praying for revival

a couple of weeks ago, as we were reading the 'resh' section of Psalm 119 (vs. 153-160) responsively in the morning worship service, the repetition of the phrase "revive me" stuck out to me.

we use the nkjv in worship, but when i went back to look at it later and read it in the esv, i noticed that it is translated there, "give me life..." what a marked contrast to several local billboards whose slogan reads: "we bring church to life." (they have rubbed me the wrong way ever since i first saw them!) here is the true answer - a plea to our God to give us life!!!

what follows is a look at the various ways that the psalmist offers up this prayer throughout Psalm 119.

"my soul clings to the dust, give me life according to Your word!" Psalm 119:25

"turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways." Psalm 119:37

"behold, i long for Your precepts; in Your righteousness give me life!" Psalm 119:40

"in your steadfast love give me life, that i may keep the testimonies of Your mouth." Psalm 119:88

"i am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to Your word!" Psalm 119:107

"hear my voice according to Your steadfast love; O Lord, according to Your justice give me life." Psalm 119:149

"plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to Your promise!" Psalm 119:154

"great is Your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to Your rules." Psalm 119:156

"consider how i love Your precepts! give me life according to your steadfast love." Psalm 119:159

O Lord, may Your Word be used to inform and instruct my prayer life! O God, GIVE US LIFE!

a strange kind of transplant...

my heart was moved
800 miles today
she took it with her
when she went away
although i knew
she wasn't gonna stay
i can't help feeling
a little blue
because of you
now that you're gone

a good refresher of a camp theme

so i read the following this morning in Living Water by brother yun:

the kingdom of God does not advance in this world through human endeavor. it advances through the life of Jesus Christ flowing through His servants who have died to themselves and their own desires. peter explained, "since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. as a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God." (1 Peter 4:1-2)
the will of God should be the primary focus of all Christians. to glorify Him should be our greatest honor and privilege. all else is a waste of time, and this world is perishing while too many Christians live out fleshly lives full of compromise and selfishness.
the good news is that our Lord is loving and merciful, and He will forgive all who come to Him in humility and meekness. He can take your life and make you as bold as a lion and bring your days as a timid Christian to an end. are you willing to submit to this process of being daily shaped and molded by the Holy Spirit?
if you are, you will not regret it.