John Stumbo's blog

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I'm planning to start each Monday morning with you by sharing a prayer or a reading from the saints of old. On this Valentine's Week, I thought a prayer on love would be appropriate. It's from Valley of Vision--the prayers of Puritans from centuries past. I'd encourage you to read it through once and then pray along the second time through.

Lord Jesus,

Give me to love thee, to embrace thee,
though I once took lust and sin in my arms.
Thou didst love me before I loved thee,
an enemy, a sinner, a loathsome worm.

Thou didst own me when I disclaimed myself;

Thou dost love me as a son, and weep over me as over Jerusalem.

Love brought thee from heaven to earth,
from earth to the cross,
from the cross to the grave.

Love caused thee to be
weary, hungry, tempted,
scorned, scourged,
buffeted, spat upon,
crucified, and pierced.

Love led thee to bow thy head in death.

Let me see thy love everywhere,
not only in the cross,
but in the fellowship of believers
and in the world around me.

When I feel the warmth of the sun
may I praise thee who art the Sun of righteousness
with healing power.

When I feel the tender rain
may I think of the gospel showers
that water my soul.

When I walk by the river side
may I praise thee for that stream that makes
the eternal city glad, and washes white my robes
that I may have the right to the tree of life.

Thy infinite love is a mystery of mysteries,
and my eternal rest lies
in the eternal enjoyment of it.

Amen.

I know a young woman who has suffered greatly in the last two years. She's working through her grief and fighting for her own recovery, but one thing she is finding elusive is the ability to dream again. She writes, "Maybe this experience is good in showing me that living in the present, focusing on what I have now is all that I really need. But I need dreams too, don't I?"

When tragedy strikes, it throws so many areas of our lives into turmoil. We ask questions we never before asked, pay bills we never before had to pay, go to offices we didn't know existed, talk to specialists we had never heard of, face emotions we never before faced, and generally get thrown into an arena that is unfamiliar to us. The foundations we had built our lives on start to show some cracks. The expectations we had for what our lives would be like come down with avalanche force. The dreams we had for our tomorrows now mock us. The future we once anticipated decomposes before our eyes.

Tragedy strikes--loss of income, loss of health, loss of relationship, loss of loved ones--and with it often comes a loss of hope. We were once people of hope, we lived with a positive spirit of expectancy--we would love, we would live, we would travel, we would serve, we would bless and be blessed. But now those hopes seem naïve, that expectant spirit seems unfounded. With old hopes dashed, why should I hope again?

I think that my friend's question is not only a valid one but a very insightful one for anyone working their way through the ramifications of a major crisis. One component of being fully alive as humans is to dream, to hope, to anticipate. To have no dreams causes us to shrivel, to be less alive, to wither in spirit. But, with life so uncertain, with so many dreams already dashed, on what basis would we dare dream again? What rational person would dare dream fresh dreams while the old ones still mock us? Why set yourself up for such disappointment? Isn't it easier--and even wiser--to not let yourself go there?

Buried in the soil of our landscaping are gladiola bulbs planted years ago. The bulbs are not attractive to look at and unless we need to transplant them, they'll never be seen again. If you would walk past this section of our yard today, you'd never know that they were there. All that you would see is a patch of bark. Yet, in just a few weeks, as the soil temperature warms and the days lengthen, life will burst through the bark again. Slender stalks will reach for the sun and, in due time, another flower will burst forth, parade its beauty and display its Creator. It will only last for a season, but it was for this season it was made, and it is for this season that the long hidden season of winter awaits.

Dream are like flowers. In due time, they burst forth in glory. They speak of life. They reveal the Life Giver. In due time, some flowers wither and die right where they were planted. Others are selected, cut, carefully arranged and put on display. A few are captured and preserved by a photographer's lens or an artist's brush. All will pass in time, but all have their beauty and purpose for the moment.

Not all dreams are to be preserved or fulfilled. That's not their purpose. If every dream we ever had came true, the world would be even more insane than it is today. No, the purpose of every dream is not to see something come to reality, but to see that we don't die before we're dead--to be so alive that our lives reflect the Giver of Life.

