For Tito Lito
Friday the 13th almost flew by without a hitch… ALMOST.
9pm I get a call from one of our pastors… Her brother-in-law just passed away and she needed me to show up.
Back story – they were out with her sister, attending a child dedication and birthday celebration. Sister came home and saw brother-in-law sleeping on the couch. She knew her husband had trouble getting any sleep so she went on with cooking and cleaning, all the while keeping things quiet… and when she finally got to, I assume, waking him up to eat… well, that’s where she found out that he was already gone.
In situations like this you couldn’t avoid chaos. But on the other hand, the goodness of God is revealed as we are forced to stand up for those who sunk in the shock.
Another Pastor who came to help prayed upon their request, and I followed it up with proclaiming a promise of the Word: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”Romans 10:17
I then proceeded to speak this Word, for everyone (even Tito Lito) to hear. This is from Psalm 121, but I rephrased it for us.
God the Help of Those Who Seek Him
A Song of Ascents.
We will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes our help?
Our help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow our feet to be moved; He who keeps us will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is our keeper; The LORD is our shade at our right hand.
The sun shall not strike us by day, Nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve us from all evil; He shall preserve our soul.
The LORD shall preserve our going out and our coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
For Compassion
It’s the morning after, and I’m still reeling from what happened.
But, to business. I was up to speak to the kids earlier this morning… Right before serving as their judge for their Got Talent event. I couldn’t help but speak the same Psalm to them to bless them.
Right after praying Psalm 121 for them, I proceeded with the Word:
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:38-39
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.Romans 8:28
I told them, based on these words, that no matter what happens to them, no matter what they’re still wondering about, no matter what is happening to them, no matter what will happen to them, Christ paid the ultimate price in order for them to be at peace, knowing that (1) nothing that happens will ever separate them from God as their Father, and (2) everything that they do works together for the good, as they know and appreciate God’s perfect and everlasting love for them.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.Colossians 3:16-17
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.1 Corinthians 10:31
With God’s goodness in mind, I attempted to inspire both participants and audience, telling them that no matter if they sing, dance, or do martial arts, because God is with them and God will make all things work for them… they therefore do what they do (1) in the name of the Lord Jesus, and (2) to the glory of God.
To wrap it all up, I told them that they do all they do, not FOR God to love them, but FROM God’s love.
I traded a rough present state of cold-calling, for an uncertain future and the need to clarify where I stand.
In my own personal life, things have been happening, and I am making things happening – I am in the process of processing and starting to start.
Through the events of today and yesterday, I have reminded folks, just as I have been reminded, of the following:
- No matter what is happening, we are with the Lord. Nothing can ever separate us from His love, and it’s nothing to do with who we are, but what Christ has done, and all that Christ has given.
- No matter what is going on, we are at peace, knowing that He is faithful to cause all things to work for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose. Indeed, He is with us, and He works all things for good.
- No matter what we do, we do it all in the name of Jesus – that is, we do it all in His presence, aware of Christ’s finished work, and God’s promises being fulfilled.
- No matter how we move, we move to the glory of God – His praise is our pleasure. We are satisfied the most when He is glorified in the highest.
It’s been a crazy week, to say the least. I’m thankful for the luxury of time to reflect, and this time to write; In the process, I have been taught, and I have been corrected, and I am that much better.
All to the glory of His beautiful and wonderful name, now and forever. Amen.
I’m alive and well, His Spirit lives within me
Because He died and rose again
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