Anne Whitman’s memorial service is confirmed for Thursday, Jan. 31st, 1:00p at CPC. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15) — I’m sure we’ll do both.
Announcement from Shiv: MTW seminar – Crossing Cultures for Christ (Saturday, January 26th, 9a-12p): Here in the PNW we routinely live, work, and interact with people from another culture, though it is not always obvious how to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them. This seminar aims to help us take baby steps in doing “missions” in our own neighborhoods and workplaces. MTW representative Zach Kushner and I will be presenting. Light snacks will be provided. Please RSVP to office@cpcissaquah.org.
It’s remarkable that we have promises from God, meaning He willfully binds himself to act in a certain way in response to something we do or say. “Praying a promise” sounds like a gimmick, but it’s just a way to take seriously the terms by which God has covenantally committed himself to us. A promise I’ve clung to over the years is Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and you will find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” If I’m in the midst of some confusion or crisis (which is usually when I find myself praying promises), I generally find my seeking has been half-hearted. So, I try to make adjustments, seek Him with my whole heart, and let him answer as He chooses.
Recently I got a new Bible (Cambridge ESV wide-margin) and have begun transferring notes. Below are all the references I have listed under “Seek & Find.”
Jeremiah 29:13-14
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord.
Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
I Chronicles 28:9
“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.”
II Chronicles 15:1-2
The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.”
Psalm 32:6
Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
Psalm 78:34
When [the Lord] killed them, they sought him;
they repented and sought God earnestly.
Hosea 5:15
I will return again to my place,
until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face,
and in their distress earnestly seek me.
Zechariah 1:3
Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Malachi 3:7
From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.
Lamentations 3:57
You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’
Luke 15:20 (prodigal son)
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.