So, yes, my friend, I pray you will dream again for to dream is to be alive. You've got a lot of life ahead of ya. Live it. Love it. Embrace it. And who knows, maybe one of those dreams will actually come true.

I'll do my best to do the same. The world already has enough shriveled preachers. I don't want to be one of them.

Traveling and Travailing With You,
John

PS Thanks for those who prayed for me last weekend as I preached…the message did finally come together in my heart. And, for those who knew I was back as an outpatient this week getting more treatments, thanks for your prayers as well. This, too, for the most part, went well. The number of days I'm feeling improvement are greater than the days I feel decline. Maybe I can start saying "Four steps forward, two steps back."

A sign hangs on the wall at Northwest Rehabilitation where I go for therapy. It reads, "Worry is a misuse of imagination." Imagination is a great gift from God, but left to run off on it's own, it can create a great amount of anxiety in our lives.

Take some time today to enjoy the wisdom and to pray the insight of an individual who was seeking to not let his peace be robbed.

And which of you with taking thought can add to His stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow; they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, O ye of little faith? Luke 12: 25 – 28

"O God, Who knowest our necessities before we ask, and the manifold temptations we meet with day by day, help us to put our whole trust in Thee when despair and misgivings assail us. Do not allow us, we beseech Thee, to become the prey of useless forebodings, nor to lose the things which belong to our peace, through the habit of morbid and sinful worry.

So guide us, in all our way, that we may keep our faces always toward the light, that our shadows may lie behind us.

Of Thy great mercy enable us to perceive our blessings, that we may always serve Thee with a glad heart and quiet mind, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen"

Bishop Charles E. Woodcock, D.D., LL.D.
Louisville, Kentucky in God's Minute, 1916

Keep the shadows behind you.

Until Thursday,
John

I've never been the easiest guy to buy presents for. I don't really have any collections, my interests are a little eccentric, I'm not one that gets into the latest "gadgets" and I already own enough ties. Every Christmas my wife would kindly try to draw out of me what I would put on a Christmas list and every year I'd only come up with a few suggestions--some of which (such as socks) didn't exactly make the gift giver feel like Santa.

This year further complicated this dilemma for my family. My already small list had been reduced even further by my illness. At present time, I've lost the ability to do so many of the things I've loved to do (run, fish, bike, play tennis, eat … just to name a few). My hobby list is at an all-time low. Hence, I don't have as many things that I use or want right now.

Yet, my family, loving people that they are, wanted to give me gifts anyway. So, I began suggesting that they give me what I came to call "gifts of faith"--gifts I can't use right now, but Lord willing, I will in months to come. I received a few fishing lures for the day when I can handle a rod and reel again. Most notably, I received gift cards for some eating establishments I miss--Red Lobster, Jamba Juice, Coldstone, Baja Fresh. Right now these gifts are just pieces of plastic sitting in my drawer, but I trust that the day will come when they become pleasant outings, delightful tastes and fine memories. They were given to me and received by me in faith that the day will come when I will swallow and eat and enjoy this aspect of life once again. I have no human evidence of any improvement in my swallow, but I continue to look forward to the day when this part of life is restored to me.

I will confess that I looked to see if the cards had an expiration period on them--I have hope, but no assurance, that I'll be swallowing in the next year. "Would their gift be wasted?" I wondered. My humanness reveals itself on a steady basis.

I tell you this today because I like the spirit behind these gifts. "We believe that you'll eat normally again, Dad. You're going to swallow again, Honey." This is what I heard with each card. This itself was a gift…the gift of faith.

Sometimes we can believe for ourselves. Sometimes it helps to have others believe for us. Our faith can waver. Our "faith meter" can look like a Minnesota thermometer in January. Then someone comes along who has the faith to believe for us and the warming breeze begins to thaw our hearts.

If you don't have the faith to see your way through your current crises, hang around people who do. Some of these people can be found in books--read the biography of a saint such as Hudson Taylor or countless others who have walked the road before us.

