maker of Heaven and earth
No one can comprehend Your worth
King over all the universe
To You be the glory
And I am alive because I’m alive in You

It’s all because of Jesus I’m alive
It’s all because of the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man’s life
It’s all because of Jesus I’m alive

–“It’s All Because of Jesus”
The Altar and the Door, Casting Crowns  

What about you?  What do you need a ‘little’ more of?  A ‘little’ less of?

23
Aug

A Prayer For This Day

By pasturescott 6 Comments
Categories: Christianity, Confession, Consecration, Crucified Life, Encouragement, Hunger, Intimacy, Jesus Christ, Prayer, Reign of Christ and Repentance

Occasionally (well rarely…er, never?) I will add something out of my prayer journal and post it for public consumption and that mood strikes me this day.  A little context, if you please: my life has been a runaway roller coaster for several weeks now, running from meeting to meeting, imploding under the weight of protocols, agendas, procedures, tasks and deadlines.  This push pace has fairly smothered me and I’ve begun to see life ooze from my very spirit. 

Serenity Now! 

I shared with a friend today that this is not the life I am wired for.  At heart I am a cave-dweller, needing much alone time with the Lord in order to have order and integrity in my interior life.  And so, even to the point of near rudeness to decline yet another meeting this morning, I “stole” some much-needed intimacy time with the One who, sadly, all too often gets shoved into the “to do” pile of my life. 

To my delight, what I found in my holy ground place (my van, you recall) was not a miffed Potentate thumping His watch and pumping His crossed legs impatiently.  He was not in a tizzy, giving the cold shoulder until just enough groveling had embarrassed us both.  No, I found a Lover patiently waiting by, already coming toward me as I shyly crossed over the threshold, and just like that, we were in the moment.

Blessed Father,

I come to You to worship and praise the God of all gods and every living thing.  I worship the One God who rules over all and is a Jealous Lover.  The skies spread prostrate before You, the stars pulsate with the energy of Your love, the trees bow and wave to the King who rules, and the seas move in the rhythm of the One who sings over them.

You are God forever and none can compare to You.  You are manna from heaven, water from the Rock, the Way through the wilderness, Rivers in the desert, the pillar of fire and cloud who goes before Your people to lead them to their Eternal Rest.  You are the Eternal Shabbat and I call You Lord, Savior and Lover of my soul. 

You are good and Your love endures forever!  In You is ALL my soul should ever long for, pant after and need.  The world and all its pleasures are passing away!  All that is this “world” is opposed to You and if I am friendly with it, then I am against You.  God, may this not be my enduring testimony but may I always and ever seek only after You and may the “One Thing” of my heart’s confession be to find You and be found by You.  To live only for Your pleasure and awake in Your likeness. 

Oh God!  May Christ be fully formed in me!  Oh, that I would come into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and that my inner man might be built up in You and may I be sanctified wholly, finished and completed and be found blameless!!!

As a bride adorned and festooned with the jewelry of righteousness (not her own), incandescent with the touch of the holy on me, wearing the fragrance of Christ, giving no doubt to all that I have been with Jesus, wrestled with You, not letting You go without Your breath to fill me inside.  I declare in this moment of eternity that I want You to be my First Love without a close second.  Woo me today.  Seduce me and romance me!  I am here, in my chambers, a virgin bride, kept and waiting for the Day of Your Arrival.

There is oil enough for the night—is there?  I pray so.  That’s why I come to this place of our meeting to express my heart’s yearning for You.

God, my Lord and King, I pray for ALL ties to anything that hinders me from running to Your embrace to be broken.  ALL!  I am so attracted and dis-tracted by passing pleasures and the siren calls of other lovers and I would not have it this way.  This is why I cry for Christ to be fully formed in me—until I am so consumed by Your Life that I see through Your eyes, hear only Your voice, follow hard on Your steps and taste only Your wine and Your lips.  Until I am heartsick for You, and have NO appetite except for Your Presence to linger always as close as my own breath. 

