Ok, I’m finally back!
Recently, I attended the Fusion event at Great Lakes Christian College. And one of the worship elements we were challenged to do was to write on various poster boards our answers or reflections on different subjects. One of these subjects focused on your “favorite scripture”. As I read over them was deeply moved by the representation of almost every book in the bible and how you could see a message being sent from the collection of different scriptures. Here a few that caught my eye…
Luke 1:37:
“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Psalm 27:5-10:
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
He will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the LORD with music.
7 Hear me as I pray, O LORD.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”
9 Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the LORD will hold me close.
Psalm 22:
1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.
3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them.
5 They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and
6 were never disgraced. But I am a worm and not a man.
I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,8 “Is this the one who relies on the LORD?
Then let the LORD save him! If the LORD loves him so much, let the \
LORD rescue him!”9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born.11 Do not stay so far from me,
for trouble is near, and no one else can help me.12 My enemies surround me like
a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
13 Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey.
14 My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax, melting within me.15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.17 I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. 18 They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.
19 O LORD, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
20 Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs.21 Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen. 22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. 23 Praise the LORD, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help. 25 I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
27 The whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to him.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
28 For royal power belongs to the LORD. He rules all the nations.
29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal,
all whose lives will end as dust. 30 Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.
James 1:19:
“My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
Hebrews 13:3:
“Don’t forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrows of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.”
Job 38:11:
I said, “Thus far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!”
John 1:2-3:
“He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He didn’t make.”
Job 13:15:
“The light disturbs the haunts of the wicked, and it stops the arm that is raised in violence.”
1 Peter 5:7:
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you.”
1 John 4:9:
“God showed us how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.”
Job 21:21-22:
“For when they are dead, they will not care what happens to their family. But who can teach a lesson to God, the supreme Judge?”
I cannot help but question why these scripture were chosen? What was it that put these scriptures on each person’s radar? Why these scriptures and why now in this present season of life?
Did they encounter their scripture during a time of frustration and adversity? Was it through encounters with other people? Did they find it in the midst of tragedy? Could it have been a simple referral from a friend? Was it in the darkest of corners at the latest possible time? Or was it simply in the small still voice of God in a time of worship?
I don’t know, but the mystery intrigues me. But what I do know is this…as I was looking over the piece of art being used as a tool to honor our God, I found myself being connected to others in the room in a very real way. Some of whom I knew and some who I have yet to meet.
God, through His Word has connected all people for all time. A recent reminder of how I am connected through a spiritual heritage by the obedience of a man named Abraham and a King named Jesus has challenged me to continue this heritage, this ancestry that has been handed to me and includes me without condition. Each time I encounter the Word, I am connected to those who have done the same. We do not have to do our “quite times or study times” at the same time to be united in His Word. God’s Word is sufficient for not only answering life’s questions and struggles, but also sufficient for bringing all of God’s people together.
Today, encounter God in His word and you will be encountering your brothers and sisters also!
Recently, I attended the Fusion event at Great Lakes Christian College. And one of the worship elements we were challenged to do was to write on various poster boards our answers or reflections on different subjects. One of these subjects focused on your “favorite scripture”. As I read over them was deeply moved by the representation of almost every book in the bible and how you could see a message being sent from the collection of different scriptures. Here a few that caught my eye…
Luke 1:37:
“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Psalm 27:5-10:
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
He will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the LORD with music.
7 Hear me as I pray, O LORD.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”
9 Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the LORD will hold me close.
Psalm 22:
1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.
3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them.
5 They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and
6 were never disgraced. But I am a worm and not a man.
I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,8 “Is this the one who relies on the LORD?
Then let the LORD save him! If the LORD loves him so much, let the \
LORD rescue him!”9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born.11 Do not stay so far from me,
for trouble is near, and no one else can help me.12 My enemies surround me like
a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
13 Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey.
14 My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax, melting within me.15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.17 I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. 18 They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.
19 O LORD, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
20 Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs.21 Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen. 22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. 23 Praise the LORD, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help. 25 I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
27 The whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to him.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
28 For royal power belongs to the LORD. He rules all the nations.
29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal,
all whose lives will end as dust. 30 Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.
James 1:19:
“My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
Hebrews 13:3:
“Don’t forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrows of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.”
Job 38:11:
I said, “Thus far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!”
John 1:2-3:
“He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He didn’t make.”
Job 13:15:
“The light disturbs the haunts of the wicked, and it stops the arm that is raised in violence.”
1 Peter 5:7:
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you.”
1 John 4:9:
“God showed us how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.”
Job 21:21-22:
“For when they are dead, they will not care what happens to their family. But who can teach a lesson to God, the supreme Judge?”
I cannot help but question why these scripture were chosen? What was it that put these scriptures on each person’s radar? Why these scriptures and why now in this present season of life?
Did they encounter their scripture during a time of frustration and adversity? Was it through encounters with other people? Did they find it in the midst of tragedy? Could it have been a simple referral from a friend? Was it in the darkest of corners at the latest possible time? Or was it simply in the small still voice of God in a time of worship?
I don’t know, but the mystery intrigues me. But what I do know is this…as I was looking over the piece of art being used as a tool to honor our God, I found myself being connected to others in the room in a very real way. Some of whom I knew and some who I have yet to meet.
God, through His Word has connected all people for all time. A recent reminder of how I am connected through a spiritual heritage by the obedience of a man named Abraham and a King named Jesus has challenged me to continue this heritage, this ancestry that has been handed to me and includes me without condition. Each time I encounter the Word, I am connected to those who have done the same. We do not have to do our “quite times or study times” at the same time to be united in His Word. God’s Word is sufficient for not only answering life’s questions and struggles, but also sufficient for bringing all of God’s people together.
Today, encounter God in His word and you will be encountering your brothers and sisters also!
