Posted by: Jo | July 8, 2011

Sing to the Lord a new song

“Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things” – Psalm 98:1

We all have our favorite songs we love to sing. Old hymns have a special place in our hearts and probably if you conducted a poll, Amazing Grace, would be right at the top. As children we also had little choruses that we could sing with gusto over and over, and who of us haven’t had to read that same old story to a little one who keeps begging, “Read it again”. We love repetition. So why is the Lord asking us to sing a new song?

Perhaps the answer lies in the second part of the verse. Perhaps we forget when we so enthusiastically sing to the Lord that the reason is “for he has done marvelous things”. Perhaps we forget how worthy is the one we serve. Perhaps our walk with the Lord has become so repetitious we are just putting one foot after the other as we have always done.

Learning new songs requires effort. Any sort of change takes us out of that comfort zone. Change can be frightening. We like to be surrounded with familiar things. How many times have you witnessed opposition to change in churches? You have heard the cries:

  • “we have always done it this way”
  • “what was good for my folks is good for me”
  • “we don’t want any newfangled ideas here”

When the Lord asks us personally to sing a new song, we have the same fears. He may be asking us to take a big step in faith to branch out into an avenue of service we have never tried before. We may have a string of reasons why that is not a good idea:

  • “I am too shy”
  • “I could never speak in public”
  • “there must be other more qualified people”
  • “Who me?”

Or have our songs lost their sparkle lately? Has our prayer time; our worship become stale? Is the Lord longing to hear a new song filled with the joy of knowing him? Are we willing to….

“…burst into jubilant song …” – Psalm 98:4

Or perhaps today your song may be a sad one. Sometimes circumstances can be so overwhelming they rob us of the ability to sing joyfully so that singing that sad song over and over becomes a habit we cannot shake off.

The Lord is always on hand to overcome anything blocking our joyful walk with him.

The re assurance comes in this verse,

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God” – Psalm 40:3

The Lord will provide the song; we have to be ready to receive it. We have to have the courage to sing our new song.

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Posted by: Jo | July 1, 2011

True Freedom

In the beginning of July, nationalism begins to surge through the hearts of those who live in North America. On the 1st July, Canadians celebrate Canada day. In the United States Independence Day is celebrated on the 4th July. Both national anthems have a central theme. In O Canada the national song emphasizes the thought that this country is, “the true North strong and free”. In the United States the voices in the Star Spangled Banner proclaim, “O’er the land of the free”

Freedom is an incredible privilege which we sometimes overlook, especially if we have never experienced living in a country that does not enjoy what we have in North America.

And yet despite of all our freedom, many of us enslave ourselves by our choices, our pursuits and even our pasts. We can become entrapped by what society tells us is important. Climbing that corporate ladder, having that beautiful home, and the stress of competing with our neighbors to be the most successful one can surround us with walls just like a prison. Time becomes a means to an end and not something to be enjoyed.

We can also become slaves to our perception of ourselves, shackled by negative thoughts about how inferior we are compared to others, never being able to throw away those black thoughts that hinder us from reaching our full potential.

We can be chained to bitterness over a disagreement or some slight that has never been resolved and worry can be a cruel robber of our freedom.

It takes quite a bit of courage to claim that freedom that is so freely offered in scripture, in Psalms 118:5 we read,

“In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free”

But the relief of throwing off everything that entangles us is so liberating we wonder why we were ever held captive by such destructive forces.

Jesus offers us abundant freedom.

“If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” – John 8:32

True freedom lies in the joy of following Jesus.

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Posted by: Jo | June 24, 2011

PAY ATTENTION!

How often when we were young did we hear our parents or our teachers say “Pay attention!”  How often did we see others shake their heads and say, “None as deaf as those who will not hear”.

A well-known New Yorker, tired of the endless round of cocktail parties he had to endure, which always meant having to take part in meaningless small talk, decided to test his theory that nobody really listened to what the others were saying.    When he heard the obligatory, “How are you?” he would reply with some outrageous statement with a smile, such as “I am well, my grandmother was murdered this last week”.  Invariably the other would smile back and move on to greet someone else.  We have probably been in a small way guilty of the same thing.

