Build This House

'Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain,
Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the watchmen stays awake in vain'

Psalm 127:1-2

I read this Psalm recently, and realised that I've been learning the meaning of it more and more in the last few years. And, I think, I could probably say that's one of my biggest prayers for the next year-nicely defined in the chorus of the song 'Build this House' by Lou and Nathan Fellingham:

All I have and all I am is Yours

There’s nothing that I have on earth that doesn’t come from You

I lay aside my pride and worldly worth

To serve You is the greatest thing that I could ever do.

For unless You build this house

I am building it in vain

Unless the work is Yours

There is nothing to be gained

I want something that will stand

When Your Holy fire comes

Something that will last

And to hear You say “Well done”

Giving Glory to You Lord

Glory to You Lord

So easy to desire what others have

Instead of seeing all the gifts that You have given me

So help me fan the flame which You began

And burn in me a love for You that all will clearly see

Lou Fellingham, Nathan Fellingham & busbee

Copyright © 2005

Astounded!

This is really a testimony to our Saviour's grace. I have seen more answered prayers this week than I have done in the last month! The thing I've realised though, is that does not signify God has changed in any way, because He does not ever change (Malachi 3:6). It's not that God has got more faithful in the last week, or suddenly decided to answer my prayers. I know all too well that the reason is in fact that I am praying more. It's amazing how God responds to commitment, and even sacrifice on our part, and overwhelmingly.

This morning I was reading in 1 Kings about Soloman's dedication of the Temple, and He prayed an incredible prayer (see 1 Kings 8:22-61) and one of the things that really struck me about His prayer is that He asked God for something, and then asked God to hear his prayer, for example:

'when they sin against you - for there is no-one who does not sin - and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say 'we have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly' and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you towards the land you gave their fathers, towards the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause' 1 Kings 8:46-49

Soloman here describes a very specific situation (one of many if you look at the whole passage) and then goes into great detail about the 'ifs' of the situation, and then goes on to ask God to hear their prayer. The Bible describes a passionate Father who loves to satisfy His children, who longs to answer our prayers. Piper uses the illustration of prayer as God's favourite food, and the satisfaction of his hunger is in answering our prayers.

'He has no deficiency in himself that he needs to fill up, so he gets his satisfaction by magnifying the glory of his riches by filling up the deficiencies of people who pray... so if we want to feed him with the only kind of joy he is capable of, we hold up the empty cup of prayer and let him show the riches of his glory by filling it. Thus the intensity of God's delight in his glory is the measure of his pleasure in the prayers of his people' John Piper, The Pleasures of God

I like to think of prayer with the example of two close friends. It's easy to see sometimes if a friend is struggling, but one of the most frustrating things is when you have no permission to help them, because they themselves haven't shared the problem with you. I think it's sometimes a lot like that with Jesus. He knows my weakness, He knows my struggles, and He knows my needs. Of course, He often provides for me without me asking, by His grace. Though, I often wonder how much more He could have done if I had asked for His help. Our God is a jealous god, in that He desires to have us with hearts undivided. He doesn't want my half-hearted part time affection. He wants my heart, wounds, fears, hopes and dreams. As we choose to seek His face, and to share our lives with Him, to spend time in His presence, to speak with Him of our struggles and our failings, He will be faithful. He will hear our fumbling prayers, and He will answer.

'If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray... I will hear from heaven' 2 Chronicles 7:14

It may not be that we expect or like the answer He gives. Our God is Sovereign, His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Yet, He is good. He is faithful to us, faithful to His promises. Even in our faithlessness, He will be faithful.

Children of the Cross

God is raising up an army, made of those who are still young,
God is lifting up their voices, through the weak He'll shame the strong
It's been prophesied they will prophesy,
God's salvation they will show,
For the promise is to the children,
To our daughters and sons

Jim Bailey

Inspiring

'It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly... who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of the high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known victory nor defeat.'

Teddy Roosevelt

Who's who?

I've just got back from a couple of weeks in the stunning Pays Basque, in the South of France. I always find that being away from everything for a time is very good for clearing the head, and bringing clarity to the heart. As a bit of an experiment I decided to leave my mobile phone at home in England, switched off and in a drawer... I've become more and more aware of my dependance upon it and decided to do something about it! I actually didn't miss it that much to begin with, but then, as I had more and more time to think, I began to think of things that needed to be done, people that needed to be contacted, things that needed booking etc... and that was where I learnt something new about myself. When I was little I used to dream about the future when I would be able to trust God with things because my parents would no longer sort everything out. Now, I suddenly realised, I'm in that time... except I missed the part where it started. My parents no longer sort everything out, but that is because I'm capable enough to do it myself. It dawned upon me that all the things that were in my head, and felt like they needed immediate attention just went round and round my head... and I found I was worrying about them!

At the same time my thoughts turned to my attitude to God's word and His character. I realised that in saying that I read His word to get to know HIM better, in fact, I do it to get to know me. Or at least I read it in a very egotisitc sense, to see what it means for me now, and very often merely to see what I can get from it. Nothing wrong with either of these, except when this is the first thing that comes to mind, or when it is the reason for what I do.

The combination of these thoughts brought me to a sudden realisation of the distortion of God's picture that I am looking at. As once said 'I want to want to love Him', and in the same way, I want to want Him. I realised a bit of how much I need a complete body and soul transplant to allow me to think rightly. Before I can realise my littleness, I need to realise God's greatness. His sovereignty. I need to recognise Him as He is, and then I might begin to see who I am. But that is not really necessary. In fact, all I need to know is who He is, and then I think who I am just won't matter as much any more. Reminds me of something from a few years ago...

I Am

I am the star that pierces through the night sky,
I am the wind that whispers in the trees,
I am the sun that warms your back in Winter,
I am the hope, breaking darkness into light.

I am the poppy dancing in the cornfield,
I am the violet, flash of purple in the shade,
I am the lily floating sleepy on the millpond,
I am the hand that lifts you when you fall.

I am the peak standing proud beyond the foothills,
I am the valley lying humble down below,
I am the desert, dry and arid like a wasteland,
I am the strength that goes beyond your strife.

I am the surging tide, crashing on the shingle,
I am the still waters, at peace in the lagoon,
I am the joyful stream rippling down the mountain,
I am your comforter in every trial you face.

I am the shadow that follows you in silence,
I am the footprints left imprinted in the sand,
I am the bitter tears wept in your hour of sorrow,
I am the laughter, bubbling, pealing from within.

I am the mighty warrior,
I am the Prince of Peace,
I am the rose of Sharon,
Your always faithful friend,

I am your loving father,
Humble saviour,
Sovereign Lord,

Who am I...?
I AM.

C. S. Burroughs
17/06/03

I need a Moses experience, too easily I trust in my strength or fear in my weakness, I need to know that He was, and is and is to come. He is called I AM.