Tuesday 9/23/14

Tuesday’s Recap summarizes the previous evening’s Pizza and Prayer. If you couldn’t join us last night, or if for some strange reason you can’t remember what happened (amnesia?), here’s what you missed:

Rely not on your wealth; say not: “I have the power.” Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart. Say not: “Who can prevail against me?” for the Lord will exact the punishment. Say not: I have sinned, yet what has befallen me?”

Sirach 5:1-4

Sometimes we think we know all the answers. We begin to think, “I’ve been around a while. I know what I’m doing. I don’t need anyone else’s help.” In our culture it seems to be particularly common, even celebrated. Our history was forged by “rugged individualists” and we pride ourselves on being self-sufficient. It is good to be capable. It is good to learn, practice, and perfect the skills which you need to be productive in life, but no man is an island.

When we get into the frame of mind that we know everything, we begin to close ourselves off. We close ourselves off from opportunities to learn, from opportunities to grow, from opportunities to experience new and exciting things, opportunities to serve others, and opportunities to be served by others.

Being served by others is often awkward and uncomfortable. Most people do not like asking for help. It takes great strength to accept service gracefully. When we serve someone else, we play the role of Christ in their life. Sometimes, we need to give others the opportunity to play the role of Christ. Sometimes, we need to admit that we cannot do it on our own, and that we need help; Christ’s help.

A few years ago, the unofficial theme of our Fall Retreat was Philippians 4:13. It reads: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Often our society wants to cut that verse off. We want to put a period in the middle and make it, “I can do all things.” We want to give ourselves the responsibility and the credit, but we can’t. The truth is, without Christ, we cannot do all things. Without Christ and His gifts, we are doomed to come up short. Sure, you might get lucky every now and then, but even that luck was a gift from God.

Philippians 4:13 is such a beautiful verse precisely because it puts the proper perspective on our abilities. Yes, we can do all things, with Christ. If we want to succeed, if we want to make progress, if we want to be certain that our efforts are not in vain, we must make sure we begin by asking God for help. As we go through our week, let us remember to start each day by asking God for what we need.


I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day!
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,
And heavier came each task.
"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.
He answered, "You didn't ask!"

I tried to come into God's presence;
I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
"Why, child, you didn't knock!"

I wanted to see joy and beauty,
But the day toiled on, gray and bleak.
I wondered why God didn't show me.
He said, "But you didn't seek."

I woke up early this morning,
And paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray!

By Grace L. Naessens


Last night's playlist:
Strong Enough – Matthew West
Give Me Jesus – Jeremy Camp
Lord I Need You – Matt Maher
You Never Let Go – Matt Redman
Empty Me – Jeremy Camp
Lay It Down – Matt Maher
Cry Out To Jesus – Third Day
Enough – Chris Tomlin
My Desire – Jeremy Camp
Come to the Water – Matt Maher