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TerryLema

Unexpressed Needs

by TerryLema

I’ve spent the last five days thinking, talking, and writing about last week’s Prayer Summit. I shared with the church on Sunday what I’ve shared in these devotions. After today, I’ll be writing about something else, putting the Prayer Summit to rest, but, there is a part of me that in all the thinking, writing and talking I’ve done that has still been unable to express what is deep inside.

Sunday night we were watching an XFL game, sort of. Bob had it on, and I was half listening to it as I rested in the big living room lounge chair. I was tired from the busy week, wanting to just curl up in my blanket and vegetate. Deep inside my spirit I was sensing something I couldn’t yet put into words. I still can’t.

Part of me wanted to cry before the LORD, part of me simply wanted to rejoice. I think I was simply overwhelmed in soul and spirit by the absolute, loving, faithfulness of God. Moses said of him in Deuteronomy 7:9: “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.”

The Psalmist wrote: “For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.” [Ps 33:4]

And Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” [1 Thess 5:24]

And while my word is not the inspired Word of God, this morning it does come from a personal experience with the Faithful God. I did not know what to expect at the Prayer Summit. The Faithful God, however, knew exactly what He would give me there … and He was faithful to my deepest needs that I had not yet even been able to voice.

Thank you, Faithful God, for your gracious, wonderful faithfulness to us. Amen & Amen.

 

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PONDERING

by TerryLema

In my 73 years I’ve attended a lot of communion services. I’ve had communion in many different settings, in churches, homes, retreats, conferences. I have never, however, experienced a communion service as I did at the Prayer Summit last Tuesday night.

At the Summit, we prayed the Scriptures. We prayed out of Psalms and through Luke 15 and through passages about the glory and worthiness of God and the expectation that “comes in the morning.”

Tuesday night just before communion we prayed Matthew 26:1 through Matthew 27:60, 135 verses. We read them, taking turns, and then expressed in prayer what that Scripture brought to our hearts. When we finished, we shared communion.

I must admit I wept through most of Matthew 26 and 27 and as I heard the prayers of others. There were times when the descriptions of what Jesus endured for us took my breath away. I wanted to run and hide in a corner and just weep and weep.

When it came time to share the elements of bread and fruit of the vine, I found a new depth of meaning in the sacrament. It’s something I still can’t put into words, and I’m not going to try to do so. I’d just ruin it. Instead I am going to be like Mary and ponder this in my heart.

“The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”

[1 Cor 11:23-26 NKJV]

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Three Tabernacles

by TerryLema

I must admit that I have often thought Peter was a dork when he was on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, James and John. Moses and Elijah showed up to converse with Jesus and when they were departing, Peter jumped in, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” — because he did not know what to say.” [Mark 9:5-6 NKJV]

What was Peter thinking? –that the three of them could just stay on the mountain with Jesus for the rest of their lives?

When I woke up Thursday morning, I knew exactly what Peter was thinking. I wanted to be back up on the mountain with Jesus. The presence of our LORD was so vivid while there, so amazing, I wanted to build three tabernacles, booths, tents, anything to remain there with Him.

But just as Jesus, Peter, James and John had to come down off that mountain top to face what Jesus called a “faithless and perverse generation,” so we had to leave the mountain experience and come down in the valley to face the lost and wounded. [v41]

Mountaintop experiences are meant as preparation for service among those needing salvation. We aren’t meant to live there away from everything, but to allow the experience of the magnificent LORD to live in us even amid our own faithless and perverse generation.

Peter discovered the truth of that and shared it in his second letter … “we were eyewitnesses of his majesty … when we were with Him on that sacred mountain.” [1:16,18 NIV]

I caught a glimpse of His majesty at the prayer Summit. I’m back in the valley again … but I’d rather be on the mountain.

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THE CHURCH’S FUTURE

by TerryLema

It is going to take me a long time to process everything from last week’s Prayer Summit, but I walked away with one thing immediately. If the young people I met there are any indication of the kind of leaders God is raising up, the Church is in good hands. I’m not worried about her future.

The Summit included men and two women, young and old and some in between. I was blessed by the young people. I saw burning hearts for Christ’s bride in each one. They wept and prayed and worshipped and praised. They called out for the harvest of lost souls and for unity. I heard their hearts in each prayer they uttered. It gave me great hope.

