Tag: Christianity

Saturday Strands

On By BrianIn Saturday Strands

Here are some loose strands for our growth in the new year:

How Healthy Is Your Soul? Six Questions for a New Year – Scott Hubbard (DG)
So, at the end of a new year, on the edge of another, let’s stop to take some spiritual vitals. How healthy is your soul?

5 Habits That Changed My Life – Ian Harbar (Back Again)
Everyone is different, but if you find yourself struggling under the weight of life, I hope these habits are something you’ll consider as we move into the new year. They won’t solve every problem, but I’ve found that they have helped me bear life and increase my capacity for love.

The “Plus One” Approach to Church – Kevin DeYoung (Clearly Reformed)
Are you feeling disconnected, unhappy, or bored with your local congregation? Let me suggest you enter the “Plus One” program of church involvement.

How I Am Getting My Mind Back This Year – Wyatt Graham (TGC)
If our age’s pathology threatens to unmake what it means to be human—that rational and emotional structure based on deep structures of reality—then how can we—how can I—get our minds back this year?

Flashback: What Are You Seeking?
What are you seeking? This is Jesus’ question to two of John the Baptist’s disciples. It is also an important question for us to ponder as we end this year and begin a new year.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping God with your local church!

Sermon Songs: Hebrews 4:12-14

On By BrianIn Hebrews Hymns1 Comment

Dear Christian, hear the Word of the Lord
Living and active to transform you
Sharper than any two edg-ed sword
Piercing to the very core of you

Chorus
Fast, Fast, Hold fast
Hold fast to Jesus the Better One
Near, Near, Draw Near
Draw near to God through His only Son

The Word discerns what is in your heart
Reveals your sin – on your own you’re lost
Points to your hope, from Him ne’er depart
For you He paid the horrible cost
(Repeat Chorus)

© 2022 Brian J. Mikul

(Sing to tune of “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)

Behold Our Providing God!

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

When we think of God’s provision, we often think of food and clothing – basic necessities, but God’s provision is far greater.  So join me, as we consider 12 ways that God provides for us, which then become 12 reasons to give thanks to God.

God Provides His Creation (Genesis 1) – God created everything around us – the snow that decorated trees in my neighborhood last week, the colorful leaves we enjoyed this Fall, the flowers that popped up last Spring, the beautiful scenery experienced on vacation.  Lakes, beaches, streams, birds, deer, squirrels, pets – so much variety all provided by God for us to enjoy.  What are some things from God’s creation that you especially enjoy for which you can give thanks to God?

God Provides Life Itself (Genesis 1-2) – God created us.  He gave us life. Our very existence is provided by God.  Without Him, we wouldn’t be.  And He provided us with another year of life in 2024, another year to live and love and work and rest and think and trust and obey and walk with Him.  What are some things about your life this past year for which you can give thanks to God?

God Provides Companionship (Genesis 1-2) – God created us in His image, which means in part that He created us to be relational beings.  We see there in garden that Adam and Eve enjoyed a relationship with God, companionship with their Creator, and so can we.  We can talk to Him, and listen to Him, spend time with Him, love Him and enjoy His love for us.  And God created marriage, providing the companionship of husband and wife.  And within marriage, He gave us the ability to create more people, so that we might enjoy the companionship of more family.  And we can enjoy the companionship of friends.  We have the gift of companionship with people that we can talk to and listen to and spend time with, love and enjoy their love.  What kinds of companionship has God provided for you this year for which you can give thanks to God?

God Provides His Promises (Genesis 12) – God called Abraham and promised that his descendants would become a great nation within the Promised Land.  They would be a blessing, and one specific descendant named Jesus would bless whole world.  And those promises extend to us in ways greater than Abraham could have imagined.  In Jesus we have become a greater nation, part of kingdom of God, and one day will dwell in a greater land, the New Earth, with no sin or curse or death.  And we have received blessing upon blessing in Jesus, with the promise of many greater blessings yet to come.  What promises of God have you received, or do you look forward to receiving, for which you can give thanks to God?

God Provides His Present Help (Genesis 37-41) – As Joseph was sold into slavery, we read that God was with Joseph to help him in his trial.  As Joseph is falsely accused and thrown into prison, we again read that God was with Joseph to help him in his trial.  What trials have you faced this year?  How has God been a present help for which you can give thanks to God?