Others of you are in a place where you can come alongside and believe for someone else who is faltering in faith right now. Don't be shy in expressing your God-confidence when theirs is wearing thing. Don't be obnoxious about it, but buoy them up with your belief that God is in this and He is good. This is a significant ministry. Don't underestimate it.

The gift cards sit in my drawer, but when I see them they are a statement to me: someone believes that a better day is coming. Maybe I can keep believing for another day as well.

Believing with you that God's goodness will be revealed in your trial,
John

PS I have the privilege of preaching at Salem Alliance this weekend. I'm a bit apprehensive. I haven't felt as strong the last few days and the message isn't coming together as I would desire in my head and heart. If you think of praying for me for this weekend, I would appreciate it. Thanks for being people I can turn to for prayer.

I'll confess. I watched more NFL football this year than the last five years combined. This was in part because I had more free time this year than I have in the past, but it's also because it was a good year to be from Minnesota.

For four decades I've been a Vikings fan. I grew up with the Purple People Eaters and Fran Tarkenton. I've suffered through four Super Bowl defeats and (as of yesterday) five consecutive NFC Championship Game losses. I've watched Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers beat up on us season after season. I trained our children as toddlers to make a gagging sound at the mention of the Chicago Bears. I've watched us go through quarterbacks like used cars. Wherever we have lived, however they have played, I've cheered on the Vikings.

So this year was extra enjoyable. Not only were we winning most games, we were winning with our old nemesis, Brett, wearing our purple and horns. This was a good sight to see every week. The one who used to pick apart our defense was now commanding our offense. And, as every sports announcer has noted, Brett at age 40, had the season of a lifetime.

One of Brett's weaknesses through the years has been to try to do too much. He's such a competitor that sometimes he tries to make more happen than he should. This has led to a fair number of interceptions throughout the years. But this year was different, the older-wiser Brett held onto the ball more often and only threw a handful of interception the entire season.

I haven't heard any news report, but my assumption is that Sunday will prove to be Brett's last game. In his post game statement, he said he was going to go home and talk to his family about it. But after the beating the Saints gave him Sunday, I've got to believe his wife is going to have an opinion. Brett proved whatever he needed to prove this year, and no matter how much he loves the game, I can't see him coming back at age 41. Maybe I'm wrong. But it's got to end sometime and my guess is that it just ended.

This would mean, of course, that Brett's final throw as an NFL quarterback would have been a game destroying interception. With just seconds left in the game, with the score tied at 28 and Minnesota just within field goal range, the Vikings ran one last play to try to pick up a few more yards to make the field goal attempt more certain. One more play, a few yards, one kick from our reliable field goal kicker and the Vikings were on the way to Super Bowl #44.

Brett rolled out to his right, threw across the field to his favorite receiver and was promptly picked off by a Saints' defender. One coin toss and a few plays later and the Vikings' season was over. It was a sudden and stunning finish to a sensational season for Brett and the whole team.

I don't know how Brett thinks. But I know that for many of us, we would be haunted by that final pass. We would be tempted to have that one misguided throw overshadow the whole season. We'd replay it a thousand times in our minds while overlooking the thousands of great throws throughout our career.

Here's my point: one mistake does not a season make or break. Brett, by every account and statistic, had a great season. It ended poorly, yes; but the single must not overshadow the whole.

This blog really isn't about Brett. It's about you and me. It's about our tendency to let one event, one mistake, one glaring error, one embarrassment, one "oops" to cast too long of a shadow on our lives. Yes, we blew it. No we shouldn't have responded that way. Yes, we were an idiot for a moment. It's good to be honest with ourselves and own up to our errors, stupidity, sins or oversights. We all throw an interception now and then. We're mortal.

I'm not justifying our bad behavior, but I am calling us to not let ourselves be defined by it. You are on a diet and you are doing fine but then have a "bad day." Okay, pick back up again tomorrow. One day does not a diet make or break. You've been lovingly parenting those kids in your house. You've been a fairly consistent and supportive parent, but you lost it one day. You mishandled something or said words you regret. Acknowledge it. Confess it. But don't be defined by it.

