The Tablecloth

Apparently, this is a true story..... it makes you understand that things happen for a reason .

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in New York State, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities.

When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.

They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished.

On December 19 a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.

On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home.

On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity, so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.

She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. "Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?" The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria ..

The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten "The Tablecloth". The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and she never saw her husband or her home again

The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home. That was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving.

The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war. and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike?

He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier.

He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

This story was written by Rev. Howard C. Schade (died 1989) - First Reformed Church in Nyack, New York. The story was published in 1954 Reader's Digest.

So when the road you're travelling seems difficult at best, just remember that God can use every storm to bring His blessings. He is able to restore and provide even when all seems lost.

The Importance Of Worship

I am trying to write a short paragraph on the importance of worship for a Swedish website. Trying to put the greatest subject on earth into a few words is a daunting task indeed. Please read this, and if you have any suggestions - please let me know:

Worship is the primary reason for our existence. We were created to worship – not just to do worship, but to be worshipers. Our Father doesn’t seek to be worshiped - the Bible shows us that the Lord is looking for worshipers (John 4:23), and in every book we find that worship is a central theme. He created us to have fellowship with Him, and not just to do things for Him.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism puts it this way: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever.”

Worship is important because this is how we come into God’s presence and enter into deeper intimacy with the Father. Worship makes way for the vital two-way conversation between God and His people, it ensures that we become more and more like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18), and it give us authority and strategies against all the powers of darkness in this world.

Blind, Autistic Boy Sings "Open The Eyes Of My Heart"

On Sept 30th, 2011, Christians from all over New Hampshire were invited to their State Capitol to sing. Here is one boy singing "Open The Eyes Of My Heart."

Beautiful.

Yesterday I saw the movie "Incredibly Loud And Extremely Close" which is a story of a boy with some form of autism who lost his father on September 11th. I don't mean to use this site to advocate movies, but this was a good one.

Anyway, each of us need to "tune" the eyes of our heart today:

Eph. 1:18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

The word "enlightened" in Greek is photizo - meaning to give light, shine, to give understanding, to illuminate.

God's glory is the "light" that needs to shine in our hearts. We can use "the eyes of our hearts" to photizo, or capture "photographs" of revelation of God's character and presence.

Num. 6:25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;

119:130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

Is. 60:1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

60:19 "The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory.

If you have never heard this 6.51 clip from Dr. S. M. Lockridge, then you MUST. This is so inspiring, please take a few moments out of your day and listen:

That's My King

Dr. Lockridge March 7, 1913 - April 4, 2000

Born in Texas - the oldest of eight children, Lockridge was Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, CA. from 1953 t 1993

Notice the list at the beginning - Jesus is a 7-Way King:

He was born King -

He is King of the Jews

He is the King of Israel

He is the King of Righteousness

He is the King of the Ages

He is the King of Heaven

He is the King of Glory

He is the King of kings and Lord of lords

What an inspiring speech!!

More From Psalm 149

I have been enjoying Psalm 149 over the past couple of days. Yesterday, I listed the 7 weapons of war that will make way for the glory of the Lord to prevail in the nations. Today, we find:

There are 7 times where the Lord is mentioned in this Psalm by name:

V1 – Lord

V1 – Lord

V2 – Maker

V2 – King

V4 – Lord

V6 – God

V9 – Lord

There are 7 different people or groups of people other than the Lord are mentioned

V1 – Saints (also v9)

V4 – His people

V4 – the humble

V7 – the nations

V7 – the peoples

V8 – their kings

V8 – their nobles

There are 7 outcomes from this praise. These are 7 things that will happen as we obey the Lord and enter into this work of high praise:

V4 – the Lord will beautify the humble with salvation

V5 – the Lord will impart a singing joy to His people

V6 – the Lord will place the sword of His Word into the mouths of His people

V7 – God’s people will minister His vengeance and punishments in the nations

V8 – God’s people will to bind up the powers and rulers of darkness in the nations

V9 – God’s people will administer His judgment on the wicked in the form of a written decree

V9 – the Lord will clothe His people with honor

As you can see, there are a series of things that we have to enter into by faith. For example these 7 things:

• we need to allow our hearts to rejoice - no matter what we are walking through in our lives

• we need to sing - even if we are not great singers. We are called upon to sing aloud on our beds

• we need to dance - even if we are not skilled dancers

• we need to enter this warfare with humility. It is the humble people who have the authority of God

• we need to fill our mouths with the high praises of God. This is different from praise - it is the praise that is filled with the presence and power of God

• we need to put the Word of God in our hands and before our eyes in a way that teaches us how to use this great tool of spiritual warfare

• we need to stand with the Lord as His ministers over the nations. He has given us authority to pull down satan's plans and rule. Jesus has won this victory on the cross, but we have to partner with the Lord as ministers of God's justice and glory in all the earth. We have to become active in prayer, worship and intercession on behalf of all nations.

