(BE) love
So I got a text message from a new pastor friend that came to visit as he has been contemplating being a part of the movement God has been doing through LakePointe. It was interesting that he related Psalms 126 to what God is doing at LakePointe and worship that he experienced. As I read it there were so many things that popped out that I couldn’t help but share:
This Psalm was written and likely refers to the return of the Jews from captivity and slavery from Babylon returning to Jerusalem c.a. 538B.C. can you imagine the feeling of being taken to a foreign land for almost 70 years and finally you get to return to your home? It’s must have been surreal--like a dream that you have been dreaming for so long when it becomes reality you still feel as though it’s a dream. (maybe the same way Peter felt being rescued & released from prison in the middle of the night by an angel of the Lord-Acts 12:9) This reminds me of what we have been seeing at LakePointe where there have been many who were once captives some not knowing others fully conscious and finally they find the freedom they have been dreaming about in Jesus Christ. Some have been willing held captive others unknowingly ignorant of the truth either way the chains and slavery of sin are finally broken as they realize the love of God. The understanding that they have been in the desert and are finally in an oasis immersed in grace received through Jesus death and resurrection. “The Lord has done great things for them, the Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (vs. 2 refer to Luke 1:49 as Mary says the same words realizing that she carry’s the Savior of the world in her womb just before the first Christmas) Those that once lived barren lives are now rich with rivers of grace and hope flowing. They now have reason for life and are returning home some for the very first time.
I love the prayer in verse 4 “Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the streams in the Negev.” What we have to understand is that Negev is a desert-like area that is extremely dry but there is a times a rainy season that causes pools of water and rivers that stream. This is the mercy and grace the “fortunes” that God gives to us, not worldly fortune that will have no eternal benefit but a treasure that cannot be lost, stolen, it will not tarnish or fade but will stand the test of eternity for all who believe in Jesus. The miracle of what our Father does for us is this--He brings in the rains of mercy which were poured our for us in Jesus on Good Friday and we reap the joy of our fortune found on the empty tomb Easter morning. I love the visual of a once arid desert now covered with lush vegetation and flowers as a metaphor for all who live a new life of faith in Jesus.
So out of joy we become sowers. Ones who scatter seed if you will. We as good farmers scatter seed into every nook and cranny that we cross in our life. “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy, he who goes out weeping , carrying seed to so will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” (vs.5&6)
When I hear the tears and weeping I visualize someone that cares so much about people who don’t know the love of Christ that they weep over those whom they plant the seed. They are on their mind, they care for them, pray for them, they want so badly for them to understand the unconditional love of the Father (that they have received) that it causes tears to form in their eyes and they hurt inside for them.(see Matthew 5:4) They remember what it was like to be captives, they remember what it was like to be a desert, and now they have been restored and brought home they have become lush fields because of the mercy rains that they want the same for all they come in contact with.
I was privileged to have a conversation with the lady who worked at the gas station this morning as I filled up (not excited about Christmas prices of gas $1.79 ☺). She was stressed out because the coffee pot was overflowing and seemed to be having a tough morning. I wanted to encourage her so I as I asked how she was doing and listened to her she took my money and at the end of the conversation I gave her an invite for our Christmas services and said we would love to have her and her family come and visit. She lit up and smiled, she said, “I have heard about LakePointe and have been wanting to come and visit, what time do services start?” This is where I am struck. It was easy to care about this lady when I took time to listen. It would have been easy to pay at the pump (often times I do because I’m “too busy” to go in and have a conversation), it would have been easy to ignore the rough day this gas attendant was having and reduce her to that, “gas attendant” who just needs to suck it up and take my money so I can get on with my day. But this was and is a child of the Living God. This is a child that He loves, and somehow I want to feel the same way that He feels about her. This is the journey we have been on, to live sold-out for Christ and asking Him to rain into our life and as we live in the lush valley of grace we sow seeds of hope, joy, and love into all we come in contact with. I’ll admit I didn’t cry or weep as I sowed a simple seed but I am thinking about her even right now, and her family, wondering what is going on. Why they have not been going to church? Why she has wanted to come? Is she living in a desert looking for water? I will pray for her and will “coincidently” stop in soon to fill up with gas and God willing have another conversation with her or another that is working there.
I love the way Psalm 126 ends. There is a promise there for all who sow. That there will be a harvest. That there will be fruit from the efforts. See the one who sows returns with sheaves with him. He brings back joy, so much joy that it causes him to shout. We understand that we don’t get to decide what seeds take root and which fall on unfertile ground any more than the farmer in Spring. What we do know is that as we sow seeds there will be a harvest. There will be those that will leave the desert, that will be brought out of captivity, that will come home. We trust in the promise of our Father and continue to do what He has called us to do be love to those who don’t know, show love in such a way that it inspires questions of “why” and scatter seed wherever we go in the name of Jesus.
