Author: Tom

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Practice

Advice From a Doctor
     is the title I give.
To a series of sermons
     on how we should live.
We’ll spend a whole year,
     perhaps even more.
Listening to Luke
     for what he has in store.
And while we will learn
     of the Christ who can save.
We’ll focus more closely
     on the advice that Luke gave.

So very often
     when we look at God’s Word.
We go out and live
     like none of it was heard.
I want to do more
     than know what Christ did.
I want people to see,
     in my heart His Word’s hid.
If sin’s crucified,
     as His Word does say.
Then it’s not I who lives,
     but He lives today.

If I have died
     and He lives in me.
Then people should notice
     it’s Jesus they see.
So I study harder
     and take a good look.
At just what He says
     when I open His Book.
Not so I know it
     as a collection of fact.
But that it transforms me
     in the way that I act.

Jesus did tell me
     to do my good deeds.
So people do see Him
     as I’m meeting their needs.
To offer forgiveness
     and grace without end.
To pray that they’ll know Him
     as redeemer and friend.
When I’m more like Jesus
     to the people I meet.
Perhaps they will seek Him
     and fall at His feet.

That is the purpose
     of the sermons I preach.
To help us live different,
     the Bible I teach.
Not so we know more
     for information.
We practice it daily
     for transformation.
When our life is changed
     by advice that Luke gives.
We’re more likely heard
     when we say that Christ lives.
©

I’ve been spending time with God in the gospel of Luke as I continue preparing a sermon series that I am preaching. The point of the series is not to simply know the life of Christ for information, but to allow His life to transform the way we live. I pray that we represent Christ well in all of our interactions with people.

In prayer,
Tom

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Rest

We work hard, we play hard;
     but what about rest.
God says we need it
     to be at our best.
Our life gets so busy
     at work and at play.
Our rest gets put off
     for at least one more day.
So many people
     work just to survive.
We don’t get the rest
     that would help us to thrive.

Go here and do this, 
     and what about that?
If you think you are done;
     well, here’s one more hat.
Some tasks are given,
     we think there’s no choice.
Others we call for
     in the loudest of voice.
We need this, we want that;
     we can’t fall behind.
To have all that we want
     takes the top of our mind.

If I don’t keep going,
     refusing to stop.
Then somebody else
     will climb to the top.
And as I am climbing,
     and taking each rod.
The ladder of this world
     takes me further from God.
The king of the mountain,
     the top of the hill.
Is not that important
     when God says, “Be still.”

Strength for the weary
     and hope for the tired.
Seems so out of reach,
     when you fear you’ll be fired.
So onward we press
     and give it our all.
We will never give up
     ‘til we can’t help but fall.
So many people
     who fall flat on their face.
Need a good chance to rest
     and experience grace.

So when you are tired,
     it seems with no end.
Examine your schedule,
     rest may be your friend.
And as you rest fully,
     as God said you should.
Look for the weary
     and do them some good.
Help carry their burden
     and show them the need.
God’s command to get rest,
     they really should heed.
©

It has been what some would call a “lazy day”, but I prefer to think of it as a “restful day”. As I was resting, falling in and out of sleep, God put this poem in my mind. I am thankful for a work environment that tries to protect my need for rest by valuing the work that I do. I pray that this poem encourages you to rest and to do what you can to help others to rest.

In prayer,
Tom

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Work Day

We have had so many “Snow Days” this year that I think God gave me this poem just for fun as I spent a “Snow Day” working to get the building ready for school to resume.
*
The sun’s shining brightly
      so out I do go.
For somebody has to      
     shovel all of this snow.
I know most are tired
      of feeling they’re stuck.
So I head out the door
       and start up my truck.
To have all things ready,
      at least I do pray.
Should schools not be closed
      for at least one more day.
*
Praying for all those who are out today getting things ready for an eventual return to a somewhat normal schedule.
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The Prize

The Olympics are here
      and so we are told.
It’s only the winners
      who will receive gold.
The athletes have trained
      and worked for so long.
To prove they’re the fastest,
      the best, and the strong.
But in such a group
      where the best surely rise.
In each competition,
      only one gets top prize.

