Ben Bourland

July 19, 2024

Have Not Forgotten…

Hey all, I have not forgotten about you. I have been working 14 – 16 hour days since I got back from our weekend getaway 2 weeks ago and only have had time for a quick QT each day. I am heading to the airport now to meet the family in California for a much needed rest. I’ll be back on the regular posts starting this weekend.

Although work has been insane, God has been so incredibly faithful to me; showing up in so many ways at work and in results of my team’s efforts. He has also been so gracious in the patience He has given my family. I have missed the recollective processing the posting generates and look forward to getting back into that groove. Hope all of your summer plans are going well.

June 25, 2024July 4, 2024

With a Song in Our Hearts…

…addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart
Ephesians 5:19 [ESV]

Last post was about the atmosphere that encourages and nurtures the space for the filling of the Holy Spirit. The first piece that Paul calls out is speaking to one another in worship and praise to God.

As I was doing the word study of this verse, I found that the English words chosen for the Greek original intent was pretty straightforward until I got to “making melody”. The Amplified interprets the end of this verse this way – “…offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord”. This feels closer to the Greek. The word used for melody is psallō. The root of this word is psaō which means, (to rub); to pull, twitch, twang, play, sing. So, not only does the command in this verse encourage each other and give praise to God, but I think it also means that it prepares our own hearts for what the Holy Spirit wants to do in and through us as we worship and sing.

When we do this corporately, we join that effect on our hearts together, and in turn this becomes an encouragement and blessing to all of us. Not that this is why we do it…for the sole audience for our worship should be the Lord alone, but this collateral blessing is the grace of God in His plan for biblical community.

Application:

The big take away I have today is that the worship I give should be unabated and for sure my heart must be in the correct posture of absolute humility and awe of an almighty Savior. When I do this, I play a divine part in the community of Believers as we extol our praise on the One Who has secured our future forever. One more thought – lately I have been responding to the ‘absolute glory’ of God in my worship of Him. When my mind and heart recognize my place in light of the Holy, Pure, and Just God that He is, I am brought into a direct focus of the God of my past, present, and future.

Today’s Psalm:

Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;
the LORD protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
Psalms 41:1-2 [ESV]

June 3, 2024June 4, 2024

We Did Not Learn That Way…

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
Ephesians 4:20-21 [ESV]

This will be a shorter one today. I really needed the Lord today and He came to my rescue. At work today we had another reorg and as part of that reorg there were some very hard working people laid off. Thank goodness I did not have to manage that message with any of my team members this time…but it was still a heavy day. I was praying my way through talking with my new boss and helping my team navigate the emotions these situations bring. I care for them sooo much!

I am slow walking this last bit of this chapter as I don’t have a ton of time tonight to write and don’t want to launch into the meat of the next several verses yet. But, the verses today make a big set of statements in a few words teeing up the verses to come.

“But that is not the way…” There is only one way to learn of Christ and that is when the Father calls us to Him. The Gentiles mentioned in the preceding verses only reached into their own desires and understanding. They are out for themselves in gratifying their own desires. But when the Ephesians came into the new man, that is, the new community, and sought forgiveness, they entered a new world. Christ did not teach them to be self-focused. They learned a different moral truth and a different way to respond.

To learn Christ involves being affected by his person. The issue here is not only ideas, but also an approach to life. It means learning by example, reflective of the character Jesus reveals.

Application:

The thing that stands out to me is how I can use this passage message to help in my discernment of those I counsel and disciple. There are a lot of intellectual ‘Christians’ out there that don’t actually have genuine salvation. They have worked their way to a self built knowledge of Gods word, knowledge that is human strength alone…there is no Living Word in what they know. These people look like awesome Christians with lots of takes on theology and viewpoints on a Christian worldview. But, there is no relationship with Christ, the person is driven by ‘feeling’ spiritual and when the ‘feeling’ wanes they find themselves spinning. These people ‘believe’ they are saved but they are likely not. I have a soft spot in my heart for these lost people.

Today’s Psalm:

Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.

Psalms 37:5-6 [ESV]

May 30, 2024May 30, 2024

Gifts to Equip…

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Ephesians 4:11-12 [ESV]

Shorter post today – Paul here is now talking about the ‘gifts’ Jesus has given teaching, prophesying, shepherding, and other gifts to equip believers for the building of the Kingdom. The gifting involves leaders & teachers who guide the church as a catalyst to its internal growth and maturity. The list is clearly specific and selective, given other lists that include gifts of service, not just teaching and guiding (Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12).

In verse 12, the key comes in three phrases: for equipping, for ministry, and for edification. The saints as a whole are equipped for ministry, and the edification of the church is the outcome.