I am ever Your Shulammite, struggling to turn from Solomon’s overtures because love—real love—is found in my Shepherd Lover.  Solomon is relentless and greedy.  He has a harem and wants to make me “one of many” but You are in pursuit of me and will spare nothing to lay hold of me, breaking even Solomon’s bewitchments and enticements so that I remain single-eyed for the True Lover of my soul.

“Arise, my darling…” You say.

“Come away with Me!” You call.

Lord, please find that place in my heart where is a sincere desire—a protected secret place—where I want and will to go away with You and truly leave all this far behind…Woo me today.  Seduce and romance me!  I pray You will not turn away and leave me for Solomon’s consumption.

You are a great, high and holy God!  You are ever near to the cry of Your servant and faithful to accomplish all that You’ve begun and with all that Your servant cooperates with You to do.  DO ME, Lord!  Baptize me in the deepest waters You have!  I want this old man to die away!  For good!  I want him to be belly-up and bloated in the Red Sea along with Pharaoh and his hapless army.

God, my King, do this and draw me into the reality of such a conquering of myself.  I repent, Lord, of my own self-rule and taking the Throne when You alone have the right to rule.  Reign over me, over my life, over my family!  And over all I am attracted to…Reign, O Lord!

In Jesus’ Name, amen. 

07
Aug

Lights On During Fog

By pasturescott 24 Comments
Categories: Christianity, Church, Consecration, Deception, Discipleship, Hypocrisy, Intimacy, Jesus Christ, Kingdom of God, Ministry, Preaching, Reign of Christ and Worship

I’m sitting here watching a preacher on television, looking dapper in his nice pin-striped suit and colorful tie, offering well-traveled principles on how to get the most out of life.  One of the points he has just made is “Learn How To Travel In The Fog” meaning, of course, when life is uncertain, there is One who is always certain and can be trusted, so follow His lead with the eyes of faith. 

Good reminder to be sure.

The trouble is, when he made his point, the corresponding words that flashed on the television screen were slightly different.  One little word was altered which changed the meaning completely.  The person in the multimedia department who was responsible, and for whatever reason, flashed the words: “Learn To Travel In A Fog”.  I’ll bet they wished they had caught it before it went to broadcast!

That seems to be the general atmosphere among the church scene of the 21st century.  We yawn our way through Sunday and sleep-walk our faith throughout the week.  Cobwebs grow along the cavernous chambers of our hearts.  There is no bite, no vim and vigor and little passion in our love affair with Christ.  What love affair?  We’d rather keep it on the down-low, not wanting to turn it into something that will raise eyebrows or elicit exclaims of “what’s happened to you?”  We prefer, many of us, to keep the thermostat on 75; not too hot, not too cool.  Just right.  Cozy, even.

I’m not posing that we look to emotionalism as being the savior of the church.  Lord knows we have churches that pump up the jam, jump and shout amid lasers and stage lights and still have no more effect on cultural transformation than how a frog’s hopping in the woods would cause someone in town to turn his head worried over tremors and earthquakes.  Whether the fog is on the stage or in the pews, no matter.

I am positing, however, a return to a high view of God.  His being transcends all and if we lift our eyes above the fog, we will see Him.  Tony Evans, pastor of the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, said he went to his neighborhood Wal-mart recently to shop for a few items.  He didn’t want the hassle of long lines so he left his house early to avoid the hubbub but when he arrived, the parking lot was full.  Groaning and not a little puzzled over why so many would be out shopping so early, he went inside to discover the reason: there was a store-wide clearance sale.

While waiting in one of those cursed long lines, it dawned on him that this is how most people approach their commitment level with Christ.  If you can get God at a reduced price, they’re all for it.  Keep God cheap and they’re in.  But offer me a God at retail, or worse, an inflated price, uh, no thanks, I’ll just sleep in.

Say what you want about the Puritans, I have a strong appreciation for my forebears concerning the esteem to which they raised and praised God.  It sounds out-dated I know, but they feared Him something fierce!  Sure, at times they went a little overboard with the language of we humans as low-down dirty worms and worthless, but they really knew how to exalt the Almighty to the highest place and give Him His due honor. 

