USS Arizona
Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941
From the National Archives
"With confidence in our armed forces—
with the unbounding determination of our people—
we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God."
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
This last weekend, our worship ministries orchestra, choir, and drama team presented an adaption of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" for two nights. The presentation featured an apartment set on one half of the stage and an 1941 radio studio on the other half. Our musical had its moments of comedy, top-quality soloists, and big band era music.
The climatic scene was when news is received of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and a father hears over the radio that his son's battleship—the USS Arizona—has just been completely destroyed. We did our best to honor history, our veterans, and our Lord. We all prayed that a message of hope amid tragedy, available through life in Christ, is what people would take home with them.
Though our worship ministry team practiced faithfully, we were aware that our performance did not achieve perfection. But it's unlikely that the audience noticed the numerous minor flaws. I believe we presented excellence, and that is what will be remembered. Though we wish to do well for the sake of the team, the greater goal is that our offering is pleasing to the Lord, however imperfect.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
~ Psalms 19:14 (NKJV)
Evil thoughts pass through the heart. David did not pray for the Lord's acceptance of his thoughts, but of his meditation and spoken words.
This prayer is not as difficult as it looks. Whatever wrong thoughts may come to us, we must determine not to make them our heart's meditation, nor allow them to escape as spoken words.
God knows we're not perfect. He doesn't ask us to be. He asks us to strive for excellence. He asks us to give Him our best offering, flaws and all, keeping in mind how He loves and accepts His children. He has promised to not remember our sins, and He has promised to remember us. For He has (Isaiah 49:15-16) inscribed us on the palms of His nail-scarred hands.
In Jesus, we have inevitable triumph.
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Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
So cool that your church participated in that. And David's prayer--so many of his prayers made me think.
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
I like the connection David made to words uttered and thoughts of the mind. I am guilty of sweetness from my lips, but poison in my heart.
ReplyDeleteThis exhortation covers all the basis
This sounds like a great Christmas time production. I wish I had seen it!
ReplyDeletedid your church by any chance film this? plus they did it two nights in a row? had to be interesting. liked that verse in Isaiah...
ReplyDeleteSurely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you...
btw...out of curiosity, in the verse of Is.49:16
ReplyDelete16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me.
what are the "walls" in reference to. the cities or dwellings?
This is so timely, Anne ...
ReplyDeleteAnne, how I've missed you, your blog, and sadly...your production on Sunday. I was nursing THREE sick Stewarts: one recovering from a procedure; two very ill with strep throat (we spent Sunday morning in the Urgent Care after both my children were sick all night Saturday night).
ReplyDeleteThese last few days have been so dense for me. Dense with the frailties of life, and dense with the joys. I've received such blessings and good news, and so many painful reminders of life's heartache. Yet another parent of one of my students passed away last night--a young dad, aged 34, with three boys. Lately life has been a teeter-totter, up and down, up and down. How would I survive it without the assurance of steadfastness which is our God Almighty? I cannot imagine. I don't want to.
I take such comfort and peace from the fact that it's all under God's control. I live increasingly with both eyes toward heaven, working, toiling, but longing for the day I'm home.
Sorry for the incoherent ramble. Your posts always touch me. What a blessing you are, my dear Anne.
Wendy ~
ReplyDeleteWould you believe I'd already begun to write about "the meditation of my heart" in a different context when the deeper meaning of what David was talking about hit me? I love that the Word is living and has the ability to speak to us on more than one level.
David ~
ReplyDeleteFunny how we manage to unintentionally spill heart poison through even words we think sweet. Jesus spoke truth when He said that the mouth speaks out of the heart's abundance.
Rossyln ~
ReplyDeleteGwen made it to last year, but not this year. It was fun. I'd STILL love to watch your Russian dancer. :D
Bud ~
ReplyDeleteYes, they did record the performance. I hope they'll be able to make DVD's available. The second night came out better than the first, so it would be nice if that's the recording that comes out okay.
As for your question, I made it another post (see "Security.") Also see Zechariah 2:4-5. I like when you make me think. I knew what walls meant, but I asked the Lord how people in 2010 think of walls. The first thought I had was the walls we put around our hearts. I hope that ties in to the post for you.
Susan ~
ReplyDeletePart of our presentation included a playback of FDR's "Day of Infamy" speech. It was chilling to be on a set reliving that day. I didn't intend to do two posts in a row on our nation under attack, but that is exactly how things worked out after prayer.
Gwen dearest,
ReplyDeleteYour rambles are music to my heart. Your absence was felt, but the heart's aches will last ever so briefly, gone forever on the day we step outside of time. I love you! Take care of yourselves. Be sure to bless God that your children have parents who have lived past the age of 34.
I would have loved to see the production! As for the thoughts, we have to train ourselves to take them captive and make them obedient to Christ. It's a discipline worth pursuing as it brings so much life and joy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anne.
Jason ~
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree about taking the thoughts captive and training them, I believe the more successful, longer lasting method is to cooperate with God to change our hearts, so that the resulting thoughts and words will be His Own—preventive action rather than reaction. (Of course, part of that process is taking the thoughts captive and training them ...)