You can see it here.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
A Free and Open Place to Walk
Ever had a big decision to make but were unsure about what to do? Ever had a difficulty in a relationship and were unsure how it might get any better? Ever found yourself in the midst of a circumstance that was robbing you of peace and overwhelming you with anxiety and fear?
Over the last few weeks, my bride and I have been reading and praying through Psalm 119. It broken down in eight verse segments and centers on the glory of God's Word. It has been a journey seeing the Psalmist talk about his own attitudes about God's Word. He begins with a less than stellar commitment to keeping what God says (see vv. 5-6) and that has led him to a place of conviction and shame. In God's grace, he begins a journey in his sanctification that leads him to view God and His word differently.
He begins to see the immense value of God's Word.
He begins to see his own life from a different perspective.
He begins to desire God in a new and intense way.
He begins to long for the Bible in a way he had not in the beginning of the journey.
The journey is real and emotional and deep. He does not hide how he begins to see his own sin. He does not hide how he sees those who are against him. He does not hide a passionate longing for more of God and more vision to see the truth.
It has been a growing journey for my bride and me in praying through the verses of this Psalm. One verse continues to haunt and challenge and comfort me. Psalm 119:45...
"I will walk freely in an open place because I seek your precepts."
(Holman Christian Standard Bible - HCSB)"
The Psalmist uses a variety of words to describe God's Word: statutes - precepts - law -instruction - decrees - commands. - judgments. Right here in v. 45, the Psalmist cries out that because he has been seeking God's Word, HE IS WALKING IN AN OPEN PLACE. A few other translations rener this way...
45 I will lead a full and happy life,
because I've tried to obey your rules. (New International Readers Version)
45 I will walk in freedom,
for I have devoted myself to your commandments. (New Living Translation)
45 And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts. (New King James Version)
45 And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts. (New American Standard Bible)
45 And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces
as I look for your truth and your wisdom; (The Message)
45 I will walk around in wide-open spaces,
because I have pursued your precepts. (Common English Bible)
The big take away from Psalm 119:45 is the immense blessing that comes from being a pursuer of God's Word. Blessing comes when we are Jesus-followers that delight in the Word.
The other evening, I attended a Prayer Summit in our area. The Leader, Mark Mirza of Common Threads Ministries, challenged us with a thought. As we are living this life, we want to be committed to praying God's will. We are confident that when we pray God's Word that we are praying what God desires. He want on to say that the Bible helps us know what is true. God is not interested in keeping us in the dark. He is committed to building faith in us. He is leading us to walk in wide-open places.
Meditate on God's goodness. Read and pray Psalm 119.
Over the last few weeks, my bride and I have been reading and praying through Psalm 119. It broken down in eight verse segments and centers on the glory of God's Word. It has been a journey seeing the Psalmist talk about his own attitudes about God's Word. He begins with a less than stellar commitment to keeping what God says (see vv. 5-6) and that has led him to a place of conviction and shame. In God's grace, he begins a journey in his sanctification that leads him to view God and His word differently.
He begins to see the immense value of God's Word.
He begins to see his own life from a different perspective.
He begins to desire God in a new and intense way.
He begins to long for the Bible in a way he had not in the beginning of the journey.
The journey is real and emotional and deep. He does not hide how he begins to see his own sin. He does not hide how he sees those who are against him. He does not hide a passionate longing for more of God and more vision to see the truth.
It has been a growing journey for my bride and me in praying through the verses of this Psalm. One verse continues to haunt and challenge and comfort me. Psalm 119:45...
"I will walk freely in an open place because I seek your precepts."
(Holman Christian Standard Bible - HCSB)"
The Psalmist uses a variety of words to describe God's Word: statutes - precepts - law -instruction - decrees - commands. - judgments. Right here in v. 45, the Psalmist cries out that because he has been seeking God's Word, HE IS WALKING IN AN OPEN PLACE. A few other translations rener this way...
45 I will lead a full and happy life,
because I've tried to obey your rules. (New International Readers Version)
45 I will walk in freedom,
for I have devoted myself to your commandments. (New Living Translation)
45 And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts. (New King James Version)
45 And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts. (New American Standard Bible)
45 And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces
as I look for your truth and your wisdom; (The Message)
45 I will walk around in wide-open spaces,
because I have pursued your precepts. (Common English Bible)
The big take away from Psalm 119:45 is the immense blessing that comes from being a pursuer of God's Word. Blessing comes when we are Jesus-followers that delight in the Word.
