John and Kathy Deisher

One Call, One Harvest, 50 Teams

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Conversation with God

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[A note to my readers. During this time of “shelter-in-place” I thought I would write a series of devotionals aimed for those in vocational ministry. I recently re-read Eugene Peterson’s book “Working the Angles” and thought that this would be a great time to refocus on my ministry priorities. There is some good stuff in there for those who are not in vocational ministry, but it is geared particularly to those who are. –jd–]

  • Read

Leviticus 26:12 “I will walk with you—I will be your God, and you will be my people.”

  • Meditate

Like many people, I keep a journal. It has taken different forms over the years, from legal pads to notebooks to OneNote files. I enjoy going back and looking through them from time to time. Often, I look at what was happening and carry on a conversation with my distant past in my head. I see now know how the situations I was facing have resolved, the decisions I was going to make have played out, and I reassure my written past that we survived. I know the whole story.

When we read Scripture, we are entering into a conversation with God, and into the story of men and women who were facing situations and decisions as they lived their lives. We see the beginning of the story as well as the ending. We know what has occurred and how the matter has been settled. We see the development of the characters and understand that everything in this conversation has significance.

In these stories, we find ourselves. We learn that nothing in the world of Scripture can be made sense of apart from God, and nothing in our world can be made sense of unless we walk with him. In reading Scripture, we are engaging in an active conversation with God between the biblical past and our present situation.

In times of crisis, in times of pain, in times of frustration, we have to remember that we know the whole story. We have conversed with God, and in him it all makes sense.

  • Pray

Father, forgive me for reading scripture as some historical document and not as your living conversation with me. As I read, I see you at work. I can see the whole story. In my life right now, I don’t see the whole story, but I know you are at work. I trust you that this all makes sense. Amen

  • Contemplate

1. As you read the Bible today, find yourself in God’s conversation with his people. What is happening in your life right now that parallels the passage? Ask God to help you make sense of the things you are facing.

2. Keep a journal. If you don’t have one, start it. If you do have one, continue it. From time to time look back over your history and see how God has been faithful to you.

(This devotional series is based on my notes from “Working the Angles” by Eugene Peterson)

What is in Us?

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[A note to my readers. During this time of “shelter-in-place” I thought I would write a series of devotionals aimed for those in vocational ministry. I recently re-read Eugene Peterson’s book “Working the Angles” and thought that this would be a great time to refocus on my ministry priorities. There is some good stuff in there for those who are not in vocational ministry, but it is geared particularly to those who are. –jd–]

  • Read

Colossians 4:16 (ESV) “And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.”

  • Meditate

Paul probably never imagined that 2000 years after he wrote the words above to the church that we would still be reading his letter. But he did know one thing, what he was writing was important and needed to be read. It was not important because he wrote it, though. What he wrote was important because it called us to attend to God in his speech and in his actions.

As vocational ministers, we know that reading the scripture is important. After all, we need to preach and teach a couple of times a week. And when we talk to people, a good Bible verse goes a long way to help bring the right level of piety to our words.

But the truth is that reading scripture is not enough. We need to listen to the scriptures. This is an important part of our role as members of the community of faith. 

For when we come to Scripture, we find out what is going on in us. From the original speaker, the Book comes to us, the listener, and tells us how God is interacting with us.

Listening to scripture is not the same as reading scripture. It moves us from seeing the words on the page to seeing God at work in our lives.

Reading scripture is good. Listening is better.

  • Pray

Father, as I read your scriptures, let me truly listen to what you are doing in my life. Let me see you at work, interacting with me today. Amen.

  • Contemplate

1. As you read scripture today, pause after each thought and see if you can find where God is interacting in your life the same way he was interacting with the original speaker.

2. As a vocational minister, read Paul’s letter to the church at Colossi. As you read, look for how God is interacting with your life just as he interacted with Paul as he cared for God’s people.

(This devotional series is based on my notes from “Working the Angles” by Eugene Peterson)

Praying & Playing

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[A note to my readers. During this time of “shelter-in-place” I thought I would write a series of devotionals aimed for those in vocational ministry. I recently re-read Eugene Peterson’s book “Working the Angles” and thought that this would be a great time to refocus on my ministry priorities. There is some good stuff in there for those who are not in vocational ministry, but it is geared particularly to those who are. –jd–]

  • Read

Exodus 20:8-11 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

  • Meditate

Every minister knows they need a Sabbath (truthfully, every person needs a Sabbath, minister or not). But acknowledging the need and practicing Sabbath or two different things. But a Sabbath is important because it trains us in the rhythms of action and response. It doesn’t matter if it is Sunday, Saturday, Monday or any other day. It is a day set aside for God.

If God’s word is previous to our desire to pray, then grace is also previous to all we do. When we Sabbath, we see both what God has been doing and what he is continuing to do. We quiet the noise so we can hear God.

It is a time to pray. It is also a time to play. It is a time to take a walk, to read a book, to take a drive. It is a day to protect. Learn to Sabbath.