The condemnation of our own hearts and accusations of the enemy would have us believe that one single mistake can erase a whole season of good. Some people--struggling in their own issues of life--may hold us to this standard, but don't hold yourself to it.

If you are in the game, you'll throw an interception now and then. Don't let it loom bigger in your mind than it should. Brett has a challenge this week--and for the rest of his life perhaps--to not let the single define the whole. My guess is, you and I do as well.

From a guy who has thrown a few interceptions of his own,
John

It was one of those days. Physically I had taken another downturn. Days of battling to overcome my physical issues seemed to be erased with another round of the pain/discomfort/crud/weakness combo I've become so familiar with over the months. Joanna, ever sensitive to how I'm doing, looked across the kitchen table and sincerely asked, "How do you keep doing it? What do you cling to?" The kind look of sympathy in her eye revealed that she really did want to know what kept me going in the midst of suffering.

Without really thinking, I quickly responded, "That this isn't random and it won't be wasted."

Now, as I've confessed before, let's be clear that I'm not a steady rock of faith every day. I can withdraw into a cave of discouragement and dwell in doubt as easily as most anyone. Yet, by God's grace, most days I really do believe this to be true: what I'm experiencing isn't by random chance nor will it be wasted.

I'm convinced that your life and mine have purpose. The Apostle Paul certainly lived this way declaring, "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace" (Acts 20:24). When you study Paul's life, you realize that he could have and should have been dead many times. In fact, he probably was dead at least once (Acts 14:19). He lived with a longing to be in heaven, but remained fully engaged on this earth because of a deep realization that he had a task to accomplish (Philippians 1:21-26). He knew there was a purpose, design and sovereign hand involved in his life. He knew that part of that sovereign plan was for him was to suffer (Acts 9:16). I think Paul would say, "My suffering has purpose. It will be used by God and rewarded by God."

If I believed that this illness "just happened to happen" to me and that it didn't have any ultimate purpose or meaning, I would have despaired. I don't think I could have handled the level of loss I've experienced if I didn't believe there were major victories to be found in the process. But I have a re-occurring assurance that, while I don't like this journey, it has meaning and leads to a good destination.

I love the picture of Old Testament Joseph, convinced that he has been forgotten in prison (not necessarily by God but certainly by the chief cupbearer), yet serving faithfully. He was the kind of man who was going to give life his best shot, even if it was from a dungeon. Stories such as his encourage me that with our God, suffering isn't random or wasted. A purpose will be revealed; a reward will be granted. The purpose and reward may not be revealed at a time nor in a manner that I expect, but I believe this to be true for me and for all who will bear up under trial.

So, my word to you is carry on. Live another day to do what is yours to do, to love those who are yours to love, to serve those you have the privilege to serve and to receive from those gracious enough to give. Arise for another day you may not enjoy, but can endure; a day you may want to forget, but will not be forgotten by the One who delights in rewarding His servants. Open the shades to let the light in for another day--into your home, into your soul, into your relationships. Breath deeply, pray humbly and give another day your best shot.

We can do this. He'll make sure of it (Philippians 1:6).

Your Fellow Traveler,
John

My Tent:
"I'm sorry about the source of that sigh," Joanna compassionately commented. "It's food related, isn't it?" she accurately noted.

I had unintentionally let out a rather loud sigh as I walked through the kitchen and smelled the hot chocolate's sweet aroma.

I'm trying not to keep track of time, but it has been about fifteen months now since I last swallowed. Fifteen months of continual spitting. Fifteen months of smelling food I cannot eat. Fifteen months of pouring cans of "medical food" down my feeding tube. Fifteen months of feeling like an odd ball in a world that eats as they meet, and eats as they walk, and eats as they drive, and eats as they watch TV, and eats as they get up in the morning, and eats before they go to bed, and eats when they celebrate and eats pretty much whenever they feel like it. And if they aren't eating, they have a cup in their hand. Some days the swallowing of liquid is even a greater craving than eating food. To have my throat quenched with a soothing glass of water, or grape juice, or chocolate milk or soda--ah, that will be a good day.