Seven more secrets of praise from Psalm 149: HERE

Psalm 149 - 7 Things

My heart was in Psalm 149 during worship this morning:

 ¹ Praise the LORD!
         
         Sing to the LORD a new song, 
         And His praise in the assembly of saints. 
         
 ² Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
         Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
 ³ Let them praise His name with the dance;
         Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
 ⁴ For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
         He will beautify the humble with salvation. 
         
 ⁵ Let the saints be joyful in glory;
         Let them sing aloud on their beds.
 ⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
         And a two-edged sword in their hand,
 ⁷ To execute vengeance on the nations,
         And punishments on the peoples;
 ⁸ To bind their kings with chains,
         And their nobles with fetters of iron;
 ⁹ To execute on them the written judgment—
         This honor have all His saints. 
         
         Praise the LORD!

I am noticing 7 things that will bring destruction on the enemy - even the powers of darkness that keep the nations from the Lord:

• Praise the Lord in the midst of the Church
• Sing a new song to the Lord
• Rejoice in the Lord your Maker
• Praise the Lord in the dance
• Praise the Lord with instruments
• Let high praises to the Lord fill your mouth
• Let the sword of the Lord be in your hand - the Word of God

These are the powerful weapons of war that the Lord has released to us in these days. Expect to see the glory of the Lord in the nations - expect to see victories for the Kingdom in this coming year.

More from Psalm 149 - HERE

Dancers Among Us - Photography Project

Check out this photography project by Jordan Matter. He takes professional dancers and juxtapose them in everyday settings. Here are a few examples, but I encourage you to go to this site:

 Dancers
(there is a slideshow of all the photos and also an interesting behind the scenes video of how some of the photos came about)

I love dancers - especially in worship:

My friend, Yvonne Peters

...and the always fabulous Christian Dance Company - Ballet Magnificat

...and Theo and jolie Williams

It doesn't get much better than this - dance with all your hearts in the house of the Lord tomorrow:

Psalm 149:3 Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.

Praise Him Through 7 Stages of Life

We were formed to praise, we are called to praise Him throughout our lives and for all eternity. Here is a picture of our lives praising God throughout 7 stages:

We can praise Him when we are conceived and formed in the womb

Psalm 139:14-16 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

We can praise Him when we are babies

Ps. 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

We can praise Him when we are young

Ps. 148: 12-13 Both young men and maidens; old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven.

We can praise Him when we are old

Ps. 71:18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.

We can praise Him when we face death

2Sam 22:6-7 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry entered His ears.

We can praise Him when we are delivered from death

Ps. 56:13 For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, that I may walk before God, in the light of the living?

We can praise Him for ever and ever

Ps. 45:17 I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.

Psalm 27:4

One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

All the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the Lord,

And to inquire in His temple.

Life's Problems

Do you sometimes feel all bent out of shape?

Hebrews 12:12-13 (NLT)

So take a new grip with your tired hands

and strengthen your weak knees. 

Mark out a straight path for your feet

so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

Do you fear the storm clouds amassing on the horizon?

Psalm 107:29 (NKJV)

He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. 

Psalm 4:8 (NKJV)

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;

For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Do you feel that things are "up in the air"
and filled with uncertainties?

 1Corinthians 2:3-5 (The Message)

I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—

I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—

and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else.

But the Message came through anyway.
God's Spirit and God's power did it,
which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power,

not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.

Do you find that there are obstacles all along your way?

Matthew 21:21 (The Message)

But Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Yes—and if you embrace this kingdom life

and don't doubt God, you'll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree,

but also triumph over huge obstacles.

This mountain, for instance, you'll tell, 'Go jump in the lake,' and it will jump.

Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large,

as you make it a part of your believing prayer,

gets included as you lay hold of God."

Do you feel that there are things missing in your life?

Psalm 18:20 (The Message)

God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him.
When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start.
Now I'm alert to God's ways; I don't take God for granted.
Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick.
I feel put back together, and I'm watching my step.
God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes. 

Do you feel like a tiny part of the "rat race" of life?

Psalm 39:6-7 (NLT)

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.

We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.

And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?

My only hope is in You.

    

(Thanks to my friend Richard who sent me these photos) 

Please check out these two YouTube clips from my good friend Richard in Australia:

Let me know what you think. Richard has a couple of instrumental albums and they remain on my "favorites" list.

Oh...and just to make it clear - Richard is a New Zealander...

Amazing Dolphins

Just a short video - I never cease to be amazed by God's creation

...And then there is this:

Dolphins Save Surfer From A Shark Attack