Over the weekend, I heard some Christian girl group from the UK sing about Jesus as being their “sunshine”, all the while dancing and looking worldly and seductive; and though the sound was catchy, the lyrics were so nebulous one could easily think they were singing about a boyfriend.  We want to package Christianity so close to the world’s comfort level (“keep Him cheap”) thinking that will hook them when all it does is muddy the waters a good deal more.  Christianity then gets so assimilated into all other religions and worldviews it has lost its potency.

Ah, but go to the airwaves or workplace and herald Christ as the Almighty, omnipotent, transcendent Lord, the only way and only hope for mankind, then heads will turn and the fog will clear.  Our culture is saddled with many gods, none of which can save the human race.  We, the people of the only true God, must get God out of the bargain basement and elevate Him in our lives, our homes, and our weekly places of worship. 

Who wants to fall in love with “Sunshine”?  No, beloved, but I certainly can swoon and blush at the thought of creation’s Creator fighting and conquering all enemies just to win me for His Bride!  And to think He’s coming for me—any day now!—makes me want to be ready and clear-headed. 

Though I’m dark You say I am lovely
Though I’m poor You say I am beautiful 

Somehow my weakness has overwhelmed You
Somehow my weak glance has stolen away Your heart 

That’s reason and motivation enough, wouldn’t you say?  Oh, and if you catch me napping, remind me of these things.  And if I look like I’m in a fog, do me a favor and slap some sense into me. 

06
Jul

How Free Do You Wanna Be?

By pasturescott 10 Comments
Categories: Christianity, Church History, Commitment, Consecration, Crucified Life, Discipleship, Encouragement, Faithfulness, Intimacy, Jesus Christ, Kingdom of God, Loving God, Obedience, Reign of Christ and Surrender

“Master, to whom would we go?”
(Peter, 1st century)

Imagine a slave being given his freedom. Now imagine that same slave telling his master, “No, Master, I love serving you! My place is here with you. May I stay?” When the novelty of Christ wore off on His audience and His popularity waned, particularly when it dawned on them that His mission was not to come and make us feel better about ourselves but to make us holy, He watched a steady stream of “wanna eats but not wanna bes” walk away from Him and hitch a ride onto the wide road. We’ll just find somewhere else to take our business to, they sniffed.

When nary a soul remained He turned and saw His ragtag band of wannabes (save one) standing pat. “I’m not going to make you stay, fellows,” He offered. “You may leave anytime you wish.”

I can visualize Peter grouping The Twelve together in a sort of huddle and the subsequent whisperings, sometimes strained but mostly quiet and orderly. Then, I see as the small clutch of disciples breaks and they watch as Peter approaches the Master. “Lord, we’ve talked about it and pretty much all of us agree: where else could we go? You have the words of life. May we stay with You?”

In the Old Testament, when a slave of Judah was granted their Jubilee pardon, and one decided to stay put in his master’s household, he (or she) would place their earlobe against the doorpost of the master’s house and with a hammer and awl, the master would open a bloody hole in that part of the ear and after inserting a gold or brass or silver ring, the slave was his for life. By choice.

I take you now into the Upper Room on a melancholic Passover evening in Jerusalem’s first century, not too long after the aforementioned conversation. There we find thirteen men lounging around a table laden with the customary lamb, the herbs, the wine, with Jesus as its head. Judas is on one side and John is at His breast. The arrangement is quite telling. At Jesus’ back is Judas. At His front, near His heart, is the beloved disciple. Now, don’t miss this: John’s earlobe is pressed against the Master who has called himself in John’s gospel—and in his gospel alone—the Door. The picture is too good to miss. Here is John, by choice through intimacy, intentionally making himself the Master’s bondslave.

I’m not sure if this was ever attempted but I wonder what it would say of a slave if he or she was to tell their master, “Not just this ear, Master, but my other one as well. I want everyone to see, from all angles, that I belong to you and desire Your reign over me.” I could see an impetuous Peter, a doe-eyed John or a decisive Paul doing just that.

That’s freedom’s cost: a bloody ear. So how free do you wanna be?

One ear or two?