About once a day I still chew on soft food and then spit it out. This has helped lessen the insanity of not eating but there is still something very unfulfilling about chewing without swallowing. It is especially maddening when my liquid diet leaves me feeling unsatisfied and I could chew all the food in our entire pantry and not alleviate the unsatisfied feeling one bit/bite.

On a happier note, I'm definitely feeling the benefit of the late December IVIG treatment. I have been much stronger in January than I was in December. I'm back pushing new limits in my physical therapy, my voice is stronger and my general pain/weakness/crud has lessened to a more manageable level. For this I am very grateful. I have another IVIG treatment scheduled for February 1-3.

And, the driving is going well. In fact, I'm probably a safer driver now than I was before I got sick…mainly because I have slowed way down.

My Spirit:
"How is it with your spirit?" I was kindly asked. I had the opportunity to spend some time with Salem Alliance's worship community last week. I gave them an update on my physical status and then they asked this deeper question.

I answered, "Most days, I'm doing well. I really believe what I say, 'God is in this and He is good.' I have some days though that are pretty dark. Like the other day when Joanna asked me what was wrong and I answered, 'I'm just trying not to be angry with God.'"

And so it is. The battle of long term illness takes place as much in the spirit as it does in the body. "In this world you will have tribulation," Jesus prophesied. "But be of good cheer," He adds. We will have to endure hardship, but a key to doing so is guarding our spirit (keeping a "good cheer") in the midst of it. Being convinced of the remaining portion of the verse helps, i.e. that He has overcome the world.

My Team:
'Way to go, Team Stumbo," I congratulated as our family got out of the van. They had helped me through another detail of life that some would consider small but was an obstacle for me. My family has been great to me through this trial.

I am doing more things on my own, however and my increased independence has freed up Joanna's life quite a bit. She still does significant care-giving for me, but since I am back in the office 4 days a week, she's getting her old life back to some degree. She's returned to working as a sub in the Salem/Keizer school district, usually as an aide for kids with needs that require one-on-one assistance.

The other Stumbo teammates--our kids--are back in their appointed locations. Anna and Jeff in Phoenix, Drew and Josiah at Crown College in Minnesota. All are doing well. Each is an encouragement to us.

Meanwhile, Joanna and I sense how significant it is that you are "on our team" as well. Cheering us on, praying for us, finding ways to bless us, stopping us in church or a store with a kind word, etc. It really is uplifting to run into one of you and have you mention that a particular blog was meaningful to you. You have been and remain a huge gift to us.

My Plans:
"I'm ready to wade back in," I announced to my academic advisor. After almost a year and a half hiatus, I'm attempting once again to complete a Doctor of Ministry Program through George Fox Evangelical Seminary. I have completed my course work, but have some significant writing to do.

One thing I want to be more wise about in this era of my life than I was in the past is to be discerning about my capacity. I think I understand the current limits of my energy and believe I need to do less of some things if I am going to do more writing for the doctoral program in the next months. All this to say, as of February 1, I plan to place this blog on a more regular schedule. I will plan on posting a prayer or reading that I've found meaningful on Mondays and a normal-Stumbo-rambling-whatever-I-want-to-say blog on Thursdays. This twice a week schedule, with one of them being the work of another, will help free up a little space for me to pour my writing energies elsewhere. Thanks for understanding and supporting me in this effort.

As always, thanks for journeying with me!

Your Fellow Traveler,
John

Thanks for praying with me this week. This is the last of the prayers, at least for now. I plan to be back on Tuesday to let you know what I'm thinking next for this blog.

Blessings today,
John



The Spirit as Teacher

O God the Holy Spirit,

That which I know not, teach thou me,
Keep me a humble disciple in the school of Christ,
Learning daily there what I am in myself, a fallen sinful creature,
justly deserving everlasting destruction;

O let me never lose sight of my need of a Saviour,
or forget that apart from him I am nothing, and can do nothing.

