Consider these words of the apostle Paul from his first letter to Timothy:

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.  Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.  Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.  This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.  For their is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Jesus Christ.  He gave his life  to purchase freedom for everyone.  This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.  And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth.  I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.

And in every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.”  (I Tim 2: 1-8)

The NKJV translation of verse 8 reads ” I desire therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

As you read this over, think about it in the context of your workplace. Think about how our work life would be transformed if all believers began to intentionally pray for our work using the message from Paul above as a guide.

As you think about your plans for  2011, consider the teaching of Paul when he instructs Timothy that the first thing he wants him to do is pray.

Have a blessed day!

The family started arriving late yesterday afternoon. You could feel the excitement and anticipation growing all afternoon.  All of a sudden everyone arrived within five minutes of each other.  It seemed that we weren’t ever going to make it back in the house as we stood around outside talking.  Fifteen people in our home coming from all over to celebrate and spend time together.  What fun we all had last night sitting all over the house just visiting and catching up.  We have been so blessed to have a family that really enjoys being together and looks forward to gatherings such as this.

I find that as I get older, these times become more precious.  The two oldest “big kids” are now married and have brought two fantastic new people into our gatherings.  The rest of the kids are about to finish college or about to start, so getting the whole group together is becoming quite the challenge….but so worth it!  The first surprise (I’m sure of many over these next few days) was a surprise little “First Grandbaby Shower” our family gave Jodi and me.  Everyone is so excited about the arrival of the first grandchild arriving in February.  The little high chair sitting in dining room now covered with all sorts of fun gifts is such a sweet reminder of the joy of the coming new birth.

As I’m sure thoughts of most everyone are moving away from work and toward family, please hit the pause button all the craziness for a moment and thank God for the blessing of family. I hope you have an opportunity as well to attend a Christmas eve service tonight to focus and pray about the TRUE meaning of Christmas.   Now, I have to get going to enjoy the annual thrill of my last minute Christmas shopping frenzy.  Need to be done by five to make it to our traditional Chinese Christmas Eve dinner ala, The Christmas Story!

Meditate on these beautiful lyrics as prayer, at home or at work, and hopefully you will discover a whole new dimension to your prayer life.

O thou fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing they grace;

Streams of mercy, NEVER CEASING, Call for songs of loudest praise;

Teach me ever to adore Thee; May I still Thy goodness prove,

While the hope of endless glory, Fills my heart with joy and love.

O to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be!

Let they goodness like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee;

Never let me wander from Thee, Never leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart , O take and seal it, Seal it for the courts above.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day!

The parade begins and a thousand different things start their march before your wakeful eyes.

What can be done?  I recently heard about one guy who said, “When I can’t sleep, I just get up and sit in a chair until I bore myself to death.”  Another  reaches for an Ambien or some other kind of sleeping pill.  Yet another tries to fill the wakefulness with some kind of late night TV or surfing the internet.

Having experienced a multitude of these kinds of nights over the years, I have learned a few things about how these wakeful hours can be more productively spent.  Free from distractions of the day, it can be a perfect time for some reflective God-centered  thought.

God is awake in the still of the night and is ready to hear from us.  The time that I have spent during those wakeful times has proven to be so valuable.  Think on God!  Use this time to pray or maybe praise him with a favorite song or hymn.  It has always been an amazing opportunity to get close to the Father.  The quiet stillness seems to allow for a deeper focus and more penetrating praise.

David seemed to understand this when he said, “I remember you and meditate on you during the night watches.”   And of Jesus we read, “he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God (Luke 6:12).

When I can’t sleep, it is amazing how giving this time to the Lord in prayer and praise will settle my my mind and before I know it, I am back to sleeping peacefully.

Can you imagine what it would have been like living during the time that Jesus actually lived on the earth and hearing the things he was teaching as well as witnessing the miracles both he and his apostles were performing.  Its hard to fathom how anyone would not believe if you could see the actual evidence of someone who had been paralyzed now walking around.   Such a demonstration of supernatural power and incredible teaching. Many did not believe, but many did.

Deity in the form of a man entered our world and lived among us for thirty three short years. He grew up in a backwater town in Galilee called Nazareth, raised a son of the working class and probably worked as a builder with his Father for most of his adult life.  When just the right time came, he was called by his True Father to carry out the work that he was sent here to do.  He began to teach about who we really are and that our true Father loved us intently and wanted to reconcile all humanity, first his chosen people, then the rest of the world to have peace with God once and for all.  That through just believing in Him, we could be saved from our unrelenting sin nature.  The man who knew no sin could be our eternal savior and would intercede on our behalf personally to the Father when we continually messed up.