God Provides His Wise Purpose (Genesis 37-50, Job) – Why did Joseph have to be sold into slavery and thrown into prison?  Later Jospeh understood God’s wise purpose, that God was bringing Joseph to a place where he could save his family and many other from a famine.  God had a wise purpose for Joseph.  Or consider the story of Job.  Job never knows the purpose for his suffering, nor do we know the purpose in his suffering.  But God reminds Job and us of His greater wisdom that governs the entire universe with all of it complexity.  And if He has wisdom to do that, certainly He has the wisdom to govern our lives for our good and the good of others.  Maybe in your trials this year, you can look back and see God’s wise purpose like Joseph could.  If so, you can give thanks to God.  But maybe, like Job, you don’t understand at all.  Still God has a wise purpose in your trials; your suffering is not meaningless.  And God’s wise purpose not yet understood is something for which you can give thanks to God.

God Provides His Salvation (Exodus 1-15) – God delivered the people of Israel from their slavery in Egypt with10 plagues and a miraculous parting of Red Sea.  And on that Passover Night, God delivered His people from God’s coming judgment through a slain lamb.  Even so, Jesus came as a lamb to be slain, that we might escape God’s coming judgment for our sin and rebellion and be delivered from our slavery to sin.  And that great deliverance, which is ours through Jesus, is something for which we can give thanks to God.

God Provides His Word (Exodus 19-20, I Kings 19) – Following God’s deliverance for Israel, He gave them His Ten Commandments to govern their lives for their own good, that they might live out their new freedom.  And God has given us His Word to show us how to live as those who have been freed from slavery to sin, to show us how to live as God created us to live for our own good, and good of those around us.  What commands has God impressed upon you this year for which you can give thanks to God?   Or consider Elijah in his depression, as God quietly speaks to him with words of purpose/encouragement.  And how often as we read His Word, do we find that quiet instruction that we need in our own suffering?  How often do we find words of purpose and encouragement to spur us on to press on through the trials and struggles of life?  What verse or verses has God used this year to encourage you, verses for which you can give thanks to God?

God Provides Answered Prayers (I Kings 18, II Chronicles 20) – Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest.  Each would pray, and the God who answered was the true God.  Baal’s prophets prayed and prayed, but Baal didn’t hear.  Baal didn’t answer.  Then Elijah prayed to one true God, and fire fell from heaven.  God heard, and God answered.  Or consider again Jehoshaphat as a gigantic army is approaching.  Jehoshaphat prayed to God, and God heard his prayer and answered his prayer and defeated the army. So then, what answered prayers has God provided in your life this year?  Maybe you prayed for healing, and it came.  Or you prayed for safety, and it was provided.  Or you prayed for help, and it was given.  Now not every prayer is answered how we want or when we want, and often we must wait upon the Lord.  But what are some answered prayers that God has provided for you for which you can give thanks to God?

God Provides His Glorious Goodness (Exodus 33-34) – Moses asks to see God’s glory, and God provides a glimpse of His glorious goodness – His grace and mercy and patience and love and faithfulness and forgiveness.  How has God shown His grace to you this year, giving you things you don’t deserve?  How has God shown His mercy to you this year, not giving you what you do deserve?  In what ways has God been slow to anger toward you?  How has He shown His love to you?  How has He been faithful?  What sins have you confessed, and He has forgiven and washed away in Christ?  What aspects of His goodness have you experienced this year for which you can give thanks to God?

God Provides for Our Basic Needs (Exodus 16-17, I Kings 17) – The people of Israel are in wilderness, and they are hungry with no food.  And God provided manna for them to eat.  What was it?  Good question.  Whatever it was, God used it to daily feed them as they wandered in wilderness.  It was a daily reminder of God’s provision.  Another time, the people are thirsty, and God tells Moses to strike a rock.  Is that how you get water?  No!  But water flowed out of the rock and people drank. God provided them with water they needed.  Or consider Elijah who declares a drought – no rain for three years. God sends Elijah to a brook with water, and God sends ravens to bring Elijah bread and meat each morning and each evening.  When brook dries up, God sends Elijah to a widow with only handful of flour and a little oil.  Not a likely long-term solution, but God daily multiplies it, so that Elijah and widow and her son can eat for many days.  Behold the creative ways God provided for Israel and Elijah!  And how has God provided for your basic needs this year?  Maybe He provided in very ordinary ways as you worked or received your Social Security checks. But maybe He provided in some amazing creative ways, ways that you may have never expected as you came into this year.  Perhaps God provided an unexpected gift, or a raise, or a new job, or a new business, or new opportunities.  However God did it, He provided for your basic needs.  How has God provided for your basic needs this year, ways for which you can give thanks to God?