Open my understanding to know the Holy Scriptures;
Reveal to my soul the counsels and works of the blessed Trinity;
Instill into my dark mind the saving knowledge of Jesus;

O lead me into all truth, thou Spirit of wisdom and revelation,
That I may know the things that belong unto my peace
And through thee be made anew.

Make practical upon my heart the Father’s love
as thou hast revealed it in the Scriptures;

Apply to my soul the blood of Christ, effectually, continually,
and help me to believe, with conscience
comforted, that it cleanseth from all sin;

Lead me from faith to faith,
that I may at all times have freedom to come
to a reconciled Father,
and may be able to maintain peace with him
against doubts, fears, corruptions, temptations.

Thy office is to teach me to draw near to Christ with a pure heart,
steadfastly persuaded of his love,
in the full assurance of faith.

Let me never falter in this way.

From The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions
(Available at Pursuits at Salem Alliance)

I am reminded again today that we are "surrounded by a cloud of witnesses" (Heb. 12).

We do not journey alone in the Christian faith. We are part of a community present--the body of Christ within the world today. We are part of the community of the Holy Trinity--the fellowship that the Father, Son and Spirit enjoy together is shared with us. Amazing. But we are also joined by the community of saints who have lived through the centuries. Most of them have lived, loved and left this earth without leaving their names in history books, but they are our brothers and sisters--lovers of Christ and people who walked the same earth and breathed the same air we breath. They cheer us on, it seems, from heaven. And, some of them left pieces of their life and faith on paper for future generations to reflect upon.

I have no idea who these people are that we have prayed with this week, but I am grateful to be part of a such an historic community. Truly they are our brothers and sisters. Let's join them in prayer again today.

“Keep yourselves in the love of God.” Jude 21

O Thou Eternal Love, Whom Jesus has taught us to call our Father, and in Whom we are learning to trust as our Brother, our Comrade, our Closest Friend, we are not seeking Thee, for we know that Thou art nearer to us every moment than we are to ourselves; we are only wishing and hoping that often, through this day, the thought of Thy nearness to us, of Thy presence with us, may spring into our consciousness, that we may see what Thou art showing us, and know what Thou art telling us, and be ready to take what Thou art giving us and to do what Thou art bidding us.

Help us to feel more than once today that the good thoughts and the good wishes which we find in our hearts are signs of Thy presence there; and may we learn to look for Thee thus, within our own lives, and to rejoice when we find Thee there, and so to become aware, more and more, of what we mean when we speak of the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit!

We know that Thou art working in us to will and to do of Thy good pleasure; and we know that Thou findest Thy good pleasure in lives made fruitful and beautiful in Thy service. So help us to work with Thee, this day and every day, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Washington Gladden, D.D., L.L.D.
Columbus, OH
Printed in God’s Minute, 1916

As I have been reflecting on the prayers of decades and centuries past, it strikes me that they prayed significantly differently than many of us do today. I'm afraid that the typical current Christian prayer sounds a bit too much like this:

Make me healthy,
Make it not rain,
Please take away
All of my pain.

Help me find the
Best parking spot.
If I speed, don't
Let me get caught.

Bless my efforts
Bless my own plans,
Bless all the work
Of my own hands.

Your are the God
Who meets my need,
Please don't mention
That it might be greed.

Okay, this is somewhat "tongue in cheek," but I am challenged by the saints who have gone before us to take my prayers to a deeper, richer place.

Here's today's prayer:

“Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” Psalm 86:2

Our Heavenly Father, as we close our eyes we would open our hearts to Thee. Thou knowest us altogether; the very thoughts of our hearts, our innermost ambitions and desires, our secret ways—“all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.” Thee we cannot deceive. Keep us from trying to deceive others or to deceive ourselves. May we be sincere, without guile or hypocrisy, genuine—our lives of one piece, like the seamless garment of our Lord.

Keep us from the folly and wickedness of a divided life, that is one thing within and another without; that is humble and reverent on the day of worship, but hard and cold and selfish on the days of work and of pleasure.

May we be thoughtful for those who serve us and faithful to those whom we serve. May our daily task be consecrated to Thee, that not only the fruit of our labor, but the toil itself of hands and heart and brain, may be used for Thy Kingdom.

