For the past months I have been attending an evening service held at Calvary. The people who worship then are called the Evensong Worship Community and we are led in worship by Dave Burkum, the Director of Ministry & Development at Christian Student Fellowship, a college ministry. Many of the songs we sing are written by him and a few of them have been running through my mind lately. As it turns out, most of them are taken right from scripture.

This is the Testimony
(1John 5:11-12)

This is the testimony
God has given us eternal life. (x2)
And this life is in His Son;
He who has the Son has life.
And this life is in His Son;
He who does not have the
Son of God does not have life
This is the testimony.

Until Now
(John 16:24)

Until now . . .
You have not asked for anything in My Name (x2)

Ask . . .
And you will receive
And your joy
Your joy will be complete
Ask . . .
And you will receive
And your joy
Your joy will be complete

Your Word
(Psalm 119:9-11)

Part 1:
How can a young man keep his way pure
By living, by living according to Your Word. (x2)

Part 2:
I seek You Lord, with all my heart
Don’t let me stray from your commands (x2)

Part 3:
I have hidden Your Word,
Hidden Your Word in my heart
That I might not sin against you. (x2)

Closing Tag:
How can a young man keep his way pure?

Putting First the Things That Last
(Matthew 6: 19, 21; Luke 12:32-33)

I’m putting first the things that last (x4)

Do not store up treasures on earth
Where rust and moth destroy
Instead make purses that will never wear out
For where your treasure is
Your heart will also be.

I’m putting first the things that last (x4)
Don’t be afraid, the Father is pleased
To give you His Kingdom
Sell your possessions and give to the poor
For where your treasure is
Your heart will also be.

I’m putting first the things that last (x4)

If your wondering what these songs actually sound like, Dave has posted chords here as well as links to where you can listen to his songs purchase his CD’s. He’s a very godly man, so your money would be going to a good cause.

Sharing My Life (2/19/07): The Little Things

As I have taken a step back from advancing my career so aggressively this month, God has been bringing to light a number of areas that got lost again in all of my big move to get placed in ministry. Little things like making sure I have enough money to pay all my bills and not going into debt, honoring God in my friendships and relationships and being a good worker, just to name a few. It is not that I am in danger of going bankrupt, losing friends or getting fired. Yet I have noticed that I am spending beyond my means, not spending enough quality time with friends and just barely doing the minimum in some of my job responsibilities.

However, noticing something and doing something about are two different things, so this afternoon I sat down with a financial consultant, referred to me by Calvary, and worked out a budget to help me get my spending habits under control and work away at my debt. I have also met with both my supervisors to get more of a handle on my job responsibilities. As for my friends, I am trying to take that one friendship at a time.

Throughout it all, I can hear God saying, “Mike, make it your ambition to lead a quiet life in these days. Honor me in the little things, and when the time comes, you will be ready to handle the greater things I will give to you” (1Thessalonians 4:11-12, Matthew 25: 14-30).

Life Update (2/19/07): Ministry Glimpse

This month I thought I would take some time to introduce you to one of the people I have been ministering to at St. John’s over the past months. For privacy’s sake, I will call her Amy. I first met Amy about three or four months ago when she first came into the hospital. She was suffering from a skin infection that had caused massive rash and blister outbreaks all over her body. As a result, she was put into one of our isolation rooms and I had to put on a gown, mask and gloves every time I visited with her. As we talked that first time I could see that her skin condition was not only isolating her from the physical touch of staff people, but from family visits as well. She was a single mom and her daughter was now being cared for by her parents and none of them wanted to visit with her here. I do not remember much about that first visit, but I do remember reminding her that though her friends and family may be staying away from her, God was near her and God loved her. I reminded her that God knew her even better than they did, even better than she knew herself. God knew her inside and out, God knew her good side and bad side. God knew it all and loved her still.

Then a month or so later, she came again. Her infection had returned and was worse still. Every time I went to visit her she was either resting or being cared for by staff. Still, I felt compelled to share with her some scripture. I knew from our last visit together that she was Catholic; so sharing scripture would be acceptable. The scripture I chose was the same one I shared with you a couple months ago, the one in 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 where Paul speaks of us as jars of clay. I included it in a note where I encouraged her that though she was going through a painful process, God was with her through it and was molding and shaping her, in the midst of it, into the woman God created her to be. When I visited her to drop it off, I found her asleep, so I simply put it on her bedside table and trusted God would do the rest.

And that God did. This past weekend, I found that she was in the hospital once again and made time to visit with her. She mentioned that she had read and been touched by my note. She also expressed how her family was still staying away from her and as she was speaking I kept on being reminded of the woman with the continual menstrual flow in chapter 5 of Mark’s Gospel. So, I shared that scripture her as well. We closed our time together again in prayer and she asked if her daughter could meet me. I replied that if she came with Amy the next time she checked in here, I would be happy to meet her.

Throughout the whole care relationship, I have sensed that Amy is seeking God. In the same way, I know God is seeking her, for that was God’s promise in chapter 7 of Matthew’s Gospel. As she draws close to God, so God will draw close to her. God will work in her heart and make God’s love manifest in her life as she draws close to God and allows God to do so. So it is with each of us as well.