Monday, December 31, 2018

Rest


Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

I am the type of person that just goes and goes and goes until I crash.  At which point, I tend to crash hard.  With the holidays, this was no exception.  By the end of last week, I found myself battling a headache and just wore out.  I knew it was time to find rest.  The thing is, we were getting ready to leave for the weekend so I really didn’t have time for resting.  That’s when I came across this verse.  I’ve read it many times before, it wasn’t new.  But it hit me.  Last week we celebrated the birth of Christ, and right after I got super busy with work and getting the house prepared for new flooring.  I was failing to take the time I needed in my devotions and had grown weary and burdened. 

At that point, I stopped and took a little time to find rest in Christ by being in the word.  Thankfully I can look forward to some additional physical rest this next week as I take PTO and spend time with my son who is on his winter break but in that moment, it was the recharge of some scripture that was really needed.

Have you gotten so busy that you have failed to rest in the Lord’s word?  I encourage you today to not let yourself grow too weary.  Remember to go to the Lord and he will give you rest.

Friday, December 28, 2018

Today for Eternity

“So teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
     Psalm 90:12 (NKJV)

The end of another year is approaching. As we reflect on this past year and ponder the new one, it’s helpful to do so from an eternal perspective.

God is outside time—He is “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2), yet He has a lot to say about time and how we use it.  For example, we’re cautioned to redeem the time for the days are evil (Eph. 5:16). And we’re exhorted to use our time in doing all things to His glory (1 Corinth. 10:31).  We are to be good stewards of all the resources we’ve been given, including our time. Because time is limited, it is good to pray as the psalmist did, asking God to “teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

There are no calendars in heaven and time does not exist in eternity.  However, our time on earth is short--a mere handsbreadth (Psalm 39:5). So let’s resolve this new year to use our time wisely, for God’s glory.  

Every day is a gift from God and no one is guaranteed tomorrow. That fact should motivate us to make today count for eternity.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Meditation & Application


I will keep on obeying your instructions
    forever and ever.
I will walk in freedom,
    for I have devoted myself to your commandments.
I will speak to kings about your laws,
    and I will not be ashamed.
How I delight in your commands!
    How I love them!
I honor and love your commands.
    I meditate on your decrees.  Psalm 119:44-48


What am I going to do in 2019? There were many milestones that I reached this year.  One was making it to twenty years at the same place of employment.  Not too shabby for a person who had not stayed anywhere longer than four.  Many other achievements were reached such as having a daughter get to ninth grade and being in decent shape in other areas in my life.  The year has had lots of successes, and looking toward 2019, it is a good time to pause and reflect on what has worked this year.  In that vein, it would be bad for me to simply look at my growth in faith and not realize that there was much room still to grow as a Christ follower.  It is important that while I can do all things through Him, I must remember that I am not Him.  While my faith by works is not good, my works through faith is.  And while I read His word, it is crucial that I do not just say to myself, “Hey!  That’s good to know!”  It is more important that I reflect on it and meditate so that it has both relevancy and value.
We should all take time to gain greater understanding of God’s word not only in comprehension but also through application. As I read the 119th Psalm, there are many different prayers for not only God’s guidance but also our obedience to Him.  If I am reading it for comprehension alone, I may lose its intent.  Do I really get freedom by enslaving myself to God’s commandments?  If I love the law, am I able to truly love my neighbor?  What courage will I need to always speak the truth of God’s word even when it either might hurt someone or disagrees with other laws?  These are questions one should be asking as they read these verses, and it is clearly noted as such as David said in the 48thverse, “I meditate on your decrees.”  Even amid his giving glory to God, he noted that he must make time to reflect on those things God had laid on his heart.  We too must take that approach as we gain greater clarity into God’s will for us.  If we rush too fast through a reading, we may find ourselves missing a key principle in our life that may either become a shortfall or lead us down a more treacherous path.
God’s word is there for us when we need instruction. A devotion years ago described the Bible like an owner’s manual for a car.  Most of us know how to operate the car, but to truly take care of it, one must learn of the manual’s contents to ensure a long healthy car life.  For us to have a healthy and growing spiritual life, we too must push not to just read God’s word.  We must understand the context of what we are reading, ensure it means what it says, and pray for guidance in applying it in our lives.  That’s something we should all aspire to do in the New Year.  What practices do you have to ensure clarity when reading God’s word?  How can you reflect more on it in the coming year?  My prayer is that this New Year we find practices to ensure meditation for future application.  Amen, and may you have a blessed and Happy New Year!