Make all our lives of friendship and books and rest and love and laughter and service sacred to Thee, that Thine may be the glory, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. Amen.

Herbert Welch, D.D., LL.D.
Delaware, OH
Printed in God’s Minute, 1916

I know that in prayer it is better to have heart without words than words without heart, but sometimes it is a great benefit to find a printed prayer that puts words to our hearts--a prayer that gives us the ability to say what our hearts were longing to say but our minds hadn't found the words to express. Such is the prayer that follows. It is was written by a pastor one hundred years ago and was printed in a book that is no longer in circulation


“His love is perfected in us.” I John 4:12

Heavenly Father, write Thy new, best name of Love upon our hearts this morning. Help us to remember Jesus Christ. During the busy hours bring him often to our thought. When the mind is free from some set task may it revert to Him, as the needle turns to the pole. Keep us from wounding Him in thought or word. Make our communion with Him sweet. Give us of His strength, of His wisdom, of His winsomeness. Forgive the professions which have been but empty words. Forgive the sins which have brought a reproach upon Thy church.

Save us from the sin of despair. Light the lamp of hope in every heart. Fill us with the spirit of expectancy. Teach us that ruined lives may be rebuilt, and that in Christ is sufficiency for all our needs. We are thankful that Christ is the way to our Father’s house, that there is forgiveness for all, the bread of life for all and a welcome. Cleanse us from the defilement of the way; blot out the memories of the far country; clothe us with the garment of righteousness, and give us the joy of knowing that Thou dost own us as Thy sons and daughters. Amen

Frederick T. Kenney, D. D.
Syracuse, NY
Printed in God’s Minute

In 1916 a publisher put together a collection of one minute prayers from pastors and church leaders all across the U.S. and England. The book was entitled God’s Minute. I was given a copy by my mother. It’s old, elegant and unfortunately unavailable. May these words guide you into some thoughtful moments with the Lord today.

“Let God be magnified.” Psalm 70:4

O God our Father, we earnestly desire in these brief moments to give Thee thanks for all the blessings which enter into our lives and enable us thus to come to Thee. According to Thy knowledge of us, commune with us, and grant us comfort in sadness, guidance in our perplexities, strength for all duty and preservation from all evil. If in anything—in thought, or word, or deed, we have grieved Thee, forgive us, for His sake Who gave Himself for us; and wherein we have failed, grant us sufficient grace that we may fail no more.

May Thy Good Spirit make Thee so real to us this day and reveal Thee to us as so consciously near, in all that lies before us, that when its hours shall have passed away forever, there may be left no saddening memory of failure.

In all these things hear us, O Father, for others as well as for ourselves; especially for all who are dearest to us, whether close at hand or far away. May there come special blessing to them, even according to all their real need. So do Thou now and ever hear and answer us, beyond all our thought, and abide with us even to the uttermost, for our Saviour’s sake. Amen

Frank Ballard, D.D., M.A.
Sheffield, England
Printed in God’s Minute

One leading author has said that those who reject using written prayers are like the woman who only wears dresses she has made herself. Originality is a good thing, but sometimes we are helped by the careful reflection of other saints who have put there prayers to pen. May this prayer from a Puritan hundreds of years ago be a tool God uses to deepen your heart today.

The Deeps

Lord Jesus,
Give me a deeper repentance,
a horror of sin
a dread of its approach;

Help me chastely to flee it,
and jealously to resolve that my heart
shall be thine alone.

Give me a deeper trust,
that I may lose myself to find myself in thee,
the ground of my rest,
the spring of my being.

Give me a deeper knowledge of thyself
as Saviour, Master, Lord, and King.

Give me deeper power in private prayer,
more sweetness in thy Word,
more steadfast grip on its truth.

Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action,
and let me not seek moral virtue apart from thee.

Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly Husbandman,
that my being may be a tilled field,
the roots of grace spreading far and wide,
until thou alone art seen in me,
thy beauty golden like summer harvest,
thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty.

