Pastor Bryan Lowe

We Have No Control

Lord, I know that a man doesn’t control his own life.
He doesn’t direct his own steps.

Jeremiah 10:23

As we step into what matters, we find this simple verse. Simply put, we have no idea about control. We step out in ignorance, we don’t understand this concept of turning one’s life over to someone else. This grates against everything we profess to understand.

There is no control. He declares Himself to be completely and utterly in charge. At this point, we must back-off and just assume that He is in charge. There has been a determination at the highest of points. We always are available to connect with Him at these levels. We simply come and ask for all mercy that has been stated.

I don’t turn anything off. I most certainly open my heart to all that is available and retrievable. I can’t dwell on anything above and beyond this. When He comes, He generates a dynamic that works its way into our hearts.

The simple fact is that we have been brought to a definite assurance of a divine life. It is freely given. We do nothing to deserve it. We advance with this concept and idea cemented into our hearts. Nothing can be offered, it has already been done so. All we can do is to absorb the kindness that has been offered and then step tentatively forward.

My trust is in His character. He comes to me and it makes perfect sense. I start connecting the dots. And it makes me understand His goodness. His love has been extended to me, and all I can do is turn to Him, and let Him in. There is nothing but His love for me that can affect me in this way.

David’s Dream

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:

“Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

2 Samuel 7:18

When I encountered this verse it was like a giant bell ringing out. It explains so much about David and his understanding of the throne. I read into this question a confidence and awe. This piercing question reveals an enormous grasp on both gratitude and humility of this anointed king.

The way he enters God presence amazes me. The verse just plainly says that David just came in to sit with God. Again I read into this, and see him just sitting on the floor, just the two of them. It is quite a tender picture which shows us an intimacy and a casualness that isn’t quite ordinary.

This chapter reveals David’s desire to build God a house. It also is where the ‘Davidic’ covenant is first established. And when David begins to pray in verses 18 and finishes in 29, he will address God on eight occasions in these verses as, ‘O Lord God’, which is a special phrase in Hebrew. This title would not be used by just anyone. It is ‘coded’ to be used by someone intimate with YWHW.

David has been lifted up by God, of that there can be no doubt. ‘Look! A thundershower is approaching’. It comes, and rains oil on David, soaking him through and through. He has been blessed, so all can see and understand. He is now King David!

If I were a ‘playwrite’, this chapter would be ideal. There is so much here, so much of God being inserted into the heart of His king. And the humility of King David is an exceptional lesson. It gives us, more than anything a sense of propriety, decorum and honor as we come into the presence of God, our Father.

Will you bless me by ‘commenting’ on this, or any BB post. Thank you very much! I need to know if someone, anyone is reading these.

Spirit Technology

We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit.

Gal. 5:25

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.

Gal. 5:25, The Message

I have heard it said, ‘If you want drive out evil, you must let good come in.’ This recognizes a spiritual displacement. In fluid technology, or even hydraulics we first find out that a vacuum is a very rare condition. And we see that different liquids separate naturally. The lighter density will always go to the top. My dear wife loves her oil and vinegar dressing on her salad, but she has to shake it before she pours.

We have it in Paul’s counsel: “Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” If allow the Spirit leads us, we will be moved toward more and more of Christ; for He will kindle in our hearts more love for the Saviour, and we shall become more and more deeply interested in the things Jesus is doing. The Spirit is not only the source of Christian life but also the only power to sustain Christian life.

The result will be that we shall care less and less for the world. But we should say what the Bible says, ‘It’s all about Jesus, who is a Lord and King over all.’ Light will always drive out darkness. And love pushes hate away. And goodness will always sends hate packing.

Photos: Rag Picking the Net

This is admittably an eclectic and eccentric collection. I feel like a ‘rag-picker’, scrounging around to find things that are shiny, and pretty. Maybe more like a big black crow, hauling junk away to store on my hard drive. Baubles and buttons. Shiny things. A marble.

Here’s this Sunday’s collection. There is a sort of a common denominator, I started by posting sayings and quotes, but ended up with everything.