30
May

Play It Loud

By pasturescott 15 Comments
Categories: Christianity, Consecration, Discipleship, Encouragement, Humility, Intimacy, John Piper, Kingdom of God, Loving God, Reign of Christ, Sacrifice, Surrender, U2 and Worship

ipod.jpg

If you took a listen to my IPOD today, you’d find an eclectic mix of Christian music with artists like SCC, Michael W. Smith, Derek Webb, Avalon, Jaci Velasquez, Jeremy Camp, Brooklyn Tab, Lincoln Brewster, Mark Schultz, Matthew West, Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Michael Card, Steve Camp, NewSong, Passion, Petra, Steve Green (only time you’ll see the last two in the same sentence!), “Voice” (thank you, John Piper) and Wayne Watson. There’s even a smattering of Josh Groban (one song) and Mandy Moore (one song). I suppose the most heady music I have is some downloaded songs off U2’s “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.”

Yeah, that kinda baffles me, too.

I have to say, however, that I can really worship to some of the stuff on this album, especially “Yaweh.” Just peruse these lyrics and tell me there’s not solid Truth in them. Yeah, Bono and The Edge are ‘out there’ and their lyrics can be artsy, methaphorical and layered with meaning, but I believe I have picked up on a not-as-subtle surrender ballad here. Think of it as a “Take My Life And Let It Be” for the postmodern generation.

Take these shoes
Click-clacking down some dead end street
Take these shoes and make them fit.

Take this shirt
Polyester white-trash, made in nowhere
Take this shirt and make it clean.

Take this soul
Stranded in some skin and bones
Take this soul and make it sing.

Yaweh, Yaweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yaweh, Yaweh, still I’m waiting for the dawn.

Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands, don’t make a fist.

Take this mouth
So quick to criticize
Take this mouth, give it a kiss.

Yaweh, Yaweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yaweh, Yaweh, still I’m waiting for the dawn.

Still waiting for the dawn…sun is coming up
Sun is coming up on the ocean
This Love is like a drop in the ocean
This Love is like a drop in the ocean.

Yaweh, Yaweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yaweh, Yaweh, tell me now
Why the dark before the dawn?

Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city if it be Your will.

What no man can own, no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And make it break

I know it’s a style, a method of communicating, but I like it a whole lot better when I don’t have to read between the lyrics to find out where someone’s faith lies. Gleaming cities on hills are pretty evident to everyone, not at all vague or opaque. They’re loud, too. Lives lived in the key of heaven tend to be noticed and the residents of such a city like to rock the house and wake the neighbors.

A city should be shining on a hill, indeed.

 

 

03
May

National Day of Prayer

By pasturescott 2 Comments
Categories: Christianity, Consecration, Intercession, Jesus Christ and Prayer

ndpsmall.jpg

Almighty God, we pause to reflect on Your character as we seek wisdom for such a time as this.

In these unsafe days,
You remain all-powerful and able to protect;

In these uncertain times,
You remain all-knowing, leading us aright;pray2_148×1311.jpg

In the unprecedented events we’re facing,
You remain absolutely sovereign.
Our times are in Your hands.

Therefore, our dependence on You, is total, not partial
. . . our need for Your forgiveness is constant

. . . our gratitude for Your grace is profound

. . . our love for You is deep.

We ask that You guard aprayday1.jpgnd guide our President
and all who serve the people of these United States.
May uncompromising integrity mark their lives.

We also ask that You unite us as truly “one nation,
under God.” May genuine humility return to our ranks.

And may that blend of integrity and humility
heal our land.

In our Lord’s name we pray,

Amen.

2007 Prayer For Our Nation
Written by Charles Swindoll

 
08
Apr

Yireh

By pasturescott 2 Comments
Categories: Christianity, Commitment, Consecration, Crucified Life, Discipleship, Jesus Christ, Loving God and Surrender

Despite his old age, the muscles of his arms were like steel cables as he held the knife aloft, soabrahamisaac.jpg great was his determination. His brow was slick from the sweat of such travail. In that seminal moment just before plunging the knife downward, he closed his eyes so as to gather the inner resolve to carry out his assignment. It made no sense but still he knew he must go through with it. It was the will of Yahweh.