Application:

As an elder at Canyon Hills, we take this role seriously. Our by line for CHCC is “Make more and better disciples”. We strive to be vessels used by God to bring more people into the knowledge of Jesus and then equip them for ministry in their lives, family, workplaces, and communities. I pray that the Lord continues to give us wisdom and boldness to do this in today’s crazy society and culture.

Today’s Psalm:

Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God
before his eyes.
For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
He plots trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in a way that is not good;
he does not reject evil.

Psalms 36:1-4

April 17, 2024

BITE: The “In Christ” Group…

“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”

Ephesians 1:4 [ESV]

We must read verse three as we look at this verse above. “Praise be to the Lord and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.“

We receive every spiritual blessing IN Christ
The Father chose us IN Christ
We are holy and blameless IN Christ

It’s all about Christ and being IN Him. Our journey into blessing, began in eternity past. There is nothing we did to generate His decision to choose us. No entitlement. The link to verse three is that He blessed us even as He elected us. This makes our God a relational God. He picked us out for Himself.

This whole idea is that this is what makes us (the church) a specifically called group, we are called the “in Christ“ group. My position in Christ leaves me blameless and holy because of the work of Christ. Love is the sphere that comes from God’s act of election. It is a moving toward another with his or her best interest at heart; not an emotional response.

Application:

When I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, I received all of the spiritual blessings I could ever have because I was born into Christ. It is only through a deep study of God‘s word and a relationship with God through prayer, that I can unlock all of the things that are already inside of me that God has for me. the key is to realize that the Holy Spirit is the activator. When someone colors their hair they could put just the color-dye in their hair but until they mix in the activator/developer, the color just sits there; it doesn’t penetrate. The Holy Spirit acts through a pure heart, a heart justified through salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. My growth happens through meditation on God‘s word and dedicating my life and service to Him. The other way that I have spiritual growth is through persevering through trial and leaning into God’s strength in the midst of it.

April 14, 2024April 14, 2024

BITE: Everything IN Christ Jesus…

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."
Ephesians 1:3 [ESV]

Today I am starting Ephesians. I of 3 books in the New Testament I have yet to do a deep study of. I will continue to read through Psalms but I am lacking a little meat to my daily meals.

These first several verses of Ephesians did not disappoint as Paul jumps right in to 1) What we have in Jesus and 2) that we have been chosen before the earth was created. I am focusing on number 1 today and will launch into number 2 over the next couple of days as there is so much there.

Every spiritual blessing: what jumped out at me about this was the totality of blessing (spiritually) that we have when we accept Jesus as our personal LORD and Savior. Not some, not all eventually, but everything now. These spiritual blessings are already secured when we believe. There is such freedom and hope unlocked when we embrace this truth.

APPLICATION:

Lately, I have been living a day-by-day life. Now, this is not bad within itself; Jesus calls us not to be anxious for tomorrow and that God’s grace is new every morning… but my outlook should be further than today and my hope should be in more than today. I need to transition my thinking in my personal ministry to be taking into consideration all the spiritual blessing God the father has given me IN the LORD Jesus Christ, I am realizing there is untapped potential in what I am capable of doing as far as impact for the Kingdom through what I have been give IN Christ. My prayer life must include more -> asking of the Lord to reveal how I can say yes to the Kingdom work He is preparing before me. In this context I have to be looking out further than today.

March 24, 2024

BITE: The LORD Jesus is our King…

"Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. For He spoke and it came to be; He commanded and it stood firm. The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But, the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all the generations."
Psalms 33:8-11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELLA!! Today is Bella’s 20th Birthday! As you know from reading this blog that she is on the mission field in Guatemala and her mom and I could not be more proud of her. Everytime she calls we hear new growth in the LORD but what He is revealing to her on almost a daily basis. As our first child she is being an awesome model of God’s provision and sovereignty on our lives when we let Him be the LORD of our purpose and desires. Happy Birthday sweetheart! I love you sooo much!

Today is also Palm Sunday – the celebration of the day our LORD Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem and was praised at the King of Israel with worship and singing “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the LORD! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the Highest” It is awesome to see how this points back to the Psalm today…David’s true kingdom, he belonged to, was the LORD’s and his singing in the Psalms is even passed down to the nation through generations to be sung as Jesus rides into the city on His triumphant entry. Today we celebrate this acknowledgemetn of who Jesus is; the LORD God of Heaven who has been given the inheritance of all things. In Jesus we too have received this inheritance. There is so much to praise and worship in Him today as we enter Holy Week.

March 11, 2024

BITE: Control Without Understanding…

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's Unfailing Love surrounds the man who trusts in Him." 
Psalms 32: 8-10

Guatemala Update: Today Marianne and I did a Coffee Plantation Tour on ATVs with another dear couple, I was a ton of fun and super informational. This took most of the day but on our way back to our Hotel, we stopped by Starbucks for a cold drink and was able to see Bella for a few minutes to give her a big hug and say our goodbyes until May when we see her again. We have a Cultural walking tour through Antigua tomorrow and head back home on Wednesday morning.

