Will Vaus

Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, When our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little, When we arrive safely because we sailed too close to the shore.   Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, We have lost our thirst for the waters of life. Having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity. And in our efforts to build a new earth, We have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim.   Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, To venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery, Where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes, And to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.   That prayer is attributed to the great explorer, Sir Francis Drake. In sentiment, that could have been a prayer of the Apostle Paul. Paul saw himself as a pioneer for Jesus Christ, one who was taking the good news about Jesus where no one ha...

A pastor and a bus driver went to heaven. The bus driver got a big, beautiful mansion with large rooms. The preacher got only a one-room bungalow. So, the preacher went to St. Peter and asked, “How come I got a very small place, and the bus driver got that beautiful house? I’ve preached the good news all my life!”   St. Peter replied, “When you preached, the people fell asleep. When the bus driver drove his bus, people prayed.”   No doubt about it, the Lord wants us to pray. The Lord loves to hear from his children. It has been said that the life of the Christian is the life of prayer. But what is our attitude in prayer? When can we find time to pray? Why pray with joy? What are we to pray for others? These are some of the questions we are going to explore this morning based upon Philippians 1:3-11. Listen for God’s word to you… I thank my God every time I remember you.   In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray   with joy   because of your partnership ...

One winter many years ago, heavy snows hit North Carolina. Following a wet, six-inch snowfall, it was interesting to see the effect along Interstate 40. Next to the highway stood several large groves of tall, young pine trees. The branches were bowed down with heavy snow—so low that branches from one tree were often leaning against the trunk or branches of another. Where trees stood alone, however, the effect of the heavy snow was different. The branches had become heavier, but without other trees to lean against, the branches snapped. They lay on the ground, dark and alone in the cold snow.  That story is a reminder to me that when the storms of life hit, we need to be standing close to others. The closer we stand, the more we will be able to hold up. Good relationships are essential to life, and to our growth as Christians. I do not believe we can live full lives without a healthy relationship to God through his Son Jesus Christ, and healthy relationships with one another. ...

Listen for God’s word to you from Ephesians 6:18-24… And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind… be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. Peace to the brothers and sisters,  and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Pray in the Spirit.   Last week, we considered Paul’s com...