The other evening, I attended a Prayer Summit in our area. The Leader, Mark Mirza of Common Threads Ministries, challenged us with a thought. As we are living this life, we want to be committed to praying God's will. We are confident that when we pray God's Word that we are praying what God desires. He want on to say that the Bible helps us know what is true. God is not interested in keeping us in the dark. He is committed to building faith in us. He is leading us to walk in wide-open places.
Meditate on God's goodness. Read and pray Psalm 119.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Consider Your Life as Nothing
Most people will not hear this news. Some will think it a shame that a young woman died from a skiing accident. "Why should people fling themselves down a mountain on two thin sticks? Why should anyone die for skiing?"
Here's the thing. I am convinced that Sarah Burke, more than likely, understood that life was a gift and adventure. However, if she saw herself as a china doll, there is no way she would have engaged in the sport of freestyle skiing.
Can thinking too much of yourself be a hindrance to your Christian life?
Paul said this in Acts 20:22-24 to a gathering of Ephesian pastors before he was to head off to Jerusalem. "...I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflications are waiting for me. But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace.
Paul understood some important things. To over-value himself would create a barrier to him finishing the ministry he had been given by Jesus. He understood that suffering and difficulty were closely related to his calling of telling the Gospel of Jesus. Paul got put in jail because he was a Christian preacher. Paul was beaten because he was a Christian preacher. Paul was criticized...ganged up on...shipwrecked...and, ultimately, killed because he was a Christian preacher.
Paul valued Jesus. He kept himself in a right perspective.
We have seasons of life where it seems that our responsibilities require different things of us. I think about my own responsibilities now as a husband of nearly 18 years and a father of four kids under the age of 13 versus what they were when I was as a single unmarried man.
Here's what I know. If I am not careful, I will be tempted to compromise the Gospel when there's a chance if might affect my kids comfort. I might avoid saying what needs to be said if I love getting a paycheck too much. If I love my comfort too much. If I over-value my life.
A warm place to sleep is good. Food is good. Children being safe is good. However, if I love those things more than the Gospel of Jesus, I will never sacrifice much for it. Paul, surely, did not enjoy getting beat up and arrested and driven out of towns. Yet, he did! Why? Because he treasured Jesus above all things. The treasuring of Jesus and his gospel led him to sacrifice much for the gospel's sake.
Life is an incredible gift. Paul would, obviously, tell us that the Gospel is the most valuable gift. Therefore, live accordingly.
Rodney Bradford - Arabi, Georgia
Monday, January 9, 2012
Twelve Things to Pray for This Year
A real good guy, Mark Mirza of Common Threads Minsitries has been challenging folks to pray through Psalm 119 to begin this year. Yesterday, I preached on a few passages from the Psalm during Morning and Evening Worship. From the Psalm, here's a few things to pray for this year.
One - Pray you will be committed to God's Word (Psalm 119:5)
Two - Pray you will offer honest worship and service to God (Psalm 119:7)
Three - Pray you will be pure and keep God's Word (Psalm 119:9)
Four - Pray you will sin less (Psalm 119:11)
Five - Pray you will speak God's truth (Psalm 119:13)
Six - Pray you will love God's Word more than money (Psalm 119:14)
Seven - Pray you will think about God's Word more and more and more (Psalm 119:15)
Eight - Pray you will DELIGHT in God's Word (Psalm 119:16)
Nine - Pray God will open your eyes to see His Word for all its' worth (Psalm 119:18)
Ten - Pray God will overwhelm you with His Word (Psalm 119:20)
Eleven - When depressed, pray you will find life in God's Word (Psalm 119:25)
Twelve - Pray for God to keep you from being deceitful (Psalm 119:29)
One - Pray you will be committed to God's Word (Psalm 119:5)
Two - Pray you will offer honest worship and service to God (Psalm 119:7)
Three - Pray you will be pure and keep God's Word (Psalm 119:9)
Four - Pray you will sin less (Psalm 119:11)
Five - Pray you will speak God's truth (Psalm 119:13)
Six - Pray you will love God's Word more than money (Psalm 119:14)
Seven - Pray you will think about God's Word more and more and more (Psalm 119:15)
Eight - Pray you will DELIGHT in God's Word (Psalm 119:16)
Nine - Pray God will open your eyes to see His Word for all its' worth (Psalm 119:18)
Ten - Pray God will overwhelm you with His Word (Psalm 119:20)
Eleven - When depressed, pray you will find life in God's Word (Psalm 119:25)
Twelve - Pray for God to keep you from being deceitful (Psalm 119:29)
Great Psalm. Many, many things to pray for your life this year. It would do your soul well to meditate again on Psalm 119. You can also check out Mark's ministry website here. Click his ministry blog tab. If you are planning to be in the Greater Cordele, Georgia area, he will be leading a Ministry Leader Prayer Summit on Monday, January 23 at Northern Heights Baptist Church in Cordele and Tuesday, January 24 at Vienna First
Baptist Church. Dinner served at 6:00 p.m. with Summit 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Rodney Bradford - Arabi, Georgia
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Psalms Teach Us To Pray
The Psalms continue to shape me in my pursuit of God. They show me how to cry out to God when I am completely experience ALL that is good! They show me how to pray when enemies are about to destroy me! They show me how to pray when I believe I am losing faith and hope! They show me how to pray when I am unsure of how to pray.
