To Be A Man Of Prayer (Psalm 109)

Reading even the first few verses of Psalm 109 is terribly troubling for me for I know that my first response to persecution is not always prayer.

1 O God, whom I praise,
do not remain silent,

2 for wicked and deceitful men
have opened their mouths against me;
they have spoken against me with lying tongues.

3 With words of hatred they surround me;
they attack me without cause.

4 In return for my friendship they accuse me,
but I am a man of prayer.

Psalm 109:1-4

I was recently reminded through the testimony of Don Piper of the power of prayer even in our generation. Prayer is our lifeline to our amazing supernatural (yet knowable) Heavenly Father.

For those that know Don's story you'll recall the significance of the hymn "What A Friend We Have in Jesus". Well, this hymn has particular significance in my own life in recent days as well.

I had the privilege of leading worship for a large group of missionaries who serve in many countries that are hostile to the gospel. For some reason (a God thing I'm sure) I felt led to teach our worship band a modern version of "What A Friend We Have in Jesus" in preparation for the conference. In terms of style, this song was actually a bit of an odd fit for our group, but as we were there singing it in worship the words flooded over me in a tidal wave of emotion.

Verse 1
What a Friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer
O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer

Verse 2
Have we trials and temptations
Is there trouble anywhere
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Verse 3
Are we weak and heavy laden
Cumbered with a load of care
Precious Savior still our Refuge
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Do thy friends despise forsake thee
Take it to the Lord in prayer
In His arms He'll take and shield thee
Thou wilt find a solace there

Perhaps the emotions were caused by the context in which we were worshiping, but I know that God desires us to live in active dependence on Him through prayer. O that I would always pray with such earnestness.

Today, as an act of worship, trust your every moment to the Lord's capable hands by calling to Him first in prayer.

Do thy friends despise forsake thee
Take it to the Lord in prayer

A Dad for the Third Time

I praise you because I am fearfully
and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
-Psalm 139:14


What I've Learned Becoming a Dad for the Third Time...

• God does miracles everyday!
• There where six people in the room...and then...while the door was still closed...there were seven living breathing souls in the room! WOW!
  
• God's works are wonderful!!
• I have an amazing wife!
• I have married as amazing woman!
• Did I mention how awesome my wife is? Seriously, I am SO proud of her.
  
• I've been there for the birth of my other two sons, but something was extra special about Elaine and David Andrew on Thursday.
• I've heard it said that we should call our moms on our birthday. I have definitely seen why!
• I have been given a huge blessing that I did not deserve.
• I have been given a monstrous responsibility to which I embrace fully.
• DO you realize that God used my wife and I to create and bring into the world a living breathing soul that will never cease to exist. He will live forever.
  
• There is nothing I want more than to see my sons living for the glory of God.
• That which we have prayed for has been answered, and we are so grateful.
• There has been much rejoicing over the birth of our son. We praise God for Him!
  
• I have never felt more cared for by friends and family.
• God is so good!!

Thank you for your love and prayers for our family. I believe God has great things in store for each of His children, and I can't wait to discover it together!

Today, as an act of worship, join me in a celebration of thanksgiving. We have been asking for prayers for Elaine and David Andrew for many long months. You have prayed; we have prayed. God has heard and responded. Now, we worship with thanksgiving!!!!!!!!

I have found David...a man after my own heart;
he will do everything I want him to do.
-Acts 13:22

You are My Strength (Psalm 108)

This morning I was up reading Psalm 108 again. I was encouraged by it last week and it led me to a song on Sunday morning in the Annex called "You Are My Strength" by Reuben Morgan. (Which, by the way, Sunday was pretty incredible. God is doing some amazing things these days, and Don Piper - wow what a story!! Thanks, Don, for sharing your ministry with us last Sunday.)

Psalm 108 is a powerful statement for personal worship. Today it is showing me that it's one thing to offer instruction to someone on how to worship, and it is another thing all together to motivate them to actually worship.

