Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, – Ephesians 6:14 [ESV]

Lúireach Phádraig, also known as Faeth Fiada, The Deer’s Cry, or St. Patrick’s Breastplate, is a prayer attributed to the “Apostle of Ireland”.  The words of this beautiful prayer put Christ squarely at the center of our focus.  In it, Patrick recognizes our absolute dependence on God.  He is earnestly seeking the Lord and His righteousness (hence the “breastplate” reference).

Below is the Faeth Fiada.  I pray it is a great blessing to you, and helps you seek God first in all things today, remembering that He is in control.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Radiance of the moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.

Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation

Amen.

“He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.” – Deuteronomy 32:10 (ESV)

Dealing with anxiety and depression is a challenge to say the least. If you’ve never been there, it can hard to describe, and hard to understand. We are often caught in a Catch 22 where we feel alone and abandoned, the loneliness exacerbated by the feeling of being marginalized by those who don’t understand what we are dealing with.

When I read in Deuteronomy 32:10 about being “in a desert land… a howling waste of the wilderness,” I thought, “Yes. That is it. That is what it feels like!” It is a scary, lonely place. But, friend, if you are feeling the grip of anxiety and drain of depression, I want you to notice something in our verse for tonight: you are not alone.

You are not alone.

God has found you, surrounded you, and is caring for you. You may not feel His presence, but that doesn’t mean He isn’t with you. He is. “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them (your enemies), for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6, ESV).

Wherever you are, whoever you are, grasp that reality. If you are dealing with anxiety and depression, it can be tough to hang on to God’s promises, or to trust in God’s love and care. I went through a period where I was so stifled by my anxiety that I couldn’t pray. I cried. I yelled. I was angry at God for not lifting me quickly from my pain.

But, once I was through it… there He was. I couldn’t see Him in the midst of the storm but, from the clarity that comes only with hindsight, I saw why I went through what I went through. The Lord used that very difficult period in my life to change me, to work through me.

He showed me that I was not alone in a dry, desert place. Rather, He was there all along. He never left me. He never abandoned me.

He hasn’t abandoned you either. And He never will. And if you can’t see it, can’t face that truth, just hang in there. You are not alone. The Almighty God is with you. Always.

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no”root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. – Hebrews 12:15 (ESV)

I got up extra early this morning to write. And that is exactly what I did. I wrote a fantastic piece about the problems of corporate churches and the damage they do. It was engaging and educational and had lots of big words. It may have been forever immortalized as one of the best examples of blog writing ever.

Ever.

Ok… I may be overstating things a bit. Actually, I’m pushing the envelope of truthfulness by using terms like “immortalized” and “engaging” and “best ever.”

“Ever.”

But the world will never know. I deleted it. It is gone. Lost. Done.

Why?

It would have benefited no one. It pointed out the problems without any vitriol or bitterness or even sarcasm.

Ok… Maybe a little sarcasm…

But that’s the point. None of what I worry would bring healing. It wouldn’t have promoted peace or joy or anything worthy of our thoughts and time. It would have served only to drudge up ill feelings and anger. Granted, it was cathartic for me to get it out. It was like therapy in a sense.

Still, despite the honesty of the message, I realized I am still hanging onto a bitter root. It isn’t nearly as big as it was, but it is still there.

The Lord reminded me this morning that I am not here to shine a spotlight on what’s wrong with the church. I am here to be a light on a hill, shining for Christ. I am here to proclaim the Gospel. I am here to reach out to those who are facing troubles, the anxious and depressed, the hurting and bullied, the loved ones who do not feel loved, the marginalized and the lonely.

I am here to bring hope.

I am here to pray.

I am here to comfort.

I am here to share.

I am here to love.

And so are you.

Let no bitterness remain. We need to be sure that all we do, all we say, all we think, is rooted in the love of Jesus. Forgive and move forward. No time to stay mired in past hurts. After all, we are all the body of Christ. And if a God can love and forgive me my immeasurable transgressions, who am I to cling to bitterness or fail to forgive?

Let me just say it here and now: I do not like flying.  I’m not exactly aviophobic, but the idea of sitting in a pressurized tin can with wings that is soaring at over 500 mph about 5-1/2 miles above the earth… well, it is unsettling.  My uncle just broke his ankle falling off a seven foot ladder.  A fall from 30,000 feet would likely be much worse.

A few years ago, my wife and I were at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, getting ready to fly to Atlanta to see my brother and his family.  On the drive to the airport, I noticed the sky to the west growing darker and darker.  I turned on the radio and listened as, through the crackles and snaps that lightning creates on AM frequencies, the meteorologist said the last words I really wanted to hear:

Tornado warning.

Take shelter.

Funnel sightings in rural areas west of the Twin Cities.