When it comes time for me to turn The Way over to the next generation, I know two things. God will bring us a wonderful young man or woman to follow His lead, one who will pick up my own heart’s desire for a church built on the grace of God.

I also know where I will attend church when that happens. God has given me a special love for one young minister, and I would relish sitting under his ministry for the rest of my days.

Maybe I know one other thing. That is that I must be praying more for the future of the church and those young men and women who now fill and will fill the servant-leadership roles.

I am reminded of what Paul said to Timothy: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men [and women] who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” [2 Tim 2:1-3 NIV]

God is calling us older believers to be praying mightily for these “sons and daughters” that He is raising up.

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GREATER HEIGHTS

by TerryLema

I returned Wednesday from a Pastor’s Prayer Summit. All I can say is “Wow!” and that it will probably take me weeks (months?) to process everything I experienced, heard, felt and received while there. I have never spent three days praying mainly from the Scriptures. It was a new experience. I wondered before I went if I could pray for three days in a row, but when it was over I wished it had been four, or five or six days in a row. I am barely back and already looking forward to next year.

I had so many things running through my mind and heart when I returned on Wednesday. I already missed the beautiful peace and silence of that mountain location back off the highway. I missed being in the mountains rather than just seeing them from a distance as I do here in the Treasure Valley.

Wednesday before we left, I just stood at the great windows in the conference center and looked out, soaking in as much as I could of God’s magnificent scenes before me.

Boise is almost 3000-foot elevation. I always feel as if I am in the mountains here. At the Prayer Summit I was in the mountains I can see from Boise – with even higher mountains before me.

I thought before the Prayer Summit that I had a good prayer life – that I prayed well and often. After these three days at the Summit, I realized that my prayer life is far short of what it should be. I went much higher than I dreamed I could and realized that there is still more.

I had a “Boise” prayer life, experienced a “mountain” one – and now desiring those even greater heights awaiting.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” [Colossians 4:2]

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I CAN DO ALL THINGS

by TerryLema

A most amazing thing happened at the Prayer Summit. I wasn’t aware of it until I got home Wednesday evening. I felt good … not just “ok” … I felt good for three days in a row.

I had a bit of stiffness when I sat too long, and at times resembled one of the old Weeble dolls, but I had no aches, very little pain in my neck, and wonder of wonders, no fatigue. I walked up and down the stairs multiple times, I was up early and stayed up late for me. I didn’t have a need to nap. I’ve not had three days in a row like that since last July. It had to be a God-thing because it’s not been that way since I returned.

I must admit that last Sunday I was anxious about how I would hold up during those three days of the Summit and traveling back and forth. I anticipated and expressed my anxiety over how I would do, so much so that the church prayed for me last Sunday. And God heard.

And God answered. Except for a few digestive issues (which were my own fault because I ate things I shouldn’t have), I had no health issues.

How often I’ve read and quoted Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” [NKJV]

I’ve believed that and experienced the strength of God many times in the past. Those three days in the mountains at the Summit, however, were a new and greater experience of that verse. God overcame my “still-to-be-diagnosed” PMR and gave me strength so that I could approach His throne in grace and mercy in prayer.

What a wonderful LORD we serve, bless His Holy Name. Amen.

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Walking With the Master

by TerryLema

On my worship walk I often meet other people, some are getting exercise and fresh air like I am, some are walking their dogs. There are three dogwalkers I regularly greet. One young woman has a puppy on a leash. She’s usually coaxing him out of yards, away from bushes, or pulling him along behind her. He’s adorable but all over the place as they walk.

I also meet a middle-aged man who has two large, strong dogs on leashes. They have the leashes pulled taunt and are pulling him along behind them. They are eager to run, although he seems less so.

A third person is an older man walking what appears to be an older dog. The dog is on a leash, but he doesn’t need to be. He walks gently beside his owner. They seem content to be walking together and as they pass by, it’s evident the dog is happy as his tail wags gently with each step.

When I think about the dogwalkers and their dogs I see how we often are in our “walk” with the LORD. Sometimes we are like that puppy, all over the place. God must gently coax us along, sometimes pulling us away from danger. We get distracted easily by the things of life.

Other times we are running ahead, trying to drag God along with us. We haven’t stopped to ask where He wants us to go, or how fast He wants us to go. We just run and expect Him to catch up. He’s constantly reining us in so that we stay with Him.

And then there are the times we are like that old dog. Our greatest joy is simply to walk beside our Master. We don’t need the leash to pull us along or rein us in. We are walking step by step beside Him and loving every moment with Him.