He heard a slight whimper from the lad and instinctively opened his eyes. Standing stock-still in the same aggressive pose over Yitzchak, he gazed upon his son with a gathering sorrow unlike anything he had ever known. His mouth slackened, his lips quivered and those aged eyes suddenly pooled with tears, making viscous trails down his weather-worn cheeks. His lungs filled with the pain of fire and he dared not breathe. Yahweh stood nearby and to deny Him this sacrifice was unthinkable. But the lad, my son! My beloved son! It was harrowing to see the abject fright in the boy’s eyes and yet submit with an irrepressible trust in his father. Had there ever been a time in all of human history when so much was asked of a parent?

Even so, friendship with Elohim meant everything to him and he had faith that a merciful God would resurrect his son. Yitzchak was blessed Seed, the guarantee of nations, the Promise of Messiah. He was the lone seed that must fall into the ground and die but from which would yield the providential harvest. The conflicted patriarch closed his eyes in reverence as a sudden warming peace took hold. All is well, Avraham. You and the lad will be joined again but for now you must give him to Me. Can you not trust Me?

He was suddenly aware of the knife again. Held against the slate gray of the overhead sky, it had seemed almost imperceptible but now it took on a more pronounced hue. Avraham sighed deeply and looked upon his only begotten with an odd mixture of pity and relief, sadness and release. His grip tightened. Yitzchak braced. Yahweh waited. The old man’s arms stretched to their full extension.

“My father! My father! Why have you forsaken me?” Yitzchak’s shrill voice pierced Avraham’s very soul.

Though his own tortured heart was breaking asunder, the fury of obedience held its own. The knife reversed at its topmost point and such velocity for an old man was a sight to behold. The blade hurtled through space, tracking its course without deviation, determined to strike at the heart of Avraham’s dreams. And it was Avraham who himself would strike the blow, so great was his love for Yahweh.

“Avraham!”

The aim was true. Resolve deepened.

“Avraham!”

An unseen Hand stretched and caught Abraham’s arm. The gnarled hands unclasped and the abrahamandisaac.jpgwrists relaxed. The knife curved back, away from the lad, and bore deeply into a stick of wood, mercifully guided away from his only son. When Abraham turned toward the Voice, he heard another voice, the grunting of a male sheep, caught in a nearby thicket, and knew at once this was the Sacrifice. I AM Yireh, he was told. You leave it to Me. I will see to it.

As someone has quipped, “God spared Abraham’s heart a pang He would not spare His own.”

The overarching Truth is, no Divine provision can be gained with hands already full. When the child became the “delight and idol of his heart” (Tozer), God went into action. He set out to test Abraham’s affection. He wanted to make dead sure His servant loved Him above all else. And he passed.

“The old man,” A.W. Tozer wrote, “stood there on the mount strong and pure and grand, a man marked out by the Lord for special treatment, a friend and favorite of the Most High. Now he was a man wholly surrendered, a man utterly obedient, a man who possessed nothing. He had concentrated his all in the person of his dear son, and God had taken it from him. God could have begun out on the margin of Abraham’s life and worked inward to the center; He chose rather to cut quickly to the heart and have it over in one sharp act of separation. In dealing thus He practiced an economy of means and time. It hurt cruelly, but it was effective.”

The combination-name of Yahweh-Yireh (Jehovah-Jireh) in Genesis 22:14 is the same Hebrew that is used in the Shepherd Psalm where David says, “The Lord is my Caring Shepherd (and He will see to it that) I have everything I need” (Psalm 23). Hagar also used the word when she called God, “the One who sees me.” The name Yireh means much more than Provider. It means “HE WHO SEES”. Yahweh is able to see how we cry to Him, how we turn to Him, how we depend upon Him and how we will treat His Sacrifice. Genesis 22 is the Gospel of God. In this short narrative we have passion, sacrifice, death, resurrection, substitution, efficacy, appeasement, election and justification. There is Lordship and reign.

