16 January: Tuesday Refocus

“Calm me, O Lord, as You still the storm. Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm. Let all the tumult within me cease. Enfold me, Lord, in Your peace.” - Celtic prayer

The rest and rescue we most desire cannot be found in created things. Both within and without the ground of our being and beneath our feet is sand. Shifting, sinking. No amount of interior exploration, or exterior distraction can level out the most unsettled places of our souls.

But there is good news, there is hope - Christ our Savior is a firm and fixed hope, an anchor for our souls (Psalm 18:1-2, Hebrews 6:19). Upon the throne of grace is seated a Savior who lives to make intercession - daily bearing us up at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 7:25, Psalm 68:19, Romans 8:34). Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne, and steadfast love and faithfulness go before Him (Psalm 89:14). Even in the chaos of the world and our hearts, no one can be snatched from the hand of the Savior (John 10:28).

Father, in the middle of storms within and without, may our gaze be fixed, my our lives be anchored, my our souls rest in the life, death, resurrection, and intercession of Your Son, Jesus. In His name, amen.

Wrestling and resting,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: June 27

“Christianity discerns that beyond the night the dawn already glows. The hope that does not fail is carried in the heart. Christ goes with us!” - Oscar Romero

To the end of the age…

To old age and grey hair…

Through the valley of the shadow of death…

We are never left, and never forsaken (Matthew 28:20, Isaiah 46:4, Psalm 23, Deuteronomy 31:6).

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” - Hebrews 11:1

Lord, may our hope be in You all our days. In Your name, amen.

Hoping,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: April 11

“The resurrection of Jesus is the 'Amen!' of the Father placed upon the 'It is finished!’ of the Son.” - Herman Bavnick

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:12-14

Finally, fully, completely forgiven. 

There is no work left to be done.

Rejoice!

Lord, we echo the amen! Amen and amen.

Rejoicing,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: February 21

"The blood of Jesus is the death of despair." - Charles Spurgeon

There is much over which to despair in our world. Creation itself groans in pains of childbirth (Romans 8:22). Ours is a world passing away (1 John 2:17). And for those brave enough to examine their own heart, we can affirm what the prophet Jeremiah says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?’ (Jeremiah 17:9).

The season of Lent gives us the ability to enact in a small way the life of a believer: a tunnel of despair along the path to hope. This life is a hallway, but Christ is the door where we find pleasures forevermore (John 10:9, Psalm 16:11). Our days here are toil and trouble, but the Lord has been and will be our dwelling place for all generations (Psalm 90:10,1).

In Lent we despair over our sin, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2). We don’t ignore, avoid, or wallow in our sin, we consider, confess, and repent of our sin. And we celebrate and receive the forgiveness of God through the finished work of Christ.

Father, may our days be marked with celebration and freedom, even as we consider our own sins. Thank you for Jesus, in His name, amen.

Rejoicing,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: February 14

“If reconciliation is God’s chief business, it is ours.” - E. Stanley Jones

It is easy to confuse love with a feeling. Certainly, love causes our hearts to feel in extremes - affection and affliction. But love is too large to be contained in our emotions - it moves out in our actions. Could there be a greater representation of love in action than reconciliation?

Webster defines reconciliation as ‘the action of reconciling: the state of being reconciled.’

This is what God has done for us in Christ: “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18

The love of God moves toward us in the reconciling work of Christ. And we respond by becoming people who are given the ministry of reconciliation. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We are to be reconcilers because we have first been reconciled to God.

Perhaps the most loving thing this Valentine’s Day is not romantic gestures, but acts of reconciliation. Terminating a debt. Choosing again in this moment to forgive a wrong. Repairing what has been broken.

God, we confess that all sin is first against You. Thank You for Your great forgiveness. Help us to be people of forgiveness and reconciliation in our world. Amen.

Reconciling,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: January 24

“The day is coming when there shall be a congregation that shall never break up, and a Sabbath that shall never end, a song of praise that shall never cease, and an assembly that shall never be dispersed.” - J.C. Ryle

On this side of eternity, we see everything in part. Everything is as though looking through a dim glass (1 Corinthians 13:9-12). This is the place where familiarity and ache collide as we recognize our citizenship is another kingdom (Philippians 3:20). 

This is the place where we say ‘Come quickly, Lord Jesus.’ 

This is the place where we cry ’Save us!’

Here all things are fractured and yet still reflect a sense of glory - a sense of what has been and what will be.

So we give ourselves to the Bride knowing that the Groom will soon return. We rest knowing that one day our labor will be joy and fulfillment. We sing today knowing that one day there will be a new song, an everlasting song of praise to our God. We stand shoulder to shoulder week after week with those against whom we sin, and who have sinned against us knowing that one day our lives will no longer bear the marks of pain we have experienced or inflicted.

