DAY 276--OUR ORDINARY LIVES
2008-11-20

I'll start by posting the prayer for President-elect Obama and company. This one is actually yesterday's prayer, but I think it's a very important one. These can be found at the Presidential Prayer Team site.

For the complete safety and security of the President- and Vice President-Elect and their families
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior�from violent men You save me.
�II Samuel 22:1-3

O God of peace and security, thank You for being strong and safe and secure. I praise You for being a solid and firm place to which we can go for protection and safety. Thank You for looking on all You have made with compassion and kindness; thank You for keeping Your loving eye on all You have made.

Today, as I pray for the new President and Vice President, I ask You to powerfully protect them. Send Your heavenly warriors to drive away anything or anyone who would do them harm. I ask You to protect their families in the same way, that no harm will be done to their spouses, children, grandchildren or parents. Cover them with Your complete protection moment by moment and day by day. In Jesus� name, amen.



Psalm for Today: Psalm 119:105-112

Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules. Verse 108



Day 276 in The Message//Remix:Solo

2 Corinthians 4:5-13

Wow. Having read this passage, I really feel the need to quote it in its entirety.

Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us�trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us�he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!

We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!

What a beautiful passage of Scripture this is! And so encouraging. By the way, I'm pretty sure this is where the popular group "Jars of Clay" got their name, because in the traditional translations, "unadorned clay pots" is rendered "jars of clay." I have always loved that description of the life of Christ carried in our imperfect containers.

There's not a whole lot I can add to this version of Paul's writing, here. We are, indeed, surrounded and battered by troubles, but we need not be demoralized. In fact, I also read John 16:33 today, in which Jesus told his disciples, "I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world." That goes hand-in-hand with today's passage.

No matter what troubles we exeperience (and I'm firmly convinced that this includes troubles that we bring about ourselves), God is in control and Jesus has conquered it. "We're not sure what to do," Paul says, "but we know that God knows what to do." YES! God knows. So we don't have to worry about it. "We've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side." I am moved nearly to tears by this passage today. Please make note of the following declaration:

GOD HASN'T LEFT OUR SIDE!

Read that again. Take inventory of all your troubles right now. Are you beaten down by your own sin? Are you being persecuted by situations and people beyond your control? God hasn't left your side!

Have you lost something/someone dear to you? Are you struggling in a relationship? God hasn't left your side. God knows what to do.

There is a veritable plethora (heh) of troubles and circumstances that any of us could be facing at any given moment. Depression is rampant in this world right now, even among the body of Christ, and it ought not be so. Why? Again...God has not left your side!

And he never will. Never. He promised. If you are a believer in Christ, there is nothing that you can ever do to make him leave your side.



Holy, awesome God!! This passage today has touched me beyond description. The feelings that I have been feeling in the last few days just fit right into what is being described by Paul in this passage. I give you praise for your care and control in my life. I give you thanks for the fact that you have never left my side and never will. I praise you that, no matter what I'm going through, you know what to do. I refuse to be demoralized, even by my own weakness in times of temptation. You have overcome the world, Jesus! You have overcome whatever trials and temptations I could ever face.

Now, dear Father, let your light shine through in this "unadorned clay pot."



If you remember nothing else today, remember this:

God hasn't left your side!

Grace and peace, friends!



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