Singing in the choir

Things I've learned over the years singing in and leading choirs...

From Romans 15:1-7

1) If you can't hear those around you, you're too loud.  

1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”[a] 

2) Listen to the director (even if you don't agree).

4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

3) Sing the words.

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4) Remember why you are singing.

7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 

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Lord, 
You invented harmony and music.
When you created it it was perfect.
Then sin (and wrong notes) entered the world.
Help me tune it up and sing praises to you.
Looking forward to that day when I join the heavenly choir.
I can't even imagine what it will sound like...
Amen.

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What's the big deal about Jesus?

First name basis

Who are you on a first name basis with?
Your family - probably.
Your friends.
Close co-workers.

Your boss?
Your pastor?

I want to be on a first name basis with people I trust.
And I like to hold at arms length those that I don't trust.
Because they might hurt me.
They might "throw me under the bus".

What name basis are you on with Jesus?
Holding him at arms length?
Because bringing him closer might hurt?
Might mean changing a few things?

Jesus wants to be on BETTER than a first name basis with me.
He wants to be on a first HEART basis.

But He knows I can't get there on my own - so he sends a friend to help!
John 14:15-21

With the faith kindled by the Holy Spirit - I don't want to hold Jesus at arms length.
I want to bring him in for a big bear hug!

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There is a friend...
Amen.

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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Love in Action!

(guest devotion from my brother Chris)

Love in Action

Today, we consider Romans 12:9-21, a brief but powerful section of scripture.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Easily said, but done with much difficulty right?  I often tell members of my team that in order to achieve improved or different outcomes/results, they have to first change how and what they think.  Thoughts lead to words.  Words lead to actions.  Actions lead to habits.  Habits drive our outcomes/results.  The devil works hard to make our love insincere.  Through a personal commitment to grounding our thoughts in God’s word (DAILY bible readings, devotions, prayer etc…) we are doing the things needed to make our love sincere.

10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Selfless service, as displayed by our perfect example, Jesus Christ, is at the core of our calling as Christians.  Putting the needs of others before your own, out of a desire to a) share the love of Christ as it has been shared with you and b) to show gratitude to your Lord for the gift of undeserved grace that you have received, is good medicine.  Selfless service helps you AND those to whom you are showing love.

11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

If you start a fire, but leave it for hours without attention and feeding, it will fade away and die.  Your passion to serve, to give, to love, MUST be fed.  The single source of “food” for your faith is scripture.  Time in study, prayer and worship fuel your zeal and continuously ignite your passion to serve.

12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

When asked by co-workers, neighbors, friends etc… how you are doing, is your response joyful in hope or sad in despair?  I cringe when I hear people say “I’m here.”  “I survived another day”.  “At least I’m not dead.”   Humor may be intended in these responses but I prefer to respond in a way that shares the joy bursting from my soul.  “I’m FABULOUS”.  “I’m blessed!”  “I’m amazing…”   These are my most common responses when asked how I am.  God is great and life is good.

13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Generosity to those in need should know no limits, but we often stifle this notion before it gets started.  “We can’t afford it”.  “There are organizations who do that.”   “I’m too busy.”  Jesus served others every moment of his earthly life, and now spends eternity championing our cause to His Father.  His example is our guide.  We are to tirelessly, ceaselessly and gratefully seek out those who are in need, and then to do whatever we can to help.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

This is where I fall short most often.  I react in anger to those who hurt me.  I give in to Satan’s incessant urgings… “You don’t have to take that!”  “You know more than they do!”  “You are louder than they are...just shout them down!”   Jesus whispers, “I forgave you so that you know how to forgive them.”  Dear God, give me the strength to bless all those who curse me and to pray for them daily!

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

There is a right time to celebrate.  Celebration, jubilance, sincere and heartfelt praise directed towards our Lord is not only acceptable, it’s expected!  There is also time for the other end of the emotional spectrum.  Loss, pain, sadness and grief are an important part of the human experience and God has told us that we are to take time to come to Him for solace, support and love when these times come.  The saying used to go that “God will never give you more than you can handle.”  I disagree.  I believe that God often allows more than you can handle to come into your life, as a gentle nudge and reminder to give ALL things to Him.  It is when we are on our knees that we are MOST strong.

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.

Harmony in life, just as in music, takes practice.  We can’t just say that we want harmony, then fill our thoughts, words and actions with discord.  If I separate myself from the sinner’s that God has offered grace to because I believe I’ve earned it in some way, I am inviting discord and not practicing harmony.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

   if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]

This section echoes the command in verse 14 and elaborates upon it.  The most important command we are given is to love, unconditionally.   Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the wounded and love the unloved.  