Solomon knew the importance of listening carefully and entreats his son many times in the Book of Proverbs to be attentive.  In Proverbs 5:1 he says,

“My son pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight”

Being attentive requires devoting oneself to the art of listening.  In Luke 8:18 we read,

“Therefore consider carefully how you listen”

When we train ourselves to listen carefully to others we are going to hear that cry for help under the bravado of the teenager’s ranting.  We will hear “Please be my friend”  disguised by gruff replies to questions.  We will hear “I don’t like myself” covered by boastings and bragging.

But the most of all we need to hear very clearly when the Lord is speaking to us.

In Revelation 3:22, it is said

“He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”

When we are listening, remarkable direction will come for our lives.

Isaiah 30:21 says,

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way walk in it”

Let us practice the art of listening

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Posted by: Jo | June 23, 2011

Taming the Tongue

Authored by Jo Yule

The words from our mouths can have a powerful effect for both good and evil.

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father and with it we curse men who have been made in God‘s likeness” – James 3:9

The book of Proverbs has many verses warning us about how our tongues can bring comfort and healing to others, but how they can also drag others down.

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” – Proverbs 12:18

How often when someone annoys us are we quick to think of a stinging reply? How much better to listen to this verse

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” – Proverbs 15:1

Gossiping and spreading rumors can have a devastating effect on friendships, but the tongue that is used for healing can restore life

“The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit” – Proverbs 15:4

When we come to understand that having a healing tongue can change situations can bring about peace instead of strife can bring the Lord’s love to destroy hatred, we realize how much we need to cultivate that healing tongue in our own lives.

James has some good advice to start us off

“My dear brothers take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” – James 1:19

Finally

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” – Colossians 4:6

Being aware how our tongues can be our downfall is a good beginning and praying before the day begins and when we ask the Lord to grant us healing tongues he is only too happy to help us guard against those reckless words.

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Posted by: Jo | June 22, 2011

Encourage One Another

“Therefore encourage each other with these words” – 1 Thessalonians 4:18

How do we take hold of that beautiful word “encourage” and use it to strengthen our families, our friends, and our church family?

The word, or forms of the word, is used over 60 times in scripture and especially in the N.T. where struggling little communities were beset with all sorts of problems from false teaching to deceiving spirits…

Paul on writing to the Romans recognized how we all need this;

“that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” – Romans 12:8

Paul realized that Timothy and Titus needed constant encouragement so the Pastoral letters were sent to bolster his young charges. How can we encourage each other?

Let us begin by building up our faith within our church family.

  1. If the sermon spoke to you in a special way, thank our pastor.
  2. If you enjoyed the worship music tell the musicians / singers
  3. Was coffee ready after church? Tell the coffee makers you appreciate their service.
  4. Have you discovered who sets up the chairs? Thank them for being so willing
  5. Did the reader read God‘s word with sensitivity? Praise them for their efforts.
  6. Look around closely on a Sunday morning. Allow the Lord to show you who may need a special word of encouragement.

One of the churches I attended, encouraged their congregation to take the time to post a card to tell others how much they were valued.

Paul speaks about encouragement as being a special gift. Let us be generous with this gift. Use the same formula at home. How often do we notice the extra care our husbands or wives go to please us? Encourage them by thanking them. Be constantly aware of how children, especially teenagers need that word that will give them a sense of being loved and appreciated. Let us all ask God to give us this gift so we can heed Paul’s words:

“if it is encouraging let him encourage” – Romans 12:8

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Posted by: Jo | June 21, 2011

Helping Someone To Cry

I read a sweet story just recently about a small boy whose neighbour, an
elderly man, had just lost his wife of fifty years. The boy asked his mother if
he could go and visit their neighbour. When he returned the mother was anxious
to know what her son had said to the grieving man.

“I didn’t say anything” he replied. “I just sat on his lap and helped him
cry”

Consoling another, is perhaps the most beautiful act a friend can do for
another grieving friend. The word, console, is one of my favourite words. The
word itself doesn’t embody impulsive movement, grandiose words, but deep empathy
with someone else who is experiencing pain. It gives a mental picture of two
people embracing without any words being spoken. A gentle arm around a shoulder;
a soft squeeze of a hand; a stroking of another’s hair. Consoling another is
really what the little boy was able to sum up. Basically helping someone to cry.

