To Do List

Well, its taken me a couple of extra days to post this week's choice. Mostly because I was looking for the right message. I finally selected "God Of This City" from Chris Tomlin's latest CD called Hello Love. The song was originally written and recorded by the Irish Christian Group - Bluetree. I really wanted an upbeat song this week - probably because its what I needed.

Greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done. There's hope and assurance that our situations will get better, followed with a call for involvement. For me, a great combination for positive energy. The future looks promising and God is counting on ME (and you, too) to carry out His plan.

The song assures us that God is hope, light and peace; strength, love and joy. With His support we can overcome our fears and weaknesses to do the good that lies within us and ahead of us. My "To Do" list includes some great things that I don't even know about. But, I will move forward in confidence that I can do whatever He calls me to.

The Power of Prayer

This week's song isn't very contemporary, in fact it's pretty old fashioned, even frumpy. Sorry, but its the one I've felt most of the week. "Surely The Presence" (by Lanny Wolfe) is one of the rare songs that gives me joy, goosebumps, tear-filled eyes and the very real feeling that I am in the presence of God and Angels.

It came to me this week after learning about a prayer service for a woman in my church - my former wife (and mother of my children), Sandy. She's battling a second round with breast cancer, but this time tumors are in her brain and several organs. On Saturday morning we'll be praying in support of her, asking for God to provide strength and healing.

This song has a powerful meditative effect, setting the stage for inspiration. It's a perfect prelude to prayer. Maybe this one will make its way into your personal preparation for prayer. No doubt I'll be singing it (in my head at least) throughout the morning.

From 9:30 to 10:30 we'll be praying together in Sylvania. I know that many others will join in from wherever they are: California and Florida; Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin; in Canada and Chile; Virginia and Washington; and all over Ohio. If you're able, please join us, too.

The presence of the Lord will surely be with us. Angels will add to the chorus of prayers. And Sandy will feel God's power and grace offering her healing, strength, love and support. Thank you and Peace, Mark

Let it Rain

Very early last Friday morning the tour bus for Mercy Me was involved in an accident. A car turned left directly into their path. Two teen-aged passengers and the pregnant driver's unborn child died at the scene. The 18 year old driver died a few days later. No one on the bus was seriously injured. (full story) The news is gut-wrenching.

How do you reconcile these events? One of the greatest Christian goups of all times is involved in a horrific situation like this. Lives are taken way too soon, innocence is lost. Families, communities, band members, witnesses, police & rescue squads will be changed forever. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the folks devastated by the accident, but I think especially about the bus driver - clearly not at fault - yet the images and the questions must be almost too much to bear.

And then I read what the members of Mercy Me wrote about the experience: "Every night on stage when we introduce our song, “Bring the Rain”, we talk about God being in control. If we believe what we say, then we must continue to look at how He will get the glory through this, and bring healing to so many."

So this week "Bring The Rain" is my song of the week - in support of continued healing for this tragedy and in handling the difficulties that we all face in our lives. God is much greater than our pain.

Father, into thy hands.....

One of the bits of trivia tucked away in my memory is a poem from my high school English class -
"No matter how much I poke and prod;
I can not quite believe in God.
But, oh, dear God I pray that He
Unswervingly believes in me!"

To me, these lines sum up our habit of taking God for granted. As we encounter fears and illnesses; pain and uncertainty; death and anxiety; we can pray endlessly. Yet when our lives are moving along smoothly, its much easier to overlook God's power and grace.

This week, I've faced some personal struggles, I've learned some difficult news and (as you might guess) I've been much more prayerful than usual. The song of the week gave me comfort - not only for the situations, but also for the guilt of my selfishness. "In The Hands of God" by Newsboys reminded me that when I struggle and fall, God's loving hands offer rest, power and freedom.

In the days, weeks and months ahead, I will strive to keep a better balance in my prayer life. I hold to His ability to deliver us from the trials of life, to make us well and to give us hope. God Bless.