While I was talking to a potential guitar instructor for our Conservatory ministry yesterday a very similar thought and illustration began to emerge. I asked him how he dealt with students who don't seem to be practicing between lessons. He responded by saying he would have a heart to heart conversation with the student (and possibly the parent) about what the student was trying to accomplish and try to reveal and path to that end. Furthermore, he explained that when students don't practice it is usually NOT a sign that they don't know HOW to practice, but it shows the underlying issue that they are not MOTIVATED TO practice.

Now, when you read the opening verses of Psalm 108, ask yourself, "Am I that motivated to worship the LORD today?"

1 My heart is steadfast, O God;
I will sing and make music with all my soul.

2 Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.

3 I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.

4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
and let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 108:1-5

Today, as an act of worship, focus your thoughts on the AMAZING LOVE of the LORD, and worship Him with genuine thanksgiving and praise. Let His GRACE and PEACE motivate you to bring honest heart offerings to the LORD!

His Love Endures Forever (Psalm 107)

This morning I went back and read Psalm 107 during my quiet time with the LORD. It was refreshing to hear the Psalmist remind the worshiper to remember the great love of the LORD.

Sometimes the circumstances I find myself in feel much more painful and difficult than my youthful understand of God's true love. It's far to easy to have a false notion that I am only being loved by God when things are going right in my life. That is completely wrong - though it may feel right.

True love is not bound to our feelings. Just because we don't feel loved or just because others don't feel like we love them does not mean that we are not loved or are not loving.

It is in those moments when I need to open God's WORD and remember that God has displayed his perfect love of us for all eternity through the death of His son Jesus - on a horrible and wonderful cross. His love truly endures forever.

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,

9 for he...

15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,

16 for he...

31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men.

43 Whoever is wise, let him heed these things
and consider the great love of the LORD.

Psalm 107 (excerpts)

Today, as an act of worship, read the excerpts of Psalm 107 again and fill in the blanks with what God has done in your life remembering the great love of the LORD in all things!! There is a purpose for all thing. God is sovereign over all things!!!

Thailand Update

Well, it's been an incredible week here in Thailand leading worship and encouraging many brothers and sisters in Christ. I can hardly believe it is coming to a close. In just a few short hours we will be leading our last session and concluding one of the most amazing and humbling experiences of my life.

I feel so unworthy to encourage these friends in this capacity, yet I know with confidence that God has called me here for that very purpose. It has been a huge blessing to hear the many stories of life and work overseas. God is doing amazing things - to say the least!

Today, I was blessed and encouraged by Psalm 95:1-7 as we proclaimed the greatness of our God together.

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

3 For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.

5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

7 for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.

Psalm 95:1-7

Today, as an act of worship, I encourage you to pray for the many believers who we've met this week. Pray for their families to be strong and remain faithful to the Lord when the road seems to difficult to traverse and the cross to heavy to bear!

Yesterday, with the help of my assistant, Amy, we created an imix playlist of many of the songs used at the conference. To find it just search "BB AGM 2009" in the itunes store in the imix section or see below. If you'd like a copy of the worship team book from the conference please email me directly and I'll be happy to send it to you.

God Bless,

B.J.

Breathing the Breath - The Conclusion of the Psalter

I was recently singing "Breathing the Breath", by Matt Redman, at the top of my lungs while cutting grass. It was nearing the end of a day of working in the yard and I was overflowing with praise and worship. I had been listening to music and sermons on my ipod for several hours and, WOW, all of a sudden it just flooded over me - "We are breathing the breath that You gave us to Breathe, we are breathing..." - of course, I was out of breath at the time, but it was still an amazing time of worship.



We are called to worship God for who He is in His sanctuary, what he has revealed in His mighty heavens, what He has done through His acts of power, and simply because of His surpassing greatness. I can't help but emphasize the personal pronouns referring to the LORD in the opening two verses of Psalm 150. Try it. Every time you say "his" add a little pause and consider exactly what you are saying.

1 Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,

4 praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,

5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

Psalm 150

The conclusion of the entire psalter is quite fitting; "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD." It is important to point out that this Psalm is strictly emphasizing those with breath in their lungs - as opposed to other living but non-breathing organisms.