God Provides the Hope of Resurrection (I Kings 17) – The son of the widow Elijah is staying with dies.  Elijah cries out to God, and her son comes back to life.  This story points to another story in John 11, when Lazarus died, and Jesus came and raised Lazarus from dead.  And Jesus declared that He was the resurrection and the life.  God provides us with many things in this life – His creation, life, companionship, His promises, His present help, His wise purpose, His salvation, His Word, answered prayers, His glorious goodness, and our basic needs.  But one day it will be our time to die, and when we do, God’s provision doesn’t end.  We will dwell in glorious companionship with Him in heaven until Christ returns, and then we will rise again to dwell forever on a new earth with Lord.  This is our glorious and certain hope for which we can give thanks to God.

Behold Our Providing God! 

And give thanks to Him! 

His Grace Is Enough

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

My Dad made all kinds of wood art with a scroll saw. One of the first shelf sitters I remember is shown here:

He made a lot of these. The truth is found in II Cor 12 as Paul struggles with some thorn in flesh, some trial in his life. Paul begged God to take it away, but Jesus responded:

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

My Dad faced some thorns, some trials in his last years, as I suppose most people do in their final years. And yet my Dad’s testimony through this simple shelf sitter is that the grace of Jesus was sufficient. His grace was enough.

A pretty big thorn pierced our hearts with the passing of my Dad. But as we cry out to God – looking to Him, trusting in Him – we too can find that His grace will be sufficient for us, that His grace is enough.

And what thorns are you facing in your life today? Jesus bids you to look to Him, to rest in His sufficient grace, to find that His grace is enough for you.

Saturday Strands

On By BrianIn Saturday Strands

Here are some loose strands for our growth:

The Uselessness of Prayer – Trevin Wax (TGC)
Prayer is training us to look up to the God whose first and greatest commandment is to love him with our whole heart, mind, and soul. You cannot measure or quantify that goal. You can only give yourself over to that desire and direction.

The Golden Rule for Hard Conversations – Casey McCall (ROFD)
Now ask yourself, what would you want if you were that person? The Golden Rule helps us wisely discern when the difficult conversation is necessary.

7 Things to Remember When Tempted to Sin – Doug Eaton (FOF)
We all struggle with sin, but we must remember that sin makes us foolish. It is never reasonable, and when we are in the throes of temptation, we often become ignorant. It is as if sin puts blinders on our eyes, causing us to forget what is important to us. These blinders are why, when tempted to sin, it is crucial to pause and reflect on the following seven things.

The Olympic Vision: ‘My Way’ – Murray Campbell
Because of this, perhaps ‘My Way’ was a fitting end to the Paris Olympic Games. The Olympic flame was snuffed out, its dying embers a sign of where ‘Imagine’ becomes reality.

Flashback: Not Offended
Our identity is found in Christ and not in what others think or do. So let’s live as Christians and not be so easily offended.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping God with your local church!

Ministry Moments

On By BrianIn Ministry Moments, Uncategorized

Here are some helpful posts for small-town pastors:

Don’t Measure Small-Town Ministry Simply by Its Size – Stephen Witmer (TGC)
My friends’ ministry is expressing something of God and his gospel that couldn’t be expressed through a massive revival. All their many sacrifices, their unconditional friendship to a young Muslim family still blind to the glory of Christ, their consistent, prayerful sharing of the gospel with those who will listen—these demonstrate a generous God and a lavish gospel.

No City Is Too Small for God: Reaching the Crevices of the World – Josh Manley (DG)
But if you labor in relative obscurity and are tempted to think your work is unstrategic, I want to encourage you that, if you labor for the Lord, there is no such thing as an unstrategic city. He cares about every last sheep.

Brothers, Preach Your Heart Out — No Matter How Few People Are in the Room – Tim Counts (IX)
The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Only the Lord knows what he will do with an army of preachers committed to expositing God’s Word with precision and passion week in and week out in small churches across America.

Brothers, let’s press on for the sake of the kingdom!

Get Me Through

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

My Dad passed away last month.  It is hard to write that.  One evening I was texting him about our big family summer get-together, the next evening he was gone. 

My wife and I headed back to my parents’ home to be with my mom, and grieve, and prepare for a funeral, and all those things. 

On Sunday we headed to church as we do every week, only this time not our home church, but my brother’s church.  We sang “The Solid Rock” – a great old hymn about our hope in Jesus.  I say we sang, but I had trouble singing, coming in and out, as the emotions raged between grief and the very real hope that is ours.  During the pastoral prayer, the pastor prayed for our family in our loss, and there real tears.  Then we sang “There Is One Gospel” – a new hymn that I knew, but had never sung in church before.  It too spoke of our hope in my grief.  Then came “O Lord My Rock and My Redeemer” – a new song too, but one I had never heard before.  No matter – it too spoke of our hope. 