So what can we say
      about all the rest?
Who have no gold medal
      though they did their best.
Someone did better
      or something went wrong.
The world looks at them
      as if they don’t belong.
As hard as they work
      and as much as they try.
Sometimes they’re left sitting
      and wondering why.

To the strong goes the prize,
      at least that we say.
But what if they’re strong
      in a much different way?
To be faithful in small things,
      God calls us to be.
The little things matter,
      though no one may see.
The true test of strength
      is what will you do,
When no one is watching
      or looking at you?

You may be able
      to hide from all men.
But God will still notice,
      what will you do then?
To give Him your all
      is all that He asks.
To put Him before
      all your other tasks.
To train your mind daily
      to look all around.
With all your heart seek God
      and He will be found.

The prize will be given
      when you finish this race.
Not because you’re fastest,
      rather you’ve sought His face.
So the training continues
      as this life you live.
You reflect Jesus
      when to others you give.
To give yourself fully
      like God’s only Son.
To finish the race
      and He says, “Well done.”
©

I spent some time with God this morning and thought about the Olympics as they began last night.  God gave me this poem as a reminder that in His view, it is the faithful who win the prize.  I am thankful for God’s faithfulness, mercy, and grace so that a performance mistake on the world’s stage doesn’t disqualify me nor negate all of my training.  I pray that this poem brings glory to God and accomplishes the purposes for which He gave it.

In prayer,
Tom

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Encouragement

Do not be afraid
      but take courage now.
It’s a message from God
      yet we wonder how.
Sometimes life is full
      of things that cause fear.
We’re so overwhelmed
      that God we don’t hear.
We should not be alone
      when we are afraid.
We have His Spirit
      and the friends we have made.

Sometimes we forget
      the friends God will give.
He puts them around us
      to help as we live.
A cord of three strands
      is not easily broken.
It’s not only true,
      it’s what God has spoken.
Everyone needs help
      when we get knocked down.
To pick us up gently
      and straighten our frown.

It is a good thing
      when we have each other.
To carry the load
      as sister and brother.
When one who is weak
      is helped by the strong.
It gives us great hope
      that we all do belong.
Sometimes we’re strong
      and sometimes we’re not.
It shouldn’t matter
      if a good friend we’ve got.

To carry a burden
      as if it’s our own.
Is a godly result
      of the seed that was sown.
My life’s not an island,
      I don’t live it alone.
When friends do surround me,
      each other we hone.
As we sharpen each other
      at work and at play.
We look more like Jesus
      each and every day.

So what’s growing in you
      as you look around?
Will you pick up a brother
      when he’s on the ground?
To help those who help you,
      is only a start.
To love the forgotten,
      you must open your heart.
And as your heart opens
      to let others in.
God’s courage will fill you
      and a victory you’ll win.

Before fear takes over
      and courage does end.
Take a good look around
      at who you call friend.
This may be a time
      when they really need you.
It’s also a time
      when you need them too.
So when fear arrives
      take a good look above.
And thank God for friends
      who show you His love.
©

I attended a ministers’ prayer time and fellowship this morning that I am privileged to be a part of every two weeks.  As I was thinking about the encouragement I receive from these guys, as well as the Deer Run congregation, I was praying that God would use me to encourage them as much as they encourage me.  As I was praying, God put this poem in my mind to share.  I pray that it encourages you and brings glory to God.

In prayer,
Tom

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2 Kings: Lesson 6 — How Times Change!