Sometimes somebody’s grief paralyses us and we feel inadequate and unable to
think of anything to say and unfortunately many of us avoid those who are in
most need of consoling.

The other mistake we often make when others are grieving is to feel that we
have to be over cheerful and to somehow make the sorrowing one think happy
thoughts. The book of Proverbs has some wise words for that.

“Like the one who takes away a garment on a cold day,

or like vinegar poured on soda,

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.” Proverbs 15 : 20

So how do we offer comfort? How do we console and yet still allow the tears
to flow?

Our Heavenly Father is our best example.

When we realize how much our Heavenly Father wants to console and comfort his
children, we are able to be the instruments he needs to use to “help somebody
cry.”

2 Corinthians 1 : 3,4 says,

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles, so
that we can comfort those in trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received
from God.”

The Psalmists knew that when overwhelming emotions overtook them, their
source of consolation lay with the Lord.

“When I said, “My foot is slipping”,

your love , O Lord supported me.

When anxiety was great within me,

your consolation brought joy to my soul” Psalm 94 : 18, 19.

Let us lovingly help others to cry with the help of our Heavenly Father. Let
us realize that “the God of all comfort” is always accessible, always ready to
bear the pain of grief and always with outstretched arms reaching out towards
his children. Let us be sensitive to another’s grief. Not offering the quick
relief of empty sayings, but truly embodying what the word “console” means.

Mostly let us be like the little boy who had wisdom way beyond his years.

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Posted by: Jo | April 27, 2007

Running the race of life

Have you noticed lately the ever-increasing number of T-shirts that have written messages on them?

When I was a little girl, boys wore shirts and girls wore blouses and brand names were firmly fixed inside at the back of the garment. To display the manufacturer’s name on the front of any form of clothing would have been very poor taste, even though one might hope someone would guess how expensive it was. The great influx of unisex dressing had not arrived so most of my age group was ill-prepared for this new form of dressing in which it is appropriate to give the fashion houses free advertising and to display to the world where you have traveled to and what your opinions are on any topic under the sun.

Some of the inscriptions are genuinely funny, some are downright vulgar, some, to be fair, are promoting a worthy cause, but others make you wonder if we have forsaken all sense of good taste. I have noticed that many of the t-shirts speak of competing in races. Some of them proclaim that the wearer had been a participant in a very prestigious world-renowned marathon. Others make note of local races in which the participant had earned the right to wear the T-shirt as evidence of his/her prowess.

As I was pondering this public display of running skills, I was reminded how in Scripture life is described as a race in which every human takes part. A race in which how you run is of the utmost importance. Life is definitely a long-distance run, not a short sprint in which we give all and then rest on our laurels, but a race that is dependent on us, the runners to do the best we can.

The writer of Hebrews talks about running with perseverance, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” (Hebrews 12:1). Sometimes our race becomes bogged down by our own negative thoughts that invade our minds and whisper to us how badly we are coping compared to others. Sometimes we embroil ourselves in unhealthy pursuits which slow us down and add burdens to our backs which make it impossible to run joyfully.

Scripture talks about those negative statements and pursuits as hindrances that entangle us and hinder us from claiming victory on the path God has chosen for us.

Victory in this mighty race of life rests with the realization of why we are running. If we are running aimlessly with no sense of direction, the race is arduous and unfulfilling and our life becomes a daily grind of meaningless tasks, but if we “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,” (Hebrews 12:2) our life takes on a whole different perspective. It is remarkable how smooth the path becomes when the way is lit by His light.

Others accompany us on this long run and when we are not absorbed totally with all our own cares, we can slow down and take note of those who are having a struggle keeping up. God calls us to make level paths for our feet (Hebrews 12:32). Our upright behaviour will encourage others to stay on the right path and we are urged to consider how we can spur one another on towards love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). We are particularly told to be ever ready to hold out a helping hand to orphans, widows, the disabled and the poor who are so often brushed aside by the uncaring fitter runners.

The prize for persevering in this race with Jesus as our coach is indeed a worthy one: “Because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him,” (James 1:12).

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