Last evening, my bride and I began what will be a nightly practice for the next several weeks. We are praying through Psalm 119. The idea came from a ministry partner, Mark Mirza. Mark does his good work through Common Threads Ministries. He comes alongside congregations and teaches about prayer along with helping them start intentional prayer ministries. You can find out more about praying through Psalm 119 at his blog.
Psalm 119 deals with the Word of God. Verse one states...
HOW HAPPY ARE THOSE WHOSE WAY IS BLAMELESS, WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE LORD'S INSTRUCTION!
A promise of happiness for those that live according to the Lord's instruction. This is a similar beginning that you find in Psalm 112. This connection between fearing the Lord, taking seriously the Lord's commands and being happy.
Last night, as we were praying through the verses (and in re-reading them this morning), I was struck by Psalm 119:5-6...
5 IF ONLY MY WAYS WERE COMMITTED TO KEEPING YOUR STATUTES! 6 THEN I WOULD NOT BE ASHAMED WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL YOUR COMMANDS.
Now here is the Psalmist making an incredibly honest confession. "If only..." Fully admitting that, right now, his ways are not committed to keeping God's words. Right now, when he thinks about what God says in his word, he gets ashamed and convicted and guilty because his commitment is not where he would want it to be before God.
I appreciate the Psalmist's honest confession. At least he cares about God's Word! At least he is fully aware that he needs to have a deeper commitment to loving and doing God's Word. Even though his commitment is lacking, he knows that God's Word is truly valuable. It would be one thing if he were saying, "Well, it's JUST God's Word. No big deal!" He is humble and teachable and ready for his heart to grow and change. He is like clay ready to be molded. That is a good place for us to be.
This sincerity is shown by a God-ward desire in the last few verses.
7 I WILL PRAISE YOU WITH A SINCERE HEART WHEN I LEARN YOUR RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS. 8 I WILL KEEP YOUR STATUTES; NEVER ABANDON ME!
God, I want to offer You praise that is sincere.
God, I want to learn Your Word.
God, I will, by your grace and strength, live Your Word.
Father, I am asking that You will graciously stay with me.
That is a fitting prayer for the beginning of 2012.
Rodney Bradford - Arabi, Georgia
Last evening, my bride and I began what will be a nightly practice for the next several weeks. We are praying through Psalm 119. The idea came from a ministry partner, Mark Mirza. Mark does his good work through Common Threads Ministries. He comes alongside congregations and teaches about prayer along with helping them start intentional prayer ministries. You can find out more about praying through Psalm 119 at his blog. Psalm 119 deals with the Word of God. Verse one states...
HOW HAPPY ARE THOSE WHOSE WAY IS BLAMELESS, WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE LORD'S INSTRUCTION!
A promise of happiness for those that live according to the Lord's instruction. This is a similar beginning that you find in Psalm 112. This connection between fearing the Lord, taking seriously the Lord's commands and being happy.
Last night, as we were praying through the verses (and in re-reading them this morning), I was struck by Psalm 119:5-6...
5 IF ONLY MY WAYS WERE COMMITTED TO KEEPING YOUR STATUTES! 6 THEN I WOULD NOT BE ASHAMED WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL YOUR COMMANDS.
Now here is the Psalmist making an incredibly honest confession. "If only..." Fully admitting that, right now, his ways are not committed to keeping God's words. Right now, when he thinks about what God says in his word, he gets ashamed and convicted and guilty because his commitment is not where he would want it to be before God.