Friday, December 21, 2018

The Face of God


“So it was, when the angels had gone away from them
into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another,
‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that
has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph,
and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had
seen Him, they made widely known the saying which
was told them concerning this Child. And all those who
heard it marveled at those things which were told
them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
      Luke 2:15-19 (NKJV)

I’ve been thinking a great deal of Mary this Christmas season.  The amazement and wonder she felt at hearing the angel announce her role in the Messiah’s coming.  Considering the impact on her life and Joseph’s.  Experiencing the reactions of Elizabeth and the unborn baby John; the rejoicing of the shepherds and later, the worshiping of the Magi.  Learning of the suffering to come from Simeon. How did Mary respond?  She exhibited a simple, trusting faith.  She was humble, obedient to God’s will, submissive to His plan.  Mary exalted the Lord for regarding her “lowly state” and doing great things for her.  And she pondered all these things in her heart.

As a mother, I remember the thrill when my son was born—how cherished he was, how precious his little fingers and toes were, how sweet his cheeks were to kiss, how dear every development “milestone” was, how I loved to cuddle and hold him close.  Mary must have felt these things too.  And yet this Babe was not only her beloved child, He was her Savior!  As the song goes, when she kissed her little baby, she kissed the face of God!

Emmanuel. . .God became flesh to dwell among us. . .to be with us.  Like Mary, let us ponder these things in our heart, let us wonder and rejoice at how God has regarded our lowly state and done great things by proving for us a Savior!

Wishing you a blessed Christmas!

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Thursday Devotional - 2018 Christmas Letter/Picture

For this week’s devotional, I thought I would include our Christmas letter and picture that we’re in the process of sending out.

Merry Christmas! Every year life seems busier, but God knew just what we needed as we faced several health crises for my parents, asthma attacks for James, another basement flood and decision dilemmas. We clung to verses such as Psalm 59:16 “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”
James (6) started kindergarten! He loves that his grand mom comes for reading time and lunch on Mondays. This Fall he also started going with me to Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and kept me accountable to learn the weekly memory verse with him. Gymnastics is another new favorite activity for him and Sarah.
Sarah (4) loves preschool three mornings a week! Her teacher said she sang to (and calmed down) a kid throwing a tantrum. Most importantly, she accepted Jesus as her personal Savior (partially through James’ invitation). The Holy Spirit’s work in her life is evident. She uses memory verses to encourage others.
Joe continues to counsel. In his free time, when he’s not dealing with a rental unit problem, he tackles our never-ending home projects. We both enjoy this year’s new BSF study and having the same leadership role! At church, we started teaching our preschool class and continue with the pre-service prayer team. In addition to work, I continue to write the Thursday devotional for believers at work (and externally post at: https://trdailydevotional.blogspot.com).
I pray you and I will seek and focus on God and His gift of Jesus our Savior, whether Christmas is merry or not.
Psalm 27:1-2, 7-8 and 13-14        
The Lord is my light and my salvation—   whom shall I fear? 2The Lord is the stronghold of my life—   of whom shall I be afraid?
7Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. 8My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”   Your face, Lord, I will seek.
13I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Alice

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

What Christmas Is All About


My evolution as a Christian continues.  The other day, A Charlie Brown Christmas comes on.  It was perfectly timed because my daughter had one of those ‘playing indoors and hitting the 55” HD TV’ wrong moments (see the 12/5 ‘God’s Righteous Anger’ Devotion), and I really wasn’t up for my initial reaction.  So, I’m laughing as Snoopy boos the announcement of Charlie Brown, his owner, as the director and Schroeder plays ‘Jingle Bells’ practically breaking each piano key for emphasis.  Then of course my heart warms as the Peanuts gang fixed Charlie Brown’s awkward looking tree with Snoopy’s Christmas décor to make it a shiny Christmas tree.  But for some reason, I never really gravitated to the most important part of the cartoon … until this year.

To set the scene, Charlie Brown is dealing with his less than enthusiastic cast as they resist following his direction.  As they laugh at his choice of a sparse little Christmas tree, he yells out in the auditorium, “Doesn’t anyone know what Christmas is all about?”

And so, Linus steps up to the microphone, and then asks for the spotlight to shine on him.  Then he says:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  Luke 2:8-14 KJV

As followers of Christ, we are always reminded that He is the reason for the season.  However, I admit this was falling a bit on the ‘checklist’ side of things, and I might have lost sight of it.  I focused on what to get my wife or how happy my granddaughter will be when she gets that new doll.  These are all great things and part of the celebration, but I should always remember the word ‘Christmas’ begins with ‘Christ.’  We often focus on the lessons we learn from Jesus, and that He died so that we may have eternal life.  But none of it is possible without His coming to being.  God understood what our problem was, and despite all His warnings and amazing feats by His believers, He could not bridge the divide of our separation from us because of our sins.  And thus, a solution was given.  “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.”  A Savior!  The answer to our long-needed question of, “How do we get to heaven?” No matter how our lives mirror the examples of Moses, Joshua, Jonah, David, or any others, we all fall short of God’s glory.  But on this day, “the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”  Not a few.  All!