Today, as an act of worship, let nothing hinder your praise. Come before the Lord with genuine expressions of gratitude remembering that even the breath in our lungs - with which we can choose to praise God or not - is in fact a gift from God.

Sing A New Song (Psalm 149)

Learning new songs can be quite a challenge for some people. Although I am a professional musician, I still enjoy listening to a new song before trying to sing or play it.

Psalm 149 opens with the words, "Praise the Lord. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints." While it is always important to remember what God has done in our past, it is vitally important that we sing new songs of praise to Him. The most important thing is that a freshness in worship needs to be present in every prayer and song.

The good news is even an "old" song can become a "new" song when you make it your own by singing it your own way - bringing authentic heart offerings to the Lord through your embellishments and additional verses and refrains. Often entirely new worship songs are born this way.

Today, as an act of worship, express your praise to the Lord with a new song. Start with a song that is totally new to you and then express it to the Lord in a new way.

Here's a new song I've been encouraged by recently called "Everlasting God" by Glenn Pakiam of the Desperation Band.

Even Men Should Praise the Lord (Psalm 148)

Psalm 148 paints a beautiful picture of all creation praising the LORD - the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. Each verse awakens my mind to the deeper realities that each member of the creation was created to worship God!

• the angels
• heavenly hosts
• sun
• moon
• shinning stars
• highest heavens
• waters above the skies
• sea creatures
• ocean depths
• lightening
• hail
• snow
• clouds
• stormy winds
• mountains
  
• hills
• fruit trees
• cedars
• wild animals
• cattle
• small creatures
• flying birds
• kings
• nations
• princes
• rulers... (and even)
  
• young men
• maidens
• old men
• children

Unfortunately, these do not all exalt the Lord - at least not intentionally. A sad but true reality is that men and women (myself included) willfully dishonor the Lord and thus deny Him the praise and worship He deserves.

Our lives were meant to reflect His glory - His grace and love. But, far too often the opposite it true. We live in habitual sin - paralyzing the heart of flesh that was exchanged for our old heart of stone and leaving us utterly useless in promoting the gospel. We are dim mirrors at best; no wonder people can't seem to see Jesus in us.

Today, as an act of worship, turn to Christ to wash away your sin. Be renewed and made whole again. Show the world what Jesus has done in you! Shine for Him!

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

Here's a great video of Matt Redman singing "Shine" at Passion '07. Enjoy!

Worship Sets Recap - June 2009

I often get the question, "What was the name of that song we sang last Sunday?"

So, in an effort to make that information available I'll simply post it here. Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with these songs in the comment section of this post or email me. (Note: the following links are to youtube videos of which I have no control over though most of them are very good!)

Enjoy!

Sunday, June 28th

Let The Praises Ring (E)

Everlasting God (Bb)

How Great Thou Art (Bb)

How Great is Our God - chorus (Bb) (recording is in C)

Shine (G) (recording is in Ab)

You Are My Strength (G)

Give Us Clean Hands (G) (recording is in Ab)

This Is Our God (G) (recording is in Gb)

Your Grace is Enough (G) (recording is in A)


Sunday, June 21st

Love the Lord (G)

Happy Day (C) (recording is in Db)

Rescue (C) (recording in D)

Lord of All (A) (recording is in Bb)

The Stand (A)

Hallelujah Jesus (A) (recording is in C)

I Am Free (D)


Sunday, June 14th

I Will Boast (D)

All Over the World (A) (recording is in B)

Your Name (A) (recording is in Bb)

Consuming Fire (G)

Facedown (G) (recording is in Gb)

I Give You My Heart (G)

You Never Let Go (A) (recording is in B)

Lord of All (A) (recording is in Bb)

Praise the Lord! (Psalm 146 & 147)

It's good to be back. I never intended to take nearly two months off from posting here on the blog, but, in the spirit of full disclosure, I got so busy that something had to give. That's not to say that I've not spent time in God's Word each day, but I've just not taken the time to post about my journey here on the blog. I'm confident I gain more from these writings than anyone else. Writing helps me process what I'm reading much better than when I simply read it. Anyway, that being the case, it's good to be back!

