During the 1960's, before I was born by the way, Batman and Robin entertained with episodes of a crime fighting duo battling the evil forces of penguin and the joker. Each episode usually contained Robin exclaiming to Batman his evaluation of a situation with a "holy" type saying. Just google it and you will find plenty of them. 

In the 1980's the "holy - fill in the blank" exclamations resurfaced. During this time I was a teenager and it seemed harmless enough to use the expression. Even some very famous baseball announcers used it when calling a game.

However this week I have changed the way I look and attribute the word holy. Often times, I find myself at a loss for words to describe the wonderful, tremendous, awesome God that I serve. Words just don't seem adequate. Whether it be in times of worship or when just trying to rightly express my thoughts and love toward him, I find myself speechless. 

I began to think on the scriptures like Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8. Out of all the attributes of God, those gathered around His throne proclaim "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty."  They could say, "You're righteous", because he is; or "You're faithful", He's that too; or "You're loving", because God is love. But they proclaim "Holy is the Lord God Almighty".

Which leads me to this change in my own vocabulary - I will do my very best to ascribe holy to one and only one, the God of my salvation. When my words are not enough to rightly express how I feel, I will join with all of heaven proclaiming "He is Holy!!"

"Lord, teach us to pray..." was the request of one of the disciples in Luke 11. Jesus so lovingly responds to his request and then in verse 9 reminds them to keep seeking, keep knocking, keep asking. 

As I read this passage, the words "teach us" seemed to jump off the page. I thought about the disciples having access to the greatest teacher they had ever heard and how they desired to learn. And then I begin to think about what Jesus has taught me and what I still long to learn.

He has taught me that life's circumstances are not a direct reflection of God's love, or lack there of, for me. God's love was shown, proven and confirmed in the death of Jesus - who was completely given for me. So often the first questions into our minds during difficult times and seasons of life is, "God, do you love me? If so then why is this happening?" But the cross settles the argument of God's love. Every step  to the cross Jesus took was a testament of God's love to us. "For God so loved... that He gave His Son".  John 3:16

How would I finish the sentence "Lord teach me to ____."? I would say, teach me to love like you loved me; teach me to pray with faith and persistence; teach me wisdom and knowledge through scripture;  teach me humility and grace; teach me compassion.  

Why did Jesus teach them? Because they asked him to. They desired to know more. What an amazing thought that when we ask him to teach us, He does!

Do you ever feel as though the world is spinning out of control? Sometimes it seems as if the very foundation of our society are being shaken! Well, we should not be surprised; after all, God has warned us that a time of shaking would come. In fact, He tells us in His Word that everything that can be shaken will be (Hebrews 12:25-29)

In these times of shaking when good is being called evil and evil is being called good, when Judeo-christian values are being marginalized and society is becoming darker and darker, what should God's people do? We draw closer to Jesus and His Word! Remember, Jesus is the light of the world and He has promised to lead us and guide us through whatever comes our way. No matter how dark things may be in society or in your own life, Jesus will always shine brighter!

Next, we find comfort and guidance in God's Word. The Psalmist declared, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path". Don't allow a fallen world or a shaken society to guide your life when God has provided the perfect road map for how to live. I don't know about you but I want to hide God's word deep within my heart that I might not sin against Him and when things are too dark and confusing for me to figure out, His words will guide me!