I had Wizard of Oz visions dancing in my anxious mind: cattle, barns, tractors, all being sucked up in a spiraling maelstrom.  Flying monkeys circling the perimeter of the vortex.  The voice of Johnny, the air traffic controller from the movie Airplane!, shouting, “Auntie Em!  Auntie Em!  It’s a twister!  It’s a twister!”

I did a quick mental calculation.  This storm was headed toward the airport.

We arrived before the storm, got through security and settled in to grab a bite before the flight when it hit.  Watching the wind and rain, I really didn’t want to get on an airplane.  I looked down at my feet.  No ruby slippers.  Just my luck.

Our flight was delayed but, the storm passed, no damage done.  As soon as it was safe, we boarded our flight and taxied out on the runway.  Now, I will tell you that my second least favorite part of flying is take off (number one: you guessed it, landing).  I will also tell you that, taking off in the unstable atmosphere of a just-passed thunderstorm is can be less than comfortable.  Especially when, as the plane is climbing and shaking, you experience a sudden drop that makes you feel like the world just fell out from under you.

The plane climbed and shuddered.  For a few short moments, I was one jolt away from becoming John Lithgow in The Twilight Zone, shrieking at the top of my lungs, “There’s a man on the wing of this plane!” I was sure they were going to have to turn the plane around and haul me out on a gurney.  I still get the creeps when I hear CCR’s cover of “The Midnight Special.” (Ok… I think I’m done with the movie references for now…)

I was praying hard.  I thought for sure we were headed for an involuntary landing on the Minnesota River.  Hope we don’t hit the I-494 bridge.  Once we rose above the storm and things calmed down a bit, I realized I had leaned forward and grabbed onto the seat in front of me. Hard.   Loosening my Kung Fu grip, I quietly apologized to the passenger whose seat I had sunk my fingers into.  “Don’t sweat it,” he said kindly.  Still, he avoided eye contact with me when we were disembarking at Hartsfiel.

Why the fear?  My anxiety fired up well before take off.  I was scared before we even got to the airport.  I didn’t trust that the pilot or the air traffic controllers would know what they were doing.  Worst of all, I didn’t trust God.

How often in life do we face situations that are unpleasant – even downright scary – and get ourselves worked up before we even get there?  And, while we face some turbulence – even of the variety that makes you feel like your stomach is in your esophagus when the bottom seems to fall out – we survive.  In fact, the rest of the trip may well end up downright enjoyable.

There is a reason Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 to not worry about anything.  It’s because God knows what He is doing.  He absolutely has control.  Sometimes we face difficult situations by our own doing, and sometimes He leads us there.  Every situation has merit, good or “bad.”  At the very least it is a moment of learning or testing or growth.  But embrace it bravely and faithfully, knowing God is the one in control of the results.  Do what God wants, learn from the experience, and move on with God.  Don’t let fear rob you of the experience God has set before you.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5:1 (ESV)

This morning I woke early, dressed, and set off in the predawn for St. Paul, praying and seeking God. Looking up as I walked to my van, I looked up and saw the stars – the most amazing array of stars set against the vast blackness of space, punctuated here and there by light, wispy clouds. The wonder of the vastness of God, beyond our grasp yet before us to behold!

As I drove along the suburban freeways into the slow sunrise, the stars faded in the purples and blues that filled the dark and brought the clouds alive in an amazing display of muted hues. The wonder of the vastness of God, beyond our grasp yet before us to behold!

I pulled into the lot at the Cathedral of St. Paul and, entering the amazing edifice as I have several times before, I reveled in the massive awe of the space of this place. I soaked in the vastness of God, recreated in some very very small way yet ever pulling my eyes upward. The wonder of the vastness of God, beyond our grasp yet before us to behold!

Slipping out before mass started, I looked across the parking lot at the Cathedral’s neighbor: the James J. Hill house, one time home of the famous railroad baron. The contrast between the light and beauty of the Cathedral and the dark foreboding of the Hill house – nearly 125 years old and a quarter century older than it’s grand hilltop neighbor – was startling. The Hill house represents the accumulated wealth and possibility the world has to offer. Inside it, too, is filled with vast spaces.

Yet, it is dark. A feeling of emptiness fills the space indoors. In the Cathedral, light prevails. Even in it’s dark corners, a sense of light shines. The quiet is peaceful and holy, not hollow.

I am reminded today that I am free, and freed by the God Who fills the vast spaces He pleases. I can appreciate the worshipful space of the Cathedral without being. Catholic, because I am free from the bonds that hold me. I am a slave to Christ alone.

I am reminded that the world’s treasures are a waste. Empty. Hollow. Dark. What The Lord offers is wondrous beyond price: eternal freedom. Created beauty. The ability to bless another quietly and anonymously. Freedom to seek His Spirit within me, and follow Him as I sense He leads. Freedom from sin. Freedom from convention. Freedom from guilt and shame. Freedom from judgment or criticism of others. Freedom to be, as small as I am in the grand scheme of it all, a tiny cog in the wheel.