I appreciate the Psalmist's honest confession. At least he cares about God's Word! At least he is fully aware that he needs to have a deeper commitment to loving and doing God's Word. Even though his commitment is lacking, he knows that God's Word is truly valuable. It would be one thing if he were saying, "Well, it's JUST God's Word. No big deal!" He is humble and teachable and ready for his heart to grow and change. He is like clay ready to be molded. That is a good place for us to be.
This sincerity is shown by a God-ward desire in the last few verses.
7 I WILL PRAISE YOU WITH A SINCERE HEART WHEN I LEARN YOUR RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS. 8 I WILL KEEP YOUR STATUTES; NEVER ABANDON ME!
God, I want to offer You praise that is sincere.
God, I want to learn Your Word.
God, I will, by your grace and strength, live Your Word.
Father, I am asking that You will graciously stay with me.
That is a fitting prayer for the beginning of 2012.
Rodney Bradford - Arabi, Georgia
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Big Question at McDonald's
"So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom."
Psalm 90:12
Clouds began to gather over the expansive Indiana sky south of Indianapolis. The small town pastor and his family were traveling to Louisville after an extended visit with friends near Marion. The kids were tired after a few hours of driving and dad decided an ice cream cone from McDonald's could certainly brighten everyone's spirits for the final ninety minutes to their next stop.
A few drops of rain hit the pastor's head as he helped his youngest son from the van. His wife and kids were already inside. It didn't take long for everyone to give their requests to dad. A nice lady was working the front counter and efficiently took the ice cream order--four ice cream cones, one strawberry sundae and a plain cup of ice cream.
The pastor's oldest son had on a Georgia Bulldog shirt and the nice lady at the counter asked the pastor, "Are you and your family from Georgia?"
"Yes, we live in south Georgia about two hours south of Atlanta?"
She smiled. "Are you near Macon?"
"Yes. About an hour South."
"I lived in Macon for nearly three years but moved back here to Indiana four years ago."
The pastor was taking a request from his youngest daughter. "No honey, you can not have fries, just the ice cream. Have you worked here long?"
"Yes, about a month after I moved back."
The nice lady delivered all the ice cream to the pastor and his family and they quickly found seats in the corner. After a bit, the pastor was finishing up his ice cream cone and saw the nice lady cleaning up around the drink fountain. As she wiped up spilled soda, he got a sense that he should go and speak with her. The pastor, who didn't always feel comfortable talking with strangers, got up and walked towards the lady. He wasn't exactly sure what he was supposed to say.
"So tell me, why did you move to Georgia?"
With a smile, "Oh, I met the most wonderful man. He was a truck driver and he asked me to marry him. We lived in Macon and had a wonderful life together." Suddenly, the nice lady's expression changed. "He started having some heart trouble. Eventually, he had a massive heart attack and he died. It was so hard because he was so good to me. My friends around here couldn't believe I had left the only place I had ever lived, my grand kids and my children, to move to Georgia with him. He would take me fishing at the lake nearby and down near Jacksonville at the ocean. We traveled together when he drove his truck. He always made me laugh. I think I laughed more in the three years that we were married than I did my entire life. I had been married before but my first husband was so cruel. I thought I would never love another man again but when I met him..." Her voice trailed off as tears began to come.
"I'm so sorry to hear that," the pastor said.
"When I moved back here. Well...all I do is work, eat and sleep. I don't even feel like I am really living but just going through the motions of life. My daughter and some of my best friends told me when I would ask why did this happen that God must have a reason. I tell you what, I haven't known what that reason is. I have been so sad and angry and depressed for four years just not knowing what to do about." The lady paused and looked at the pastor in the eye. "You're the first person I have talked about this ever. I just felt like I needed to tell you. Why do you think my husband died?"
Without absolute clarity, the pastor was immediately struck by Psalm 90:12. With as much love and tenderness as he could muster, he told the lady, "Your husband died because we don't live forever. Our lives are limited and we do not have an unlimited supply of tomorrows. God wants us to recognize that everyday we have is a gift. When we recognize this, he says that we are growing in wisdom. We have life because of him. He is forever but our lives in this world are not."
The lady's eyes brightened as she dabbed them with a napkin she had taken from the dispenser. "You're right. We don't live forever. I have forgotten that everyday is a gift."
