The Stretch Break

When I start my workday each day I am allowed a few moments of prayer before I even start my work. Actually, anytime I want to I can stop what I'm doing and pray.  It's a wonderful privilege most people don't know they can take advantage of.  It's called the 'stretch break'.

I start with my hands stretched for the ceiling... and also in my mind I reach towards the heavens.  With open palms I pray "LORD, I come before You with open hands, needy, with nothing to offer accept my praise."

Then I bow low to the ground and touch the floor... praying, "LORD, I bow to You and You alone.  You alone are God and I will not fear the circumstances of the day, I will not fear what man can do or say to or against me.  I bow to You and You alone."

Then I do it a few more times. Stretching to the heavens... Bowing in adoration before my God.

On the last bow I stretch toward my left foot... "God, I will follow Your Word, Your precepts and commands.  I will not turn to the left... nor to the right. (as I move to stretch to the right foot.) I will walk in Your ways."

Then while reaching over my head and stretching my triceps I lean to one side, then the other stretching the side muscles in my abdomen. "LORD, they pierced Your side. I humble myself before You.  You do with me as you see fit.  I expose my vulnerable sides to You and willingly accept what You will do unto me."

As I stretch my hands, first with clenched fists I pray, "God, I hold onto things to tightly. I don't want to do this anymore." Then releasing my grip with open palms again "I release it all to You."

Then with clenched fists again, "I lay hold on Eternal Life, I will cling to You, hold onto You and nothing else besides."...  "Help me to let go of all my silly little idols and ideas." As I release my grip.


It's "The Stretch Break".

So anytime during the day,
I have a company approved opportunity to pray.

When I'm stressed out. 
If I'm tired.  
If I am overjoyed in His presence. 
I pray.  And I walk in His ways.

As I do this... He increases my love, my joy, my peace, my concern for my co-workers, and my confidence that with God, All things are possible. And physically speaking... I feel healthier too.

"He must increase... WE must decrease!"


Take a break or two today to stop and pray, so often we pray on the go.  Give our God the attentiveness He so deserves.  His all attentive ear is open to our prayers if we come before His throne humbly, with clean hands and a pure heart, through the blood of His sacrifice.

True Blue

In the not too distant past I was in a certain office discussing certain circumstances with a colleague that revolved around certain people and their actions towards others.  I had made the comment that "none of what we thought really mattered because soon enough we would see true blue." 

(For those readers in foreign lands not familiar with the term 'true blue' it is used to describe honesty, integrity, goodness within; even though circumstances or behavior may suggest otherwise.)

 I clarified my comment to my colleague by saying, "what I mean is that in the not too distant future we will all stand before the Lord and give an account for the things that we have done and the idle words that we have spoken.  Then and only then will our true colors show."  True blue will be clothed in white because of the red blood of our Savior.  Any other colors, any other banners we have unfurled and waved in the faces of others, those individuals with self serving motives may find themselves clothed in rags.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

(2 Corinthians 5:10)

In the not too distant future we will all stand before the Lord and give an account for the things that we have done and the idle words that we have spoken.  Then and only then will our true colors show.

Let us pray with David,

“Search me, O God,
and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.”

(Psalm 139:23-24)

For truly He already has searched us.

 “LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.”

(Ps. 139:1)

One day the All-knowing Judge will sit before His servants and reward them for the deeds done while here in this mortal, eternally expectant life.

“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:14)

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. (2 John 1:8)

If we exalt ourselves we will be surprised in that day, if we lift Him up, we will be overjoyed.

“He must increase, WE must decrease!”

Spoo-Dads-Oh! Daddy-O

 Spoudazo (σπουδάζω) is an interesting New Testament verb that signifies "to hasten to do a thing, to exert oneself, to endeavour, and to give diligence”.  It signifies, “With speed”.  It refers to doing  something with effort and quickly. (Its pronounced Spoo-dadz-o)

Hastiness in our walk with Christ is usually not a good thing.  In fact in scripture we are told in various ways to “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:” 

And also not being self-willed and having restraint are qualities and qualifications of the pastor.  But sometimes your pastor may need to hasten to do something with speed.  The situation may ‘demand’ it.  God’s leading in the heart of the man may require it.  Pastor Roy Branson says that sometimes the only way to explain this behavior is that the man is called of God. And discernment, his knowledge of the Word, and the promptings of God move the man “with speed.”

The writer of Hebrews used this word when he said “Let us labour (Spoudazo) therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Heb. 4:11) How were these Hebrew believers going to do this? By diligent study of the Word of God; by Studying “with speed” to enter into God’s rest.

“For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Peter used the word when he said “Moreover I will endeavour (Spoudazo) that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”  I will study and preach “with speed”, with due diligence, so that you can stand on your own two feet when I’m gone.

And when he said “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence (Spoudazo) to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”

And “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent (Spoudazo) that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

Paul used it in Ephesians 4:3 “Endeavouring (Spoudazo) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Sometimes to keep peace one may have to act quickly in response to persecution, oppression, or conflict.

It must be done with wisdom and sometimes it also must be done with Spoodadzo.

So what is the young pastor, or layman for that matter, supposed to do when he doesn’t know what to do? As Paul told young Timothy “Study (Spoudazo)  to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 

When the situation is urgent, pray and study, then when the answer comes. “Endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Layman, don’t be too critical, or even better, don’t be critical of the man of God at all, when he seems to act rashly standing up for the sheep in response to a ‘bully’.  Sometimes the situation merits it.  If he is wrong and is indeed acting rashly don’t you know his Boss is aware of it.

Hastiness in our walk with Christ is usually not a good thing.  But Jesus also said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

It’s likely your pastor is willing, following Jesus’ example, to lay down his tenure, his reputation, his very life if need be for the health of the sheep that he has been called to shepherd.  This is the pastor’s heart.

It is to face off with bear, and lion, and even to ‘take down Goliath’ for the life of the sheep.  If he is near to God then rest assured that God has given him an intuitive knowledge of what must be done in any given situation.

I am beginning a series of posts entitled “Give the Pastor Wiggle~Room” in response to a question that was asked of me several times by a great man of God with whom I had the privilege of serving under and beside for over twenty-two years.  

He asked me, “Why in all these years have you never given me any trouble?” I hope to break this answer down to bite-sized-bits for others so they can come alongside and help their pastors and so they will not be too critical of them.

When we do this,

as Barnabas did with Paul,

and later with John Mark,

(although I don't encourage conflict)

What you are endeavoring to keep remember

is unity in the Spirit

and peace.

When we do this Jesus will increase in the church,

And we will decrease in our sensitiveness and self-importance.

“He must increase, WE must decrease!”

Look for New Posts Labeled ~ “Wiggle-Room”; I will share my personal study on this topic as the Lord leads.