It is true for us that God is able to see what we will do with His Sacrifice, so He will make provision for us. He sees to it that we will be included in His great plan and covenant of mercy. The catch is that we will never truly know Him as our ‘Yireh’ until we come into the “blessedness of possessing nothing.” (Tozer) We must come to Him with empty hands. We must come to Him with a heart-throne reserved only for Him. We enter through a narrow gate, meaning we must dis-possess ourselves of everything just to get through. If we give Him our Isaacs, we may be able to keep our Isaacs, but they will no longer be ours to possess. If we give Him our Isaacs, we will surely get His Son.

Abraham’s—and Isaac’s— salvation was in a ram caught in the thicket. Our salvation is in a Lamb nailed to a Cross.

 

 

06
Apr

And the Award Goes To…Mrs. Butterworth

By pasturescott 8 Comments
Categories: Christianity, Consecration and Sandy

I’ve laid low for the week, for the most part, as this has been Spring Break around town. Sandy, however, has had quite a week for herself where she works. For my many readers who are not so intimately acquainted with our lives, my beloved dons many caps: wife to yours truly, the pastor’s wife to our church family, mother to our one son, called friend by many, manages to fit ‘caregiver’ for her disabled husband in her life, and is also a 14-year employee at UPS where she works five nights a week at an Atlanta hub.

This week she learned she was Employee of the Month for her Atlanta hub! This is actually her second such award in her years there and I am so blessed in that my wife has let Christ’s Light shine through her in such a tough workplace. Some of her workmates call her “First Lady” which is the African-Americans designation for ‘pastor’s wife’. Mostly, she’s called “Miss Sandy”.mrsb.jpg Not long ago, her workmates asked her to join them for an after-shift breakfast at IHOP and were amazed by how zany and goofy she could be. “Miss Sandy, we had no idea how funny you were!”

She also has another nickname. And on a night she learned of her dubious distinction as Employee of the Month, and also got a check for backpay (she wasn’t aware of), she also got one of the highest honors for being “one of the gang.” You see, Sandy goes from her regular job as sorter to another job for overtime pay (to help on our son’s boarding school bill). At this other job, she wraps up T-Mobile phones to be sent back to the company for repairs and such. Hundreds and hundreds of phones. The men who work in the area enjoy the art of bequeathing nicknames but you really have to prove yourself to them to earn one.

They have dubbed the manager who works their area, Casper. Obviously he is caucasian, but he is also, evidently, a ‘friendly ghost.’ Up until the other night, they called Sandy the “T-Mobile Lady” but assured her they would be thinking of one that really fits. On Wednesday night, they came to her and said, “We’ve got it.” After much thought and effort, they conveyed to her the honorable nomenclature “Mrs. Butterworth.”

Mrs. Butterworth?!?

“Yes,” they told her, “it’s because you are a woman of respect and deserving of respect. And you are also very sweet to all us old guys…” After the explanation, she has settled into it and wears it well.

That’s my baby. My Mrs. Butterworth.

31
Mar

Near-Death Experience

By pasturescott 11 Comments
Categories: Christianity, Commitment, Consecration, Crucified Life, Jesus Christ and Trials

“The problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps jumping off the altar.”
–Warren Wiersbe

“Gethsemane” (Hebrew, gat shemanim)—oil press, place of crushing

Someone ran my wife off the road today. She’s okay, but there was eighty-some dollars worth of damage to the front passenger tire which had been replaced only days ago. Tholives2.jpgat’s all well and good, in the grand scheme, especially since my dear one is safe. What stewed my tomatoes was when she told me that the lady (really, I ask, should women ever have the wheel?) who ran her off the road laid on the horn to let her know for future reference and under no circumstance should Sandy ever be in front of her when she wants to change lanes. The mercury rose in my neck as I pictured my beloved being rammed into the sharp corner of some highway curbing by someone who evidently staked some kind of claim to said road.

I have to admit what my head was screaming when I got the full story. Lord, let the woman get stopped for moving violations five times between here and her home. May she just try to mouth off to one of those officers and spend a night sitting in a rank jail cell sandwiched between a throw-up drunk and a crazy person who claims to be Jesus and the easter bunny.