  • Pray

Father, forgive me for not seeing the need for a Sabbath. Forgive me for making ministry an idol that I worship through my work, rather than stepping back and responding to a different type of rhythm. Let me walk in your grace as I step back and reflect on what you have been doing and what you desire to do. As I pray and play, help me quiet the noise so I can hear from you.

  • Contemplate

1. Pick a day, any day, and make it your Sabbath. Turn off your electronics and make a plan for creating a Sabbath.

2. Picked a day? Made a plan? Then go do it! That’s it.

(This devotional series is based on my notes from “Working the Angles” by Eugene Peterson)

Learning to Pray

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[A note to my readers. During this time of “shelter-in-place” I thought I would write a series of devotionals aimed for those in vocational ministry. I recently re-read Eugene Peterson’s book “Working the Angles” and thought that this would be a great time to refocus on my ministry priorities. There is some good stuff in there for those who are not in vocational ministry, but it is geared particularly to those who are. –jd–]

  • Read

Mark 6:46 “And after he had taken leave of them, he went up to the mountain to pray.”

  • Meditate

How did you learn to pray? Well, if you are like me, you learned to pray by listening to others pray. 

But, what if there were a manual on how to pray that came directly from God? What if there were a model for prayer no matter what season we find ourselves in? What if there were an instruction manual on how to respond to what God is doing?

There is! We call it Psalms.

Reading and studying Psalms is how we can learn the way to pray. It is interesting that Psalms is broken down into five parts. It is even more interesting that as you study both Psalms and the first five books of the law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), there is a correlation.

The first five books are God’s divine utterance on who we are, how and why we came to be, how he works, and how he expects us to live in relationship with him and others. The five sections of Psalms are the human answer, in prayer, to God’s divine utterance.

So in the Psalms we have the textbook for our first angle – prayer. This is where we learned how God is to be praised. There are happy times and dark times, times of blessing and times of tribulation.  And in Psalms, there are prayers for every occasion.

  • Pray

“Father, teach us to pray. If prayer is one of the foundational parts of who I am, then I want to know how to do it well. You know the way of the righteous and have set your glory above the heavens. As I learn to pray, give me ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to receive. Amen.”

  • Contemplate

1. Take one of the Psalms that speak to you. Re-write it in your words as your prayer to God. After you pray, listen for his response.

2. The Psalms are broken down so that you can read it easily in one to three months. Find a plan and commit to reading through Psalms multiple times this year. I read through Psalms every three months (and Proverbs monthly). Commit to reading the Psalms as a prayer during this period and see how you can develop your prayer life.

(This devotional series is based on my notes from “Working the Angles” by Eugene Peterson)

Partnering with God

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[A note to my readers. During this time of “shelter-in-place” I thought I would write a series of devotionals aimed for those in vocational ministry. I recently re-read Eugene Peterson’s book “Working the Angles” and thought that this would be a great time to refocus on my ministry priorities. There is some good stuff in there for those who are not in vocational ministry, but it is geared particularly to those who are. –jd–]

  • Read

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

  • Meditate

Eugene Peterson writes that prayer is the central act for maintaining the essential shape of ministry. The importance of prayer for those of us in ministry cannot be overstated.

It is unfortunate that prayer has become what I do, I.e. I tell God all of the things I am facing, all of the needs I have, and how I want him to act in response to my requests. We treat prayer as if it is the initiator of something, and God’s response is the answering word. In reality, when we pray we are the answering speech to God’s first word. God has initiated the desire to come to him. All we are doing is bringing ourselves to his attention through our prayers.

So what is the purpose of prayer? The ultimate purpose of prayer is to be a part of what is going on with God. In prayer we ask, “What are you doing God in my life, in my situation, in the lives and situations of those I know and love, and how do I partner with you?”

This is a dynamic shift in thought. No longer are we asking God to be involved in what we think is our work. We are asking to be involved in what is truly his work.

And that partnership makes all the difference.

  • Pray

What are you doing, Father? Show me how you are working in my life. Show me how you are working in the lives of those I will see today. I desire to partner with you in what you are doing. Let me lay aside my plans so I can partner with you this day. Amen.

  • Contemplate

1. As you go through your day, ask, “What are you doing right now, God, and how do I partner with you.” Start with your calendar for the day and listen to how God would structure your day.

2. Are you facing a situation you have been asking God to fix? Instead, pray today that God would show you how he is working in that situation and how you can partner with what he is doing. See your trials and tribulations as a chance to partner with God and his plan for you.

(This devotional series is based on my notes from “Working the Angles” by Eugene Peterson)

Lines & Angles

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[A note to my readers. During this time of “shelter-in-place” I thought I would write a series of devotionals aimed for those in vocational ministry. I recently re-read Eugene Peterson’s book “Working the Angles” and thought that this would be a great time to refocus on my ministry priorities. There is some good stuff in there for those who are not in vocational ministry, but it is geared particularly to those who are. –jd–]

  • Read

Psalm 103:21 “Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!

