Category Archives: witness

3/13/24   Lent   Psalm 79   IFTTT

3/13/24 Lent Psalm 79 IFTTT

3/13/24 Lent Psalm 79 IFTTT 

The history of the children of Israel has always been an “If this then that” relationship. God designed it that way, at least from His side. “If you keep my commandments, you will be blessed.” “If you call on my Name I will answer.” “If you bow down before Me, I will be your protector.” Who knew that one day we would develop an APP for that? 

IFTTT means “If This Then That.” If it gets to be 6pm then Alexa will turn the lights on. If the outside temperature hits 74 then Nest will turn on the AC. If the meat on the grill reaches 145 then MyGrill will buzz my phone. If I turn in the driveway, MyQ will open the door. (And yes, I have all these. Doris hates them all.) 

Where Israel got into trouble is when they flipped the script on God’s “if then” plan. They began to function as if God was beholden to them. If You deliver us, then we will obey You. If You give us food, then we will quit grumbling. Even in the 79th psalm they say, “If You punish our enemies, then we will praise You.” Those sorry Israelites. How could they say such a thing? After all that God had done for them. The audacity to make their worship of Him dependent on His coming through for them one more time. I can’t imagine that. 

Although I did hear Doris say on time change Sunday, “Lord, if You wake me up, I will go to church.” And I might have whispered a few times, “Lord, if You help me beat this tennis guy like a drum, I’ll tell him about Jesus.” And I do remember more than a few times saying, “Lord, if You will get me out of this mess, I will never do this again.” IFTTT is all over the way I serve God. And I don’t think that is what He wants. 

Even in my worship, God if You get me jazzed, make me feel something, get the tears flowing, then I will acknowledge I have been in Your presence. If You help me pay this month’s rent, then I will say how good You are. If You cure my cancer, I will testify of Your faithfulness. Do you know that God is all around us, even when we aren’t feeling some emotional high? Do you know that He is good, even when the bills are bigger than the bank account? Do you remember that He is faithful, to the very end, even when the answer for healing is not what we hoped for?  

God, if You will stop me from this IFTTT approach to serving You, I promise I will be more consistent in praising You ALWAYS, in ALL THINGS, ALL THE TIME. Make me like Job, “Yea, though He slay me, still will I praise Him.” No IFTTT there. 

Okay, I’m done. If you will like and subscribe on Facebook I will know that God is pleased with my blog. 😊  

Black History Month: In The Beginning Was The Relationship

Black History Month: In The Beginning Was The Relationship

The creation story starts with the familiar words, “In the beginning, God.”  It goes on to include some physical phenomena, a move of the Spirit, and eventually, man and woman made in “our,” a plural God, image.  That verse could have as easily said, “In the beginning was the Relationship.” God is nothing if He… Continue Reading

5/8/23 MondayMatters: Testimony

5/8/23 MondayMatters: Testimony

5/8/23 MondayMatters: Testimony. Perhaps the most important words that will ever come out of my mouth is my testimony. When it is done right; centered on Christ, current, all about change, it has the power to change lives for generations to come. Here’s a quick testimony about testimonies. #MondayMatters #takeaminutemakeadifference https://youtu.be/iHFmeGTwzHY Continue Reading

40 Days to Celebrate the Coming King

40 Days to Celebrate the Coming King

Consider taking the 40 Days before Christmas to intentionally focus on the Coming King and on growing deeper in your faith. I invite you to an online devotional time starting tomorrow and ending on Christmas Eve. It is as easy as 1, 2, 3. 1. We will do 1 thing together for the 40 days,… Continue Reading

Stillness

Stillness

My youngest son, Jacob, for several years was the “frontman” for the house band at Tootsie’s, an iconic honky-tonk in Nashville. The frontman is not necessarily the lead singer. He may not even be the most musical in the band. (Though of course, Jacob was.) The frontman is the guy that has a gift for… Continue Reading

Bread

Bread

Reading today: Psalm 65, John 6:15-40 Remember Richard Rohr. He says, “All language about God is necessarily symbolic and figurative. Actually all language is metaphorical. Words are never the thing itself; they can only point toward the thing, which is exactly why “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14). As James Finley, a CAC core faculty… Continue Reading

The Calling of Reconciliation

The Calling of Reconciliation

The Calling of Reconciliation Psalm 53, John 1:35-51 On Tuesday Josh and Jennifer were explaining Lent to Jon-Mical and Jakson. They were telling the boys how some people traditionally give something up for the 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter to honor the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. Jon-Mical, who… Continue Reading