May her best friend betray her, Lord, and her favorite pet run away. May her mortgage company foreclose on her loan and may all four of her tires fall off her car for no apparent reason in the middle of a rainy night far from cellular service and may a sweaty, toothless guy named Tiny pull over to help her…

You see how depraved my mind can get when given ten seconds for unsupervised playtime?

And last night, at our weekly prayer fellowship, one of the guys praying was really digging in and said, “Lord, I thank You that in Your economy we don’t need to wait upon a Joshua for direction but we have all been made priests and Your instruction can come for this church from anyone…” My heart was amen-ing the context and truth of his prayer but immediately the specter of old Adam rose up in me and I found myself in a soulish struggle. Well, that’s true and all, but why can’t I be the ‘go-to’ guy? I like going to the tip of Sinai and bringing the people their instruction…oh, why do I still do it? Why must I repeatedly make sure I come out ahead? Why must I keep clawing through the sod so a dead man can get some air when what I really want is to be laid to rest in the death of Jesus? Why must I insist that the plan be mine, the credit be mine, that the roadmap be in my hand, the itinerary be according to my schedule, that the crowd come to me and not to so-and-so; why must I hurt so when I am rejected or passed over? Continue reading ‘Near-Death Experience’

16
Mar

A Marked Man

By pasturescott 7 Comments
Categories: Christianity, Commitment, Consecration, Crucified Life, Discipleship, Persecution, Reign of Christ, Repentance and Suffering

“A marked man.” Tonight at our weekly prayer fellowship, I heard these words take on life down deep. While others were offering up their petitions around me, these three little words were hatched in my spirit. I can’t say I heard them out loud but I can say with certainty that the “Still, Small Voice” found me yet again.

What could these tri-monosyllabic words mean? My mind did a google of its own and immediately snagged a couple of Scriptures burrowed in its vast storehouse of information. I believe the Spirit illuminated these texts and they hung there before my heart, flapping in the breezes of holy wind, awaiting my capitulation.

RORSCHACH AND ABEDNEGO?

First up was the reference that describes a holy man dressed in linen holding an inkhorn at his side. To this man, the Lord commanded he “go through the City and find those who cry and weep over the abominations of the land, and who seek Me, and put a mark on their foreheads.” The inkblot would stay the hand of judgment and let the wearer go free.

It is significant that the word “mark” in Hebrew is tav, the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The man was told to “put a tav” on their foreheads. Literally, put a cross there (written as an ‘x’ or ‘t’). It is also telling that in the midst of judgment (the six men) is this interlude of grace. The foreheads of these faithful ones were God’s canvas on which to paint His mark of redemption. When judgment came near, it was asked, “What do you see in this inkspot?” and if it saw the mark of a crucified life, it would pass on. Continue reading ‘A Marked Man’

28
Feb

On Finishing Well (Part One)

By pasturescott 0 Comments
Categories: Christianity, Commitment, Consecration, Discipleship, Jesus Christ, Sports, Surrender and Trials

basketballheaven.jpg

I am in the last half of my life. And that’s okay with me. What I see when I look into the mirror is a man who has lived a good life, lost some hair, gained some lb’s (no ugly comments from the peanut gallery!), acquired a couple laugh lines, and flecks of gray. And I see something else for which I give God the praise for allowing me this grace: a determination to finish well.

February 1978.

It was the final game of my high school basketball ‘career’. We were playing a patsy and were simply going through the motions, having been bounced from the playoffs by two points in the previous game. We were heartsick and bored, and coach was emptying the bench to make sure everyone had enough P.T. as the season drew to a melancholy end. Only I was kept in all four quarters, and the reason was, although captain of the team and averaging close to double digits, I had not scored 20 points in any game all year long. Coach wanted to address this. So he kept me in.

I started the game hot. Nearly everything I threw in the direction of the backboard went in. Some amazing shots, believe me. By halftime, twenty points was well within reach but something happened in the dressing room at intermission. Coach said, “we’re gonna leave Scott in so he can get his twenty, but that shouldn’t be too long.” He said this to enliven the hopes of my backup forwards who had not yet seen any action but when the curtain opened on the second half, I went ice cold. I couldn’t hit the sky if I had aimed for it! No points in the third quarter; still only a couple buckets shy of the golden mark. Looking over at the bench, my backups were looking glum.