The pastor asked the lady, "Are you a follower of Jesus? Are you a Christian?"
Nodding her head, "Yes, but I have not wanted to go back to church. I haven't been able to handle everyone saying it was going to be o.k. and that they were praying for me. But somehow, that seems the good thing to do now."
"I bet your pastor and the people of the church want to love on you and support you through this hard time."
The lady smiled. "Yes, I know they will. I need to get back there this Sunday. I've got to get back to the counter but how interesting that you and I talked about this. I would have never dreamed that this would happen. I somehow think that things are going to be better. I feel so..." The nice lady smiled again.
"Let me pray for you before you go back to the counter."
Right there by the soda fountain, the pastor prayed for the nice lady that worked at McDonald's. They hugged and she went back to work behind the counter. The pastor and his wife loaded their kids up in the van and drove off to Louisville.
Rodney Bradford, Arabi Baptist Church
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Psalms Help Us Answer the Big Questions
Everyone has big questions. As a pastor, I have had the distinct privilege of people asking me their big questions. They have been asked in the hallway of a hospital. They have been asked standing beside a coffin. They have been asked on a boat while fishing. They have been asked behind pick up trucks, on front porches, at kitchen tables, on hiking trails, during beach retreats and on living room couches. The big questions often come out of the ashes of a tragedy or a hurt or an unexpected experience. The big questions come when someone has been shaken to the very core of their being. The big questions challenge everything a person thought they believed. The big questions are the ones reveal the foundation upon which a person stands.
So how have I answered the big questions?
I always try to give the honest truth. The biblical truth. The truth that we have revealed to us about God and our lives and our experiences in the word.
When I answer the big questions, I have learned that I do not have to defend God. Oh, I have empathized with people in their hurts. It hurts when someone you love unexpectedly dies. It hurts when you have been mistreated by someone who claims to be a Jesus follower. It hurts when a dream dies. It hurts when a spouse walks out. It hurts when you thought those that were friends are not. It hurts when you tried to do everything right and it turns out so wrong.
Often I direct people with big questions, especially for people who are hurting, toward the Psalms. The Psalms give us perspective when our vision in limited. The Psalms cry out for us when we do not know how to cry out. The Psalms remind us of the difficult things. The Psalms cause us to consider the things that we would rather forget. The Psalms give us light.
Over the years, it has been a powerful thing to watch a person who has struggled through a big question and then see them go to the Psalms and watch God do His mighty work. Sometimes, as a person comes out on the other side of the big question it is in a different place than they might have thought. Is the pain any less hard? Is the experience any less difficult to face? The Psalms are used of God to lead us to the place that we need not necessarily what we thought we wanted.
In the darkest of days and when it seems the weight of our big question will crush us, we find a Psalm at just the right time that has exactly what we need.
If there is one thing I have learned, it is that in the midst of our big question we find--in the Psalms--that God is bigger than our question yet oh so close!
Rodney Bradford, Arabi Baptist Church
So how have I answered the big questions?
I always try to give the honest truth. The biblical truth. The truth that we have revealed to us about God and our lives and our experiences in the word.
When I answer the big questions, I have learned that I do not have to defend God. Oh, I have empathized with people in their hurts. It hurts when someone you love unexpectedly dies. It hurts when you have been mistreated by someone who claims to be a Jesus follower. It hurts when a dream dies. It hurts when a spouse walks out. It hurts when you thought those that were friends are not. It hurts when you tried to do everything right and it turns out so wrong.
Often I direct people with big questions, especially for people who are hurting, toward the Psalms. The Psalms give us perspective when our vision in limited. The Psalms cry out for us when we do not know how to cry out. The Psalms remind us of the difficult things. The Psalms cause us to consider the things that we would rather forget. The Psalms give us light.
Over the years, it has been a powerful thing to watch a person who has struggled through a big question and then see them go to the Psalms and watch God do His mighty work. Sometimes, as a person comes out on the other side of the big question it is in a different place than they might have thought. Is the pain any less hard? Is the experience any less difficult to face? The Psalms are used of God to lead us to the place that we need not necessarily what we thought we wanted.
In the darkest of days and when it seems the weight of our big question will crush us, we find a Psalm at just the right time that has exactly what we need.
If there is one thing I have learned, it is that in the midst of our big question we find--in the Psalms--that God is bigger than our question yet oh so close!
Rodney Bradford, Arabi Baptist Church
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