This morning I've been greatly encouraged and strengthened by Psalms 146 and 147. The Psalmist reminds us of the nature of God and the blessings that come to those who put their hope in God. (146:5)

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6 the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
the LORD, who remains faithful forever.

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,

8 the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

Psalm 146:5-9

I love reading verses seven through nine very slowly and contemplating the significance of God's heart for the oppressed, hungry, prisoners, humble, righteous, and wicked.

As I did that simple exercise, these questions began to surface in my mind: "Do I uphold the cause of the oppressed? Do I give food to the hungry? Do I care about those in prison? Do I care for foreigners, orphans, and widows?"

These were terribly convicting questions for me because I know that God desires this of me, and, I know that without God's grace and strength I am hopelessly self centered. What about you?

Today, as an act of worship, let the words of scripture stir your heart. Respond to what God is teaching you by mirroring His faithful heart!

More History in Song (3 Days in Psalm 106)

Friday, May 7th, full One Year Bible readings:
1 Samuel 2:22-4:22 ~ John 5:24-47 ~ Psalm 106:1-12 ~ Proverbs 14:30-31
Saturday, May 8th, full One Year Bible readings:
1 Samuel 5:1-7:17 ~ John 6:1-21 ~ Psalm 106:13-31 ~ Proverbs 14:32-33
Sunday, May 10th, full One Year Bible readings:
1 Samuel 8:1-9:27 ~ John 6:22-42 ~ Psalm 106:32-48 ~ Proverbs 14:34-35

Psalm 106 is another Historical Psalm that chronicles not only the provision God made for the nations of Israel, but many of the sins and failures of the people. The essence of the 48 verse Psalm is captured in the opening eight verses.

¹ Praise the LORD.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

² Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD
or fully declare his praise?

³ Blessed are they who maintain justice,
who constantly do what is right.

⁴ Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people,
come to my aid when you save them,

⁵ that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones,
that I may share in the joy of your nation
and join your inheritance in giving praise.

⁶ We have sinned, even as our fathers did;
we have done wrong and acted wickedly.

⁷ When our fathers were in Egypt,
they gave no thought to your miracles;
they did not remember your many kindnesses,
and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.

⁸ Yet he saved them for his name's sake,
to make his mighty power known.

Psalm 106:1-8

Can you feel the emphasis and weight of verse eight? "Yet He saved them for His name's sake, to make His mighty power known." I love the fact that both verse eight and verse forty five are in the same psalm. It encourages me to think that the psalmist was able to rightly understand or at least find a balance in the understanding of the purpose of God's love and mercy.

⁸ Yet he saved them for his name's sake,
to make his mighty power known.

⁴⁵ for their sake he remembered his covenant
and out of his great love he relented.

Psalm 106:8,45

Each of these verses offer a reason for God's salvation and love. Verse eight says it is for God's sake, while verse forty five says it is for our sake. I believe they are both true, but should fall in that same order: for God's sake, and for our sake.

While it is likely true that there are far smarter people who disagree on this subject, it is my understanding and conviction that God offers salvation first and foremost for the purpose of His glory! I believe His love for us is the second reason he offers us salvation.

May I never elevate myself to the centerpiece of the purpose of salvation. It would be folly for someone to think I am someone great in place of thinking God is great.

It's like transferring value incorrectly. Humanly speaking, if someone pays $10,000 dollars for something, they generally think it is worth $10,000 dollars. But, just because Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, died on the cross for me, that does not mean I was worth it. In fact, He is the only one worth anything, and my only worth is found in Him and should be offered to Him.

As you read through this amazing psalm over the next couple of days, thank and praise God for His forgiveness and mercy. He forgives us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to display His glory AND His love!

For more on the significance of the Historical Psalms read my post from last Tuesday on Psalm 105.

Daddy Day

A few years ago a friend of mine, who is also a pastor, shared with me how for years he and his children had a Daddy Day once a week on his day off. It is something the whole family looks forward to.

Since then we have designated Friday to be Daddy Day in the Price Family, and the boys love it. They talk about it all week as they tell me each night what they want to do on the next Daddy Day.

This morning we flew kites, and now we are going to eat lunch with momma.