Coach was looking at me, hands on hips, as if to say, enough already. He instructed the other four on the floor to feed me the ball every time down court, no matter where I was. Short jumpers were just short, layups were rattling out, long range bombs scraped air. Nothing was working. The crowd, by this time, knew the playbook and every time my hands touched leather, the fans’ roar was deafening. I think by this time, the other team knew the playbook too because it seemed they gave me a wide berth. Hit it if you can…

Finally, two minutes left in the final stanza of my high school basketball experience, and I was fed the ball in the middle of the lane; I fumbled it but somehow regained control and flipped it immediately upward fearing the whole while for a traveling whistle that never came (I think even the refs knew the playbook by this time!). The ball circled the rim and…fell in. Everyone exploded as points nineteen and twenty went in the books—finally—and I was mugged by teammates there under the hoop, and even given some back slaps by the opposing team. The only one not sharing in the glee was the third stringer who was left with only 90 seconds or so to make good.

That’s my story. Fortunately, with a little help from my friends, I finished well. But a larger story was unfolding in my life including college, temptation, trials, paralysis and ministry. I still fumble the ball at times and hit back iron now and again, but I have others in my life who give a wide berth, “feed me the ball,” cheer me on and a Coach who leaves me in the game.

All of it is designed to make sure I finish well. I want to do that more than anything…

(continued in next post) 

24
Feb

Resolved, To Live…

By pasturescott 2 Comments
Categories: Christianity, Church, Commitment, Consecration, Discipleship, Jesus Christ, Loving God, Purity, Repentance, Revival and Surrender

One of the more syncopated and fun songs out of the Baptist hymnal growing up was a ditty called, “I Am Resolved”. I always loved singing the bass line with its moving parts and echoes. Fun stuff. The first verse and chorus goes like this:

I am resolved no longer to linger
Charmed by the world’s delights
Things that are higher, things that are nobler
These have allured my sight!

I will hasten to him
Hasten so glad and free (Bass—me—oohh, sing it: Hasten so glad and free!)
Jesus, greatest, highest
I will come to Thee!*

One hundred and fifty years before that song pealed forth from the lungs of robust Baptists, Jonathan Edwards penned his own treatise of resolutions, a list of 70 things he was resolved to lay down, take up, and set forth to do**. These Resolutions were a dedication of himself to God—a giving up of himself, his rights and all that he had. Mr. Edwards went over this list each week with the Lord, allowing the Spirit to take inventory of his heart. Here are just a few:

LIVE A PURPOSEFUL LIFE

RESOLVED, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, but what tends to the glory of God
RESOLVED, never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

LIVE A GROWING LIFE

RESOLVED, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find…myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
RESOLVED, to strive every week to be brought higher (spiritually), and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

LIVE AN EXAMINED LIFE

RESOLVED, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent—what sin I have committed—; also, at the end of every week, month, and year.
RESOLVED, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

LIVE A HUMBLE LIFE

RESOLVED, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others.
RESOLVED,…all my life long, with the greatest openness of which I am capable, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance.

LIVE A HOLY LIFE

RESOLVED, in narrations, never to speak any thing but the pure and simple [truth].
RESOLVED, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

LIVE A CONSECRATED LIFE

RESOLVED, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God.
RESOLVED, never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s.

LIVE IN LOVE

RESOLVED, never to do anything out of revenge.
RESOLVED, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor…
RESOLVED, to do always what I can toward making, maintaining and preserving peace.

LIVE IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY

RESOLVED, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
RESOLVED, [that] I will act so, as I think I shall judge would have been best…when I come into the future world.

*entire hymn found here.
**for all 70 “Resolutions for Godly Living,” visit Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ website. Thanks to Life Actions Ministry’s “HeartCry: A Journal on Revival and Spiritual Awakening” for providing this piece (Issue 37: Winter 2007, pp59-61)

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