Free to be who God created me to be.

Free to stop, breathe, be, and revel in the wonder of the vastness of God, beyond our grasp yet before us to behold!

Selah.

Shalom.

Amen.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. – Romans 8:1 (NIV)

Maybe you know someone who needs to read this.

Maybe you need to get this planted in your brain.

Forgiven is forgiven. Period. If God does not condemn you, who is anyone on earth to judge and condemn?

Did you confess and repent of your sin? Did you ask The Lord to forgive you? Then it’s a done deal. You don’t need to feel forgiven. You are forgiven! You are free of your sin! You are cleansed!

Don’t wait to feel it. Accept the grace, mercy, forgiveness and love of Jesus by faith with gratitude, joy and peace.

Good night friends. Rest in Jesus and sleep easy.

The neat thing about the truth is how unquestionably absolute it is. It matters not the least if any of us believe it, feel it is right or agree with it. The truth is the truth.

“I am The Way, The Truth and The Life”, Jesus said. If you need to find the Truth, look no further than the Bible. There you will find the truth about your situation, your life. You will find that it isn’t necessarily what you feel or think or observe.

In God’s Word, you will find that you are loved far greater than you could ever imagine. You are forgiven so completely that your sin is separated from you “as far as the east is from the west.” You are the child of the Creator and Sustainer of all, a God so mighty that nothing is impossible for Him. You will see that, in Christ, our lives are far beyond our situations and troubles and pain and sin and shame and worries and doubts.

God is so faithful. Know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free! And the one Jesus sets free is free indeed! (John 8:32, 36)

Tonight, praying with my seven year old, I was reminded that our faith ought to be childlike. I listen to my little son as he talks to God, and realize how free and unencumbered he is in his faith.

He trusts The Lord and loves Jesus. He doesn’t question what happened or why. He doesn’t wrestle with deep theological ponderings or try to figure it all out. He thanks God for his family and kitties and puppy. He tells Jesus he loves him and asks for His guidance. He is open and honest.

My little boy simply loves The Lord, trusts Him wholeheartedly and speaks to Jesus from His heart.

I think we could all learn a little something from the prayers of our kidlets.

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 12:2 [ESV]

There it sits.  It’s as plain as the nose on your face, but you can’t see it because it is behind your face.  Encased in heavy duty skull bone, floating around in cerebrospinal fluid and growing from an advanced cerebral cortex, four lobes of gray brain matter – the center of all thought and sensation and speech and motion and mood.  Weighing in at an average of just over three pounds, the human brain is a wonder to behold – the most intricate physical part of the human being.  As advanced as humanity is today, we still do not quite have a handle on the brain in all it’s complexity. Only God could have designed and created such an organ – especially out of dirt.

And God created us with this advanced reasoning apparatus for a purpose: to use it.

Selah.

We humans can be a lazy lot.  Maybe it’s that we’re so busy that we can’t be bothered to spend time with God in His Word and prayer.  But we like to be spoon-fed our faith in small, easily-digestible bits.  We like the milk.

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? – 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 [ESV]

There comes a point, folks, where we have to let go of the religious conventions that serve only to drag us through the muck and mire of small-minded legalism and judgment.  And, yes, we need to always stay connected to the body of Christ and seek God’s wisdom and guidance in ALL things.  (“Forsake not the gathering of the brethren” is not merely a Sunday morning attendance command.  It means community, which takes many forms.  But that’s a topic for another time.)

My point is this: I am not saying don’t go to church.  But I am saying this: think.  Think for yourself.  Take the time to personally seek the Lord.  Not only during corporate worship, but at home. Seek Him.  Read your Bible and think about it.  Find how reasonable it is and, if something doesn’t make sense, don’t let it be the Bible’s fault.  Our misunderstandings are not caused by inaccurate translation.  They are the result of our flawed humanity

Do not merely take another human being at his or her word. Save that for God’s Word alone. Again, do not misunderstand me.  I’m not saying ignore your pastor or mentor or family or friends.  I am saying let God’s Word transform your thinking.  Not an “ism.”  Not a dogma.  Not some mega church pastor’s best-seller or radio program.  Let God and His Word change you. Discern what is good and cling to that.  Don’t go to the mulberry bush looking for bananas.

Be guided by God through His Word.  Let the Bible be your diving rod.  Seek the Lord earnestly, with an open mind, setting aside any teaching that is counter to what God says in His Word.  Prayerfully stay in God’s Word and don’t worry what anyone else thinks.  Beware of those who accuse of being “so open-minded that your brain fell out.”

Our brains aren’t perfect.  But they work.  And we need to work them.  “Seek first the kingdom of God”, not religion or opinion.  Discern.  Know the tree’s fruit.  Think.  Above all else, trust in Christ alone.

If you have faith in Christ, you have hope. Don’t give up! Rest in Him. Trust in The Lord. Seek Him first!