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

One of my spiritual mentors and role models often reminded me that “You’ll never debate someone to faith”.  He was piercing directly to the heart of my sinful propensity to want to argue my way into and out of things.  Instead, this passage reminds us that we win through love.  Christ’s simple example to love first, love always, love unconditionally, is the clear path set before us.  

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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Same thing, only different...Today is the day!

Today is the same thing, only different...
Today is the day!

How could this be?
Ponder this wisdom from the book of Romans (Romans 12:1-6)

Place Your Life Before God

12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

3 I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

4-6 In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. (The Message)

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God, 

Keep my attention on you.

And change me from the inside out.

Bring me up to your level.

Thank you!

Amen.

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What's the big deal about Jesus?

It's not fair, he got more!

Jesus told a curious story about workers and wages.
Matthew 20:1-16
The manager hired people at different times of day but spelled out the terms of the job and their pay clearly to them.

Those who were hired first worked a full day.
But they were paid the same amount as those hired later in the day. 
They complained.

"It's not fair,
He got more!
I didn't get what I deserved."

Truth be told - that's me too.
From a very young child onward - I have found myself saying (either mentally or verbally)...
"It's not fair,
He got more!
I didn't get what I deserved."

Of course - I'm talking about stuff.

Money.  Being noticed.  Greener grass next door.

And then I think of Jesus.
And me.  And what I really deserve.
"For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23)

And how he took my wages as his own.
"It's not fair,
he got more
I didn't get what I deserved."

Romans 6:22-23
Thank you Jesus.

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Take the world, but give me Jesus.
In His cross my trust shall be,
Till, with clearer, brighter vision,
Face to face my Lord I see.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above!

From Hymntime.com  
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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Boring, boring, boring

Boring!

I heard that word from my dentist this morning.
This as he's finishing up my dental exam.
That's a GREAT word to hear from your dentist.

And a GREAT word to hear from your doctor.
And a GREAT word to hear from your plumber/electrician/repairman. 

Boring is NOT a great word to hear from your teacher after reading your term paper or hearing your speech.
And NOT a great word to hear from your boss at your performance review.
And NOT a great word to hear from your Lord...

Matthew 25:14-30 tells us the parable about investment.
One meaning (of many layers in this earthly story with a heavenly meaning) is to understand that the "treasure" talked about (the gold/the dollars) is the salvation and grace given to us by God through Jesus.

Are we hoarding it?
Are we hiding it under the mattress until Jesus comes again?
Are we being boring about it?

This parable makes it clear (see verse 28-30) that boring is NOT the desired result.

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Lord,
Thanks for salvation in Jesus.
I love it.  It's just my size.
But I want to play it safe.
Keep it close to the vest.
Help me (and Lord knows I need help) to share it with reckless abandon.
To play fast and loose with your love.
Amen.

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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Pay (no) attention to the man behind the curtain...

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain..."
It's one of my favorite lines from a movie that I've never actually seen completely (FYI: the Wizard of Oz - and I always fall asleep somewhere in the middle of it).

In the context of the movie - it's a humorous moment.
The all powerful wizard of Oz is revealed to be a man "behind a curtain" pulling levers and switching switches.

This Sunday we had a sermon that reminds us the Devil is just the opposite.
PAY ATTENTION to the man behind the curtain!
See Ephesians 6:11-12

Ephesians 6:10-20
There is a battle going on.  
A battle the devil does not want you to pay attention to.
The battle for your eternal soul.

Are you running towards the battle - or away from it?
Are you standing still? 
(ummm, that's the same as running away (in this case))

Pastor put it to us this way.
If you are not struggling then you are not fighting.
If you are not fighting then you have given up.

Ephesians 6:13 - When is this "day of evil"?
__ Judgment day (when Jesus returns)
__ A future time of great tumult and tribulation
__ Today

The answer is Today.

Who is distracting you from living a godly and good life?
Hint: It's not God.
The Devil has brought the day of evil to your doorstep today - trying every means possible to distract you from God.
And boy is he good at it.

Focus.
Focus on Jesus.
Focus on the Word.

God doesn't ask you to win the battle, to conquer Satan, to save all the people.
He asks you only to fight.
AND He loans you the armor (see verses 11-16).

Tried and tested - this armor fits.  
It it custom fit for situation right here, right now.
Put it on.  Now!

Why?  
Because this armor ASSURES you the victory.
100% guaranteed.

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God,
The devil says he is harmless.
No problem for me.
Easy peasy.

But your Word tells me the truth.

Thank you for the armor.
When I dress myself I am facing my enemy in jeans and a t-shirt with a flyswatter.
When I wear the armor you provide - WOW!
Take that, Satan!
Amen.
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What's the big deal about Jesus?