What an amazing time that must have been to live.  Yes, many did not believe even though Jesus performed miracles so amazing,  that no one could seriously argue that he was some kind of magician. We are still celebrating this most glorious season because many DID believe  and through all kinds of terror, persecution and torture continued to share the incredible good news of forgiveness of sin and peace with God through this man who lived  for a very short time, then died the most horrific death imaginable for you and for me.

Thank you God for the the most precious gift of your only son Jesus.  It is because of Him that we will live for all eternity with you Lord as you intended it to be from the beginning.  Praise be to God!  Amen

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call him Immanuel, which translated means, “God with us.”  Matt 1:23

Thank you God our Father for coming to this earth you created to redeem us through the birth of your one and only Son, Jesus.  No greater gift could ever be given than your Son coming to live among us.  Help us to live worthy of the gift and the ultimate sacrifice He made through laying down his life to save ours.  Amen.

It was so great these past two Sunday’s however to focus just a little on the real meaning of it all.  Buried beneath the avalanche of silliness is the true meaning of it all.  For years I would race like everyone else through these 30 days and barely have time to think about it. When we started to focus on the Advent, the time when we anticipate the arrival of of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, it helped to keep it all in perspective.

I was fortunate this past Sunday to be able to light the Advent candle of Peace, the second week of Advent at our church.  This second candle reminds us that with the coming of this light, there is peace, for Christ is called the Prince of Peace.  His name is also Emmanuel (God with us).  His presence with us gives us peace day by day.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.  The government will rest on his shoulders and he will be called:  Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His government and its peace will never end.  Isaiah 9:6-7

Heavenly Father, we want to get this month back and truly dedicate it to you.  Thank you for giving us this season of Advent to help us see more clearly the purpose in the greatest gift we will ever receive, the gift of your precious only son, Jesus.  We want to acknowledge him as our Prince of Peace, especially in midst of a time that mostly feels anything but peaceful.  In him alone is peace, perfect peace.  Amen

Could it be that we are actually doing the will of the Lord in whatever job we happen to be doing?  Although it may not seem like the work fits  perfectly, God’s plan for your life and work can be trusted completely.  I have often felt that my work was not the greatest fit for who I was, but decided that if God wanted me to do something else, he would make that clear.  He has been so faithful in that area.  My struggle as well as many others is just to get my SELF out of the way and to allow myself to be used by him no matter where he wants me to serve.

Let’s be willing to give up constantly questioning God about the work he has blessed us with.  There are times when it will be fulfilling and times it will seem like total drudgery.  No matter, God will use you for his glory if we will simply be obedient to whatever he has called us to do.  Instead of constantly questioning God’s plan and sovereignty, let’s be thankful that he has given us a place to serve.  As the apostle Paul encourages, lets learn to be content in all things, including our work.  Allow the Lord to guide you and trust that he knows you so much better than you know yourself.

We tend to place a lot of faith in our plans for the future. We are quick to brag about what we expect to accomplish. We take tomorrow for granted. The fact is, we don’t know what tomorrow may bring or even if there will be a tomorrow.

Seems like when I feel the most sure that I know what tomorrow will bring, that’s exactly what does NOT happen.  Although we can totally depend on God, our plans are certainly not his plans.  He has total control over our tomorrow and for us to think we know how it’s all going to work out is a very risky position.  Only God knows what tomorrow will bring.   It may not be what we expect or want, but it will happen as according to His plans.

Can you live with letting God be in control of tomorrow or do you get agitated and frustrated when things don’t work according to your schedule?   Relax that  “kung fu grip” on your plans and trust that Gods plan are good enough, no matter what.

Father God, it can be so hard to hold our plans with a light touch.  We feel it’s important to plan diligently and carefully.  However, sometimes you have plans that supersede ours.  Give us the humble spirit to accept that these changes are from you and if that is what you want, we will submit cheerfully and not whine and complain about it.  Amen.

According to the Leadership Bible, the wise leader realizes the importance of dependence  upon and accountability to God.  These verses speak to issues of the heart or to our integrity.  Doing the right thing for the right reasons every time.

Once we have truly given our hearts to God, we are no longer our own.  Instead we have given him the freedom to guide and lead us.  When we do what is right because we want to be more like our Father, he is very pleased.  When we do what is right out of duty or obligation, it feels like we are just going through the motions, offering empty and heartless sacrifices.

Today, spend some time in focused mediation and prayer over these verses.  At our core is the heart.  This is where it really counts and it is where God will constantly be at work.

Lord, give us hearts that are open to your examination.  We desire to live our lives in the workplace with the utmost of integrity. Please reveal to us where our hearts are still seeking our own way and do the work necessary to renovate those places so that you may abide in us. Amen.