  • Meditate

Imagine a triangle. Go ahead. I’ll wait.

Got it? Good. Now imagine that the three lines of the triangle represent the visible roles we fill as vocational ministers. Let’s label those lines: preaching, teaching, and administration.

This is what we do. This is what people see. And, in some cases, these roles are how we define ourselves.

But what makes a triangle different from just three random lines? It is that they are connected at angles. Go ahead, take a look at your imaginary triangle. See those angles? Tri-ANGLES?

I want to talk about those angles. Much of what I will be writing in the next few days comes from Eugene Peterson’s insightful book, “Working the Angles”. We want to move from focusing on those three public roles, the lines, to what connects them, the angles.

What are those angles that keep our public ministry together? They are prayer, scripture reading, and spiritual direction. They are found in our private lives. Without those three, preaching, teaching, and administration fall apart. These are angles that are the foundation of being a minister who does the will of God.

So, let us bless the Lord and do his will.

  • Pray

Father, I desire to bless you with my life and ministry as I do your will. My prayer is that I learn to focus well on these angles that hold together the roles I fill. Give me ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to receive your words.

  • Contemplate

1. Have you allowed your identity as a minister of God to be in your public roles, forgetting to take care of those angles? Ask for God’s forgiveness as we go through this series.

2. Take the time to begin to look at your daily schedule and see how you can begin to work on these angles of ministry.

(This devotional series is based on my notes from “Working the Angles” by Eugene Peterson)

They Grow Up

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Read Luke 2:39-40 

And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

Meditate

It’s Christmas Eve!

As I write this morning, I remember the 19 Christmas eves we have spent in this house. This was a day of excitement. Children negotiated on how many presents they could open, snacks were purchased and prepared, stockings were shared, children were sent to their rooms and admonished not to come out until the sun was up, and I had a list of how many things I was going to have to build after the children were asleep.

19 years changes a lot. This morning, the house is quiet. It is the kid’s year to be with the in-laws so we celebrated Christmas at Thanksgiving with them. It will be a quieter, simpler Christmas. No elaborate meal to prepare. No hushed whispers as grandchildren try to sneak in to see what Santa brought. No presents with indecipherable instructions to build. Our children have have grown up.

They love God. They are smart (and good looking!). The ones who are married chose (and were chosen) well. They love each other. They love us.

We have the joy of being their parents. And we let them grow up to be men and women of God.

Joseph and Mary watched Jesus grow up. I cannot imagine what that must have looked or felt like. We know only small snippets of his childhood. What we do know is that he was aware of his purpose.

So he grew. He became strong. He became wise. He walked in favor with God.

And Mary and Joseph had the joy of being his parents. Even knowing what lay ahead, they knew he would grow up and become the Christ, the Messiah. They parented him. And let him grow.

As we draw this series to a close, we cannot leave Jesus in a manger. He came as a baby, but he ministered as a man. He grew up. He became the Savior. And he changed forever our relationship with God. With death. With each other. With ourselves.

As we celebrate this season, we grow up, too. 

Hopefully, you have grown stronger in our faith. It is my prayer that you have gained wisdom. And it is my firm belief that the favor of God is upon you. 

Merry Christmas.

Pray

“Father, thank you for Jesus. Thank you that he grew up and became my Savior, that he was willing to complete your plan and die for my sins. Thank you for his resurrection, for now I have hope. I pray blessing today over every man, woman, and child as they find you. Amen.”

Contemplate

This is the season for preparing resolutions for the new year. One area for growth is in Bible reading. While I encourage people to read through the Bible in a year, could I suggest that you read the Gospels to start 2020. Reflect on who Jesus is and how he taught us to live.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

The Heart of Worship

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Read Matthew 2:7-11 

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Meditate

Like most people who attend church regularly, I enjoy the time we call “worship.” I have been in churches that had full orchestras and choirs. Some have had flashing lights and smoke machines. Some have had karaoke.

I have experienced all types of music. I have stood, sat, kneeled, and a couple of times been flat on my face. Sometimes I wanted it to never end, and a time or two I might have had a thought that it would never end.

But rarely was any of that what made the time “worship.” What made it worship was the attitude of my heart. Worship was good because I had come to seek the one who is worthy to be praised.

Have I always liked the music? No. Has it been too loud sometimes? Yes. Have their been distractions? Usually. But whether I liked the music or the setting or any other thing was not what made it worship. 

Because I came to see Jesus.

I have heard people say, “I really enjoyed worship today.” Why? “I really liked the songs.”

But did you see Jesus?

Anyone can find a king in a palace.

It takes a real worshipper to find the true king in a stable.

Pray

“Father, worship is not about me. It is always about you and the King of kings. Teach me to have the heart of a true worshipper. Amen.”

Contemplate

  • Its time for Christmas music. Listen and enjoy this version of “We Three Kings.”
  • What are your biases in worship? Ask God to reveal the things in your heart that could keep you from being a true worshipper. Come expecting to see Jesus.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.