I have no Master but thee,
no law but thy will,
no delight but thyself,
no wealth but that thou givest,
no good but that thou blessest,
no peace but that thou bestowest.

I am nothing but that thou makest me,
I have nothing but that I receive from thee,
I can be nothing but that grace adorns me.

Quarry me deep, dear Lord,
and then fill me to overflowing
with living water.


From The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions
(Available at Pursuits at Salem Alliance)

As I mentioned recently, I was never a fan of printed prayers. Some sectors of the Christian faith use them religiously, but I always viewed prayer as a more personal and spontaneous act. However, shortly before becoming ill in 2008, in my personal devotional time I began using a book of prayers from the Puritans--saints from the 1600's and 1700's. The prayers of these saints were meaningful to me at the time and since then I have used them and other printed prayer resources to stimulate my own prayer life.

Every day this week, I will be providing a printed prayer to prompt your own prayer life. Please don’t rush through it, but allow it to become your own.

The prayer that follows and some of the prayers we are using this week are from The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions. Copies of this book are available at the Pursuits desk at Salem Alliance.

New Year

O Lord,

Length of days does not profit me
except the days are passed in thy presence,
in thy service, to thy glory.

Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides,
sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from thee,
but may rely on they Spirit
to supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,
and give me a desire
to show forth thy praise;
to testify thy love,
advance thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with thee, O Father, as my harbour,
thee, O Son, at my helm,
thee, O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.

Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.

Give me thy grace to sanctify me,
thy comforts to cheer me,
thy wisdom to teach,
thy right hand to guide,
thy counsel to instruct,
thy presence to stabilize.

May the fear be my awe,
thy triumphs my joy.

Thanks for your interaction on this blog. Joanna and I love your comments. Thanks for sharing about conversations you've had recently.

Tonight I want to tell you one more story--give you one more snapshot--of life at our kitchen table. This time it was just Joanna and I, a couple nights ago. Jo was reflecting on some good words of wisdom from author Pamela Reeve a good friend had passed on to her a few years ago. Profound words. Memorable words.

As we continued to talk about her insight and our current life situation, Joanna wanted to know what profound words I had to offer. She wasn't putting pressure on me, she was just wanting to know if I had any insight to give to our situation. I rubbed my hand through my hair and sighed, "I guess we just try not to quit." Oooh, deep, John, real deep.

We laughed. That was as profound as I was going to get that night. "TNTQ, Baby. Try not to quit." It's become a little motto for us the last few days: TNTQ. It brings a smile to our faces as we take another step of life. God has been kind to us to give us humor in the midst of trial.

Then I received an email from one of my nephews who, with his family, ministers among the impoverished and addicted. He relayed to us that one of the young men he had worked with through the years had committed suicide. This felt like a crushing blow to my nephew's ministry and a victory for Satan.

Yet, in the face of grief and loss, my nephew wrote the following, "But, it gives me more determination that this is an everlasting battle and it is raging. We cannot let up and we cannot give up, but rather should step up and be bolder."

Suddenly my "try not to quit" approach was called to take it up a notch. The real test of a difficult season of life is not just to see if we won't "let up" or "give up" but to see if we will "step up and be bolder."

In some very practical ways, I'm trying to step it up in these days--pushing harder in my physical therapy and attempting to re-enter and finish the doctoral program I had to put on hold fifteen months ago--just to name a couple specifics.

Join me, will you? No matter what trial you are facing, it's certainly not the time to quit and it may be the time to join my friend and determine to step up. The next level awaits. It might take a bit of a climb to get there, but I think we'll appreciate the view.

Your fellow traveler,
John

PS From Monday, January 11 to Sunday the 17th, I will be posting a daily blog of printed prayers from one to four hundred years ago. This is in conjunction with a short season of prayer and fasting at Salem Alliance that culminates in a prayer event that Jeff Brown, Rebecca Anderson and I will be leading on Friday night the 15th. So, log in each day and join me in a series of very thoughtful prayers and, if you live in the Salem area, join us Friday night at 7:00 for a rich evening together.