The message was from Mark 4 about the Sower and the four soils.  I confess I don’t remember much about it, except that it was grounded in the Word.  After the message, we sang “I Will Glory in My Redeemer” – one of my favorite newer songs that again talked about my hope.  We celebrated the Lord’s Supper, my wife and I with my brother and his wife and a church full of people I didn’t know.  But we were all brothers and sisters in Christ celebrating the reality of Christ’s death on our behalf that gives us hope for the future.  We closed with “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” – another great old hymn reminding us that in all of this, God was still faithful.

And sometime during that service, it hit me – this was what will get me through.  This weekly rhythm of singing songs about our great hope in Jesus that transcends death.  Prayer, the Word, the Lord’s Supper – all reminding us that we have a great God who has redeemed us and promised us a glorious future with Him.  This weekly rhythm rehearsing the glorious truths of our Savior. 

And it didn’t matter if it was an old hymn or a new one, a song I knew or didn’t.  All that mattered were the words speaking the gospel hope into my life. 

Some people say that church is boring, but it is anything but boring when you are wrestling with the realities of life and death, grasping for hope in the midst of tragedy.  And maybe that is our problem.  Not church, but us.  Too often we are pre-occupied with more trivial matters, distracted by things that have no eternal value.  The gospel speaks words of life, but we are too busy chasing the next thrill, the next meme, the next new something that means nothing compared to the old, old story of Jesus.

I don’t remember anything about the message that Sunday.  I don’t remember what I had for lunch that day either.  But in both cases I was fed.  And just like I need that daily rhythm of eating, I need that weekly rhythm of worship together.  To be fed, to refocus on what is important, to be reminded again and again of our hope in the Lord.  This weekly rhythm is what will get me through.

And yet, the weekly rhythm would mean nothing without the truths behind it. The rhythm would be worthless if I didn’t know that our Redeemer lives, and because He does, so shall my Dad.

The rhythm would just be wishful thinking without my Savior risen and reigning.  The rhythm points to Jesus.  And that is why the rhythm is powerful.  Because it is a means that He will use to get me through.

Singing Psalm 5 with Isaac Watts

On By BrianIn Hymns

Here is Psalm 5 paraphrased into Common Meter by Isaac Watts – along with a few adaptations. We sang it to the tune of “O God Our Help In Ages Past.”

Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear
My voice ascending high;
To thee will I direct my prayer,
To thee lift up mine eye….

Thou art a God, before whose sight
The wicked shall not stand;
Sinners shall ne’er be thy delight,
Nor dwell at thy right hand.

But to thy house will I resort,
To taste thy mercies there;
I will frequent thine holy court,
And worship in thy fear.

O may thy Spirit guide my feet
In ways of righteousness!
Make every path of duty straight,
And plain before my face.

My watchful enemies combine
To tempt my feet astray;
They flatter, with a base design
To make my soul their prey.

Lord, crush the serpent in the dust,
And all his plots destroy;
While those that in thy mercy trust,
For ever shout for joy.

The ones that love and fear thy name
Shall see their hopes fulfilled;
The mighty God will cover them
With favor as a shield.

Singing Psalm 4 with Isaac Watts

On By BrianIn Hymns

Here is Psalm 4 adapted into Long Meter by Isaac Watts – along with a few adaptations. We sang it to the tune of “I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day.”

O God of grace and righteousness,
Hear and attend when I complain;
Thou hast enlarged me in distress,
Bow down a gracious ear again.

Ye sons of men, in vain ye try
To turn my glory into shame;
How long will scoffers love to lie,
And dare reproach my Savior’s name?

Know that the Lord divides his saints
From all the tribes of men beside;
He hears the cry of penitents,
For the dear sake of Christ that died….

Let the unthinking many say,
“Who will bestow some earthly good?”
But, Lord, thy light and love we pray;
Our souls desire this heav’nly food.

Then shall my cheerful pow’rs rejoice,
At grace and favors so divine;
Nor will I change my happy choice
For all their corn and all their wine.

Thus, with my thoughts composed to pray,
I’ll give mine eyes to quiet sleep;
Thy hand in safety keeps my days,
And will all of my slumbers keep.

Resource Wednesday: The Art of Rest

On By BrianIn Book Look

I’ve been thinking a lot about rest over the past few years, and this was a really helpful book! In midst of an over-busy world, Adam Mabry gives good Biblical teaching about rest, including the important benefits of rest. And this month, the e-book is available for free here. Go check it out! Read it, and learn to rest.