This Psalm was written and likely refers to the return of the Jews from captivity and slavery from Babylon returning to Jerusalem c.a. 538B.C. can you imagine the feeling of being taken to a foreign land for almost 70 years and finally you get to return to your home? It’s must have been surreal--like a dream that you have been dreaming for so long when it becomes reality you still feel as though it’s a dream. (maybe the same way Peter felt being rescued & released from prison in the middle of the night by an angel of the Lord-Acts 12:9) This reminds me of what we have been seeing at LakePointe where there have been many who were once captives some not knowing others fully conscious and finally they find the freedom they have been dreaming about in Jesus Christ. Some have been willing held captive others unknowingly ignorant of the truth either way the chains and slavery of sin are finally broken as they realize the love of God. The understanding that they have been in the desert and are finally in an oasis immersed in grace received through Jesus death and resurrection. “The Lord has done great things for them, the Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (vs. 2 refer to Luke 1:49 as Mary says the same words realizing that she carry’s the Savior of the world in her womb just before the first Christmas) Those that once lived barren lives are now rich with rivers of grace and hope flowing. They now have reason for life and are returning home some for the very first time.
I love the prayer in verse 4 “Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the streams in the Negev.” What we have to understand is that Negev is a desert-like area that is extremely dry but there is a times a rainy season that causes pools of water and rivers that stream. This is the mercy and grace the “fortunes” that God gives to us, not worldly fortune that will have no eternal benefit but a treasure that cannot be lost, stolen, it will not tarnish or fade but will stand the test of eternity for all who believe in Jesus. The miracle of what our Father does for us is this--He brings in the rains of mercy which were poured our for us in Jesus on Good Friday and we reap the joy of our fortune found on the empty tomb Easter morning. I love the visual of a once arid desert now covered with lush vegetation and flowers as a metaphor for all who live a new life of faith in Jesus.
So out of joy we become sowers. Ones who scatter seed if you will. We as good farmers scatter seed into every nook and cranny that we cross in our life. “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy, he who goes out weeping , carrying seed to so will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” (vs.5&6)
When I hear the tears and weeping I visualize someone that cares so much about people who don’t know the love of Christ that they weep over those whom they plant the seed. They are on their mind, they care for them, pray for them, they want so badly for them to understand the unconditional love of the Father (that they have received) that it causes tears to form in their eyes and they hurt inside for them.(see Matthew 5:4) They remember what it was like to be captives, they remember what it was like to be a desert, and now they have been restored and brought home they have become lush fields because of the mercy rains that they want the same for all they come in contact with.
I was privileged to have a conversation with the lady who worked at the gas station this morning as I filled up (not excited about Christmas prices of gas $1.79 ☺). She was stressed out because the coffee pot was overflowing and seemed to be having a tough morning. I wanted to encourage her so I as I asked how she was doing and listened to her she took my money and at the end of the conversation I gave her an invite for our Christmas services and said we would love to have her and her family come and visit. She lit up and smiled, she said, “I have heard about LakePointe and have been wanting to come and visit, what time do services start?” This is where I am struck. It was easy to care about this lady when I took time to listen. It would have been easy to pay at the pump (often times I do because I’m “too busy” to go in and have a conversation), it would have been easy to ignore the rough day this gas attendant was having and reduce her to that, “gas attendant” who just needs to suck it up and take my money so I can get on with my day. But this was and is a child of the Living God. This is a child that He loves, and somehow I want to feel the same way that He feels about her. This is the journey we have been on, to live sold-out for Christ and asking Him to rain into our life and as we live in the lush valley of grace we sow seeds of hope, joy, and love into all we come in contact with. I’ll admit I didn’t cry or weep as I sowed a simple seed but I am thinking about her even right now, and her family, wondering what is going on. Why they have not been going to church? Why she has wanted to come? Is she living in a desert looking for water? I will pray for her and will “coincidently” stop in soon to fill up with gas and God willing have another conversation with her or another that is working there.
I love the way Psalm 126 ends. There is a promise there for all who sow. That there will be a harvest. That there will be fruit from the efforts. See the one who sows returns with sheaves with him. He brings back joy, so much joy that it causes him to shout. We understand that we don’t get to decide what seeds take root and which fall on unfertile ground any more than the farmer in Spring. What we do know is that as we sow seeds there will be a harvest. There will be those that will leave the desert, that will be brought out of captivity, that will come home. We trust in the promise of our Father and continue to do what He has called us to do be love to those who don’t know, show love in such a way that it inspires questions of “why” and scatter seed wherever we go in the name of Jesus.
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