I, the LORD, will Instruct you and teach you the way you should go,

In this Psalm, David is giving us words from the LORD in regard to what God can do for us and how we should respond.
Right here in God’s word we have divine instruction and teaching. It is God through His word that teaches and in structs. In His counsel, He also watches over us.

Don’t be like the horse or the mule who must be controlled by bit and bridle.

As we have been going through Biblical counseling training to become counselors, we have talked about this lack of understanding. More importantly I think this is a lack of Godly fear. You go through the motions because someone told you to but there is no true understanding (internalization) as to the WHY.
Someone I was counseling awhile back would go through the motions of behavior modification but the repentance was never there, Because of this lack of fear, they had many woes.

But! the LORD’s unfailing Love surrounds the man who trusts IN Him.

We come to the separation in wisdom. Control without understanding is not a cooperative relationship. Placing our trust in the LORD means fearing the disappointment our actions cause the LORD. When we put our faith and trust in Him, we are spurred on to turn a 180 degrees from the sin before us.

Application:

In my walk to be more like my Savior, I crave to honor the One Who gave up so much for me. I want to be in a place of dependence where I feel the Love of God surround me and receive His instruction, teaching, and counsel. Only then will I be able to be an instrument the LORD uses to teach, instruct, and cause others.

March 10, 2024

BITE: A Wonderful Relationship…

"Sing to the LORD, you saints of His; Praise His Holy name. For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." 
Psalms 30:4-5

Guatemala Update: Last night was our final night with Bella and the rest of the ‘racers’ for this Parent Vision Trip. It was a very special evening. It started with Bella and the other racers washing the feet of their parents in gratitude and love and then a time of us reading a ‘Blessing’ over our racers. It was wonderful and emotional. I am so proud of Bella and who the Lord is shaping her to be.

Today we (Mariannd and I) start out little getaway together before returnng home. We will be changing hotels for the last 3 nights and have some sightseeing activities planned before returning home on Wednesday.

A Wonderful Relationship:

The Psalmist gives us such amazing insight in these 2 verses,
The saints of the LORD sing to Him and praise His Holy name.
We may disappoint and even anger the LORD, but that lasts such a short time compared to the favor we have from Him over a lifetime because we are His children. As a father, I identity with this.
In our emotion that follows the circumstances and situations of our lives, we may be sad for an evening but our Joy in the LORD follows in the morning.

Application:

As children of the Lord who have been adopted into God’s family, due to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, we have God the Father’s favor for our whole lives, When we fall, we can bank on disappointing the Father, but just like I can’t stay angry at my girls when they have done something wrong, my Father in heaven is just as quick to return to the favor He has for me. Likewise, when I understand and embrace the hope I have in eternity, I may be sad for an evening but that hope in eternity quickly turns to joy the next morning. As a Saint of the king, I will sing to and praise His name!

March 9, 2024

BITE: The Voice of the LORD…

"The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic." 
Psalms 28:3-4

Guatemala update: Now that we know what Bella’s fever is, we have joined her as much as we can while she rests. We have talked, laughed, and enjoyed each others company. Marianne and I ventured out for some shopping and a stroll around the town which was nice and relaxing. Bella got word from Adventures In Missions that she has been accepted into their CGA program this coming fall. This was an amswer from the LORD to her for her to continue on the Missions focused work He has her on. Below are some pics from our walk yesterday.

His Voice:

This whole Psalm talks about the power of the VOICE of God. The the Audio Picture of the power of God’s voice rolling or peeling across the water is so awesome.
Water is such a chaotic force and the ocean can be so powerful to bring even the largest ships under its control and thumb… but Gods voice rises above and rides the chaotic sea. It is important for us to take this picture and understand that God is above any problem life can throw at us.
When the LORD speaks, things come into existence that were not there before. The raging seas become calm and the glory of the LORD’s voice brings-every one and everything prostrate before Himself.
So… that’s all it would take for God to call in the end of times and bring about the Revelation version of Gods Kingdom.

Application:

God’s voice is majestic and powerful. His right hand brings wrath but His voice brings His presence reverberabing through creation. God’s voice is available to us today (thorugh His Spirit and His Word) but it is only when I have clothed myself in the righteousness of Christ (when I confess and repent of my sin) that I can hear it. When I have created the “Whisper Booth” (those sound proof boxes they make for vocal recordings) of sin that keeps me from hearing the sweet soothing voice of content, peace, correction, and truth -> I only have one voice to focus on, the voice in my Jeremiah 17: 9 heart.

A great clip taken by one of the dads over Antigua from a lookout with his drone.