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

The Unraveling of a Nation

A Study of the Book of 2 Kings

Lesson 6 (How Times Change!)
 2 Kings 6
       February 5, 2014

The Text:

  1. What problem did the company of prophets have?  What did they propose to do about it?  What happened as they were cutting down trees?  What did Elisha do?
    –
  2. What did the king of Aram decide to do?  What message did Elisha send to the king of Israel?  How often did this happen?  What did the king of Aram think was happening?  What did one of his officers tell him?  What order did the king give?
    –
  3. What did the king of Aram do when he found out where Elisha was?  How did Elisha’s servant react when he saw what the king of Aram had done?  What was Elisha’s response?  How did God respond?
    –
  4. What did Elisha pray as the enemy approached?  What did God do?  Where did Elisha take the Arameans?  What did the king of Israel want to do?  How did Elisha respond?  What was done?
    –
  5. What did the king of Aram do “some time later”?  What did this cause in Samaria?  How did the king of Israel respond to a woman asking for help?  What was her story?  Who did the king blame?  What did he set out to do?

  The Application:

  1. Have you ever had to “up-size” out of necessity?  How important is it to you that God would be in the midst of your work?  Have you experience God’s provision in unusual ways?
    –
  2. Are there areas in which you make plans thinking that God doesn’t care or won’t notice?  Does it surprise you when God points out things that you thought nobody knew?  What should this do to our level of transparency before God?
    –
  3. Have you ever been, or at least felt, surrounded by enemies?  How does that thought make you feel?  In what ways does God reveal that the One with you is greater than those against you?
    –
  4. How would you want to respond if your enemies were at your mercy?  How would God want you to respond?
    –
  5. Do you ever feel like the enemy has cut you off from all spiritual nourishment?  Who would you go to for help?  Who often gets blamed for our seasons of spiritual famine?  What should we do instead?

Next Week:  The Cost of Doubt
2 Kings 7

 

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Origins

I hear that last night
      there was a debate.
Did things simply happen
      or did God create.
I did not watch it
      nor listen at all.
So who was the winner,
      you make the call.
Someone more studied
      and smarter than I.
Watched the whole thing
      and said it was a tie.

Faith can be difficult
      and hard to explain.
I believe the Bible
      so some think I’m insane.
To prove my existence
      is easy you see.
But how I am formed
      is a great mystery.
We study and learn,
      we map DNA.
But where did it come from,
      many people won’t say.

To bring order from chaos
      is quite a big change.
To say it just happened,
      to me seems quite strange.
We want more answers
      than what we have got.
To figure it all out,
      we simply will not.
For me it is easy
      to trust what God does.
I don’t spend time thinking
      of exactly what was.

Say I am ignorant,
      if that’s what you must.
There is nothing you say
      that will destroy my trust.
God lives within me,
      His Spirit I feel.
I see Him work through me,
      I know He is real.
I don’t have the answers
      you may want to hear.
But I trust my creator
      and I know He is near.

So how do I live
      in the midst of debate?
To convince you I’m right
      doesn’t decide my fate.
And while I am thankful
      for those who explain.
To argue and fight,
      we must fully refrain.
To be an example,
      that Christ I would show.
To help those around me,
      His mystery to know.
©

I have read throughout the day various comments about the creation/evolution debate that took place last night.  As I  was spending time with God this afternoon, He put this poem in my mind for me to collect and share.  This is not a commentary on the debate itself as I did not watch or listen to any of it.  Rather, I think it has more to do with our desire to have all the answers and to always be right — sometimes we don’t like to leave room for “the great mystery”.  I pray that this poem brings glory to God and accomplishes His purpose for it.

In prayer,
Tom

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Trouble

You will have trouble,
     of this I am sure.
The question remaining,
     how will you endure?
The good news of Jesus
     says you’re not alone.
He will be with you,
     you don’t need to phone.

Just call out to Jesus
     in the midst of your fear.
He’s always listening
     and He’ll always hear.
He won’t forsake you,
     as others may do.
He gives you His Spirit
     to live inside you.

So when you have trouble,
     just go to your knee.
Cry out to Jesus,
     it sure works for me.
He may not remove you
     from the midst of the mess.
But He’ll carry you through,
     to that I confess.
©

I’ve been reflecting on life experiences and the words of Jesus in my listening times with God recently. I think that many times we must either completely miss, or simply ignore, the words of Jesus when He tells us we will have trouble. This poem came out of thinking about our need to expect, and be ready for, trouble.

In prayer,
Tom