My prickly valentine...

Valentine's day is the number 2 greeting card holiday with over 1 billion cards bought and given.  (Number 1 is Christmas)

I'm all about sharing and giving love on Valentine's day - right?
And every day - right?

No.

No matter how hard I try to love unconditionally and without any thought of getting something back - I fail. 

The love I give always has prickly bits included (not always easily visible).
Bits of "me first", "what's in it for me", "I hope you appreciate this".

The only way to remove the prickly bits is to go to God.

What does God have to say about love?
91 Bible Verses about Unconditional Love
(or for the condensed version - read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

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Lord,
Remind me that true love...
...bears all things,
...believes all things,
...hopes all things,
...endures all things. 
Remove the prickly bits and help me to love right.
Amen.

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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Keep it simple...

[Guest devotion from my brother Chris]
Luke 9  The Message (MSG)

Keep It Simple

Luke 9 1-5 Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God’s kingdom and heal the sick. He said, “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you’re not welcomed, leave town. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on.”

According to the web site Wikipedia, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KISS_principle)
KISS is an acronym for "Keep it simple, stupid" as a design principle noted by the U.S. Navy in 1960.[1][2] The KISS principle states that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than made complicated; therefore simplicity should be a key goal in design and unnecessary complexity should be avoided. 

The phrase has been associated with aircraft engineer Kelly Johnson (1910–1990).[3] The term "KISS principle" was in popular use by 1970.[4] Variations on the phrase include "Keep it Simple, Silly", "keep it short and simple", "keep it simple and straightforward"[5] and "keep it small and simple".[6]

We all know that Jesus gives great, no, NOT just great but indeed the BEST advice, because he’s Jesus.  He’s God.  He’s perfect, and so is His Word.

So, here we have simple, straightforward, easy to follow guidance from our perfect Lord.
Should be pretty easy for US to do what it says.  

According to the next section of scripture, this is what the disciples did…
6 Commissioned, they left. They traveled from town to town telling the latest news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went.

They listened.  
They kept it simple.  
They did as they were told, and God blessed their work.

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We pray, “Dear Lord, help us to look past ourselves and to you.  Help us to disregard the noise of the world around us and temptation of the devil and instead to focus on your simple instructions and plan for our lives.  Lord, help us to keep it simple and to fulfill your commission daily.”
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What's the big deal about Jesus?

The Marrying Kind?

Marriage.

My reading in Matthew 19:1-12 today talks about it and caught me (and everyone talking to Jesus) by surprise.

Read it for yourself.

It surprised his own followers – the disciples – so much that they responded with “If those are the terms of marriage, we’re stuck.  Why get married?”

Jesus response both scares me and comforts me (as my lovely wife and I are in our 28^th year of wedded bliss)…

“Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life.  It requires a certain aptitude and grace.  Marriage isn’t for everyone.  Some, from birth seemingly, never give marriage a thought.  Others never get asked – or accepted.  And some decide not to get married for kingdom reasons.  But if you’re capable of growing into the largeness of marriage, do it.”

Well – he’s got that right.  I’ve done a LOT of growing in 28 years.  At the start – I certainly wasn’t mature enough – but thank God and my patient wife – here we are! 

Worth it?  Absolutely.

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God,

Love can be a many confusing thing…

Thanks for clearing it up for me with your Word because on my own I would make a royal mess of it.

And I do (make a royal mess of it).

So thanks also for your forgiveness and giving me time to “grow into the largeness of marriage”.

Amen.

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What's the big deal about Jesus?

Hold On Tight...or...Let It Go?

rebeccacooper.com

I like to hold on tight to a lot of things.

Sometimes it’s a good thing.  Like to my faith in Jesus Christ.  And to my family.  And to my job.

But that “hold on tight” mentality extends to many other things, too.  Like my electronic gadgets, and my time (it’s for me to spend like I want, right) and my money (it’s for me to spend like I want, right).  After – don’t I deserve it?

So - a pretty good guy (at least in his own mind – hmmm, sound like anyone I know?) came to Jesus and asked a loaded question.

“Good teacher – what must I do to deserve eternal life?”

Check it out in Luke 18:18-27.

The answer he got surprised him and spun him around.

He walked away disappointed and sad.

Why? Verse 23 tells us “he was holding on tight to a lot of things and not about to let them go.”.

Hmmmm – sounds familiar to me…

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Lord,

Only you give me a clear picture of what to hang onto and what to let go.

But I like to fill my picture with more stuff every day.

Re-paint over the sloppy job I’m doing.

Re-color it with your grace.

Every morning with colors new…

Amen.

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What's the big deal about Jesus?