God, for that day we live with expectation and hope. May we practice now what will give us a glimpse, and a taste of what will one day be. Hallelujah, amen.

With expectation,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: January 17

“In all acts of worship let us summon our whole nature to the work; let our intellects know God, our wills choose him, our hearts go out after him, our confidence lean on him, our love delight in him, our tongues praise him, and our hands clap for joy of him.” - William S. Plumer

In more than our songs.

In more than our words.

In more than our Sunday services.

In more than our Bible study.

In more than our times of prayer.

In more than our deeds.

In all of life, worship is the right response of our whole lives to God’s revelation of Himself.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12:1-2

Lord, may every corner of our lives be lived in response to You. Responding to Your heart, Your character, and Your completed work on our behalf. In Christ’s name, amen.

From worship,

AB

October 11: Tuesday Refocus

“A gospel of reconciliation can only be communicated by a reconciled community.” - E. Stanley Jones

The chasm between one sinful person and another sinful person will never be as eternal as the chasm between a sinful person and a Holy God. But thanks be to God, because in Christ ‘…all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him…” (Colossians 1:19-22).

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so (Psalm 107:2). We must remind ourselves of our own reconciliation to God. We must remind our brothers and sisters in Christ of the way God has reconciled us to Himself. And this reconciliation should be evidence to the world of the life and peace that is available in Christ.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20) Amen.

Reconciled,

AB

September 27: Tuesday Refocus

“God is always relaxed.” - A.W. Tozer

The One who spoke the universe into existence sustains it by the word of His power (Psalm 33:9, Hebrews 1:3). He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). He is not served by human hands, as though He needed anything since it is God who gives to all mankind life, breath, and everything (Acts 17:25). If He were hungry, he would not tell us for the world and all its fullness belong to Him (Psalm 50:12). He declares the end from the beginning, and His counsel shall stand, and He will accomplish His purpose (Isaiah 46:10). By His Word, he discerns the thoughts and intentions of the human heart (Hebrews 4:12).

There is nothing out of His control.

Nothing that surprises Him.

And there is no wrong that He will not set right (Revelation 21:5).

He is not worried or frantic.

He is not fearful or dismayed.

He invites us to take His easy yoke, and light burden (Matthew 11:30).

Lord, may we rest in You. The One who is always relaxed. Amen.

Resting,

AB

July 12: Tuesday Refocus

“I pray for courage to mourn so that I may be strengthened.” - Madeleine L’Engle

Courage is required in mourning because we must first acknowledge that the world is not as it should be, that our lives are not as they should be. Honesty from our deepest depths is deeply vulnerable. It is honesty that says ‘My Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…’ (Matthew 26:39). 

Our hope in our mourning is that “…the Lord, who daily bears us up…” is also One who is a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Psalm 68:19, Isaiah 53:3). The One declared ‘…nevertheless, not as I will but as You will (Matthew 26:39).’

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

Lord, bear us up, comfort and strengthen us, and give us courage. Amen.

Amen,

AB

April 17: Liturgy + Set List

• HOUSE OF THE LORD

Call to Worship: Luke 24:1-6

Corporate Reading:

LEADER: Alleluia! Christ is risen. ALL: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

L: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. A: He has given us new life and hope,
He has raised Jesus from the dead.

L: God has claimed us as His own.
A: He has brought us out of darkness. He has made us light to the world,

L: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
A: He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

[From the Worship Sourcebook, based on 1 Peter 3:3-5]

• CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY

• KING OF KINGS

Sermon: Acts 13:36-41

Whatever stage of life you may be in - committed follower of Jesus, or you don’t believe anything said or sung this morning, or anywhere in between - our only hope in life and death for everyone one of us, a risen Christ. Let’s respond to who God’s Word preached with our songs and lives, would you stand and sing:

• IN CHRIST ALONE

• LIVING HOPE

Benediction

January 11: Tuesday Refocus

‘You called, you cried, you shattered my deafness. You sparkled, you blazed, you drove away my blindness.  You shed your fragrance, and I drew in my breath, and I pant for You. I tasted and now hunger and thirst.  You touched me, and now I burn with longing for Your peace.’ - St Augustine

Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Ps 34:8)?

Have you experienced how He satisfies the desire of every living thing (Ps 145:16)?

Out of the season of Advent, we remember that God is a God who draws near (Jn 1:14).  He is not far removed, or unknowable, but One who desires to be known, and have His people draw near.  Perhaps there is no greater aim of our lives in 2022 than to draw near to the One who has first drawn near to us (James 4:8).

God, reveal yourself to me this year.  Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, a heart to know, and a life of obedience that follows You. In the name of Christ, amen.

Asking,

AB