Oh, to be like that old dog.

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Jesus Stopped

by TerryLema

Mark 10 contains the story of blind Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus was sitting by the Jericho road begging when he heard a commotion—the sound of many people going by. He must have asked someone what was happening and was told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. I’m sure Bartimaeus knew of Jesus and all the miracles He had been performing as He traveled the countryside, and in his desperation he begins to cry out to Him, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” [v47 NKJV]

Those around Bartimaeus told him to be quiet, but the more they tried to shush him, the more desperate and loud his cry becomes—until it reaches the ears of Jesus. Then the most marvelous thing happens, “Jesus stood still.” [v49]

Jesus stopped. He stopped. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. The triumphal entry into the city was just ahead of Him, and the shadow of the cross was looming. He was about to finish the work of the Father that was the very meaning of His life, but one blind man with a need, sitting on the side of the road stopped Him in His tracks.

Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted; Bartimaeus told Jesus he wanted to see. Then Jesus healed him. “Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’ And immediate he received his sight ….” [v52a]

Now I don’t know if Bartimaeus was blind from birth or lost his sight later in life. I do know that the first thing he sees now is the face of the Savior and his response is to follow Jesus on the road. [v52b]

Part of me wonders if Bartimaeus saw the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, and if he stayed in Jerusalem to see the crucifixion. Was he part of the 500 who saw Jesus following the Resurrection, or part of the group on the mountain watching Him ascend? I don’t know, but I’m hoping he was.

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Open Doors

by TerryLema

(February 24-26 Offline)

I am going to a Pastors Prayer Summit tomorrow for three days. I will be offline while there and return to publishing devotions on the 27th. I am excited about the opportunity to spend three days praying with pastors from the Treasure Valley. There is much to pray about in our generation.

I wanted to attend this summit last year but was unable to do so. They didn’t have accommodations for women pastors, but that changed this year and I am pleased to be going.

Last year I decided that since I could not attend the actual prayer summit, I would simply have my own. The church provided the resources for me to go on a personal retreat for four days. There I wrestled a bit with God, seeking to hear His voice and word for me. Before that personal retreat was over, I was given the Scripture from Revelation 3:7-13.

The Lord reminded me then that I had “a little strength,” and that in spite of that little strength He had “set before [me] an open door, and no one can shut it.” [v8 NKJV]

As I look back on that word from last year, I must admit to chuckling at bit now knowing that I have even less strength this year that last. And I also soberly realize that no one can shut a door that God opens, however, that doesn’t guarantee that I’ll walk through it. I can turn aside, quit, go back, or simply ignore the open door.

God gives us opportunities. He opens doors for us that would remain shut without His command, but He never forces us to move through them. Our desire to do His will is what motivates us to walk through any open door. What blessings we would miss, however, if we failed to obey His will.

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Answer Before Problem

by TerryLema

The one thing you learn early on if you preach or teach the Good News is that most of the time (all the time?) you are preaching to yourself more than to others. The second thing I learned is that no matter how old you get you never stop learning. On Monday I wrote four devotions out of Luke 7 to be sent out on consecutive days. Tuesday turned out to be a frustrating difficult day.

I visited my primary physician who was just as frustrated as I am with the inability to diagnose what ails me. My fatigue level that day was high and accompanied by aches and pains. I looked ahead to this upcoming week and wondered how I would survive it the way I felt then. Tomorrow is Church and our Annual Business Meeting following service. Monday through Wednesday I’ll be in Cascade for a Prayer Summit. Home on Thursday to study and develop Sunday’s message. Friday and Saturday are the first of our Acts2Journey retreats. Sunday is church again and then Monday I get an epidural cortisone shot in my neck.

I’ll be honest, Tuesday night I cried before the LORD and told God I wasn’t sure I had enough strength to continue. Then on the way home from prayer that night I remember a devotion I just wrote the day before out of Luke 7 – the one where Jesus responded to his cousin John the Baptist (published on the 20th). I heard the LORD say … stay the course. It may be difficult now, but there are abundant blessings for the ones who remain faithful.

We have been praying for a mighty sweep of the Holy Spirit in our church, community, state, nation and world. I sense the Spirit saying it is just around the corner. I am not to quit just before the harvest begins.

Ah, amazing how God so often gives the answer before we can even articulate the problem!

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