We are so blessed to have a God who loves us.  John 3:16 says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  He certainly did not have to.  He could have chosen to leave us be, and washed us away like the great flood during Noah’s time.  But He did what we often do this time of year.  He gave, and it was the best gift we could ever get.  One we could neither buy nor earn.  He gave us freedom from our past mistakes and the opportunity for eternal life.  Let us ensure we understand the depth and level of thankfulness this wonderful and glorious day brings!  How will you share the story of Christmas this season?  Who in your life needs the Good News today?  My prayer is that we remember the closing line of Linus’ speech as he says, “That’s what Christmas is all about.”  May He bring you and your family peace, good will, and a Merry Christmas!  Amen.

Monday, December 17, 2018

Good News!


Luke 2:8-12

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Think about a time that you had good news.  Maybe it was that you were expecting a baby or maybe it was a new job. When you have good news, you typically want to shout it from the rooftops.  Both of those however, are situations that you may not be able to show it from the rooftops right away. 

When Christ was born, the good news could not be contained.  It was too great and therefore brought forth a huge announcement.  As we approach Christmas, the excitement of Christ’s birth is still alive today.  It is something that we should still be excited to share with everyone we come in contact with. 

How are you sharing the good news of Christ’s birth?  Do you shout it from the rooftops?  Today I want to encourage you to not withhold this fabulous news.  It may just be what leads someone else to be reborn and have their own good news to share.

Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 14, 2018

Awl-Pierced Ear

“He who loves his life will lose it,
and he who hates his life in this world
will keep it for eternal life. If anyone
serves Me, let him follow Me, and
where I am, there My servant will
be also. If anyone serves Me,
him My father will honor.”
    John 12:25-26 (NKJV)

The idea of servant-hood to central to the Bible and Jesus is the ultimate example: “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom to many” (Mark 10:45, NKJV). And our Lord calls those who believe in Him not only to serve Him but to be His servant.  These are related but different concepts and both are necessary to be a true Christ-follower.

I can easily fall into the trap of busy-ness, filling up my schedule with all kinds of activities that I may consider “worthy”  service.  But what profit is there if my efforts are not consistent with God’s will and done for His honor?  I don't want my works to be just wood, hay and stubble (1 Corinth. 3:12).  So I need to be make sure I'm building on the right foundation (Christ) and serving where and how He wants me to. Service that advances God's kingdom rather than shallow activity with little or no eternal value.

Moreover, my busy-ness is worthless if the attitude of my heart is wrong. I need to have humility and be willing to do what I feel the Lord is calling me to do rather than what will please me and my pride.  Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22), so I need to surrender to His plan not further my own agenda. And I must remember that God gets all the glory, not me.

The mark of a bond-servant in the OT was an awl-pierced ear to show absolute, voluntary commitment to his or her master; although that is not a physical sign for us, our lives should demonstrate that kind of complete loyalty and devoted service to our Lord.  Not clock-watching or Sunday-only Christians, but truly following Christ.  Willing to defer to others; to give sacrificially of our time, talent and resources; to be obedient and not count the cost of serving in our Lord’s name according to His plan and purpose. Belonging to Him in such a way that we walk with meekness yet boldness, as salt and light in this world without compromise.

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Thursday Devotional - A Christmas Focus


James is still struggling with asthma and had a terrible virus this past week. He apparently shared it with Sarah, too, so now she is down with it. They were to be in a Christmas program Monday night, but as much as they wanted to be in it (and I wanted to see them in it), I knew it wasn’t best for everyone involved. Sarah’s teacher even called to see just how sick Sarah was, because she had a special part she had learned!
As frustrating as it is to miss out on activities and let people down, Lord willing, there will be many more years of Christmas programs. Plus, often we get too busy with Christmas programs, parties, gifts and activities, that we forget the whole reason for the season! I think it would most honor God if we took more time to quietly reflect on His gift, praise Him for it and share it with others.
Although the kids missed several programs, classes, activities and parties this week, we did get extra time together to sing Christmas hymns around the piano, dance to Christmas music, read the Bible together unrushed, read Christmas books focused on God’s gift, and pray for the people that sent us Christmas cards.
As I continue in this Christmas season, I pray God would help Psalm 57:7-11 to be true in my life:
My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;
    I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

Will you pray with me that our hearts would be steadfastly focused on Him, honoring Him, praising Him and exalting Him this Christmas season? God is loving, faithful, and glorious! What better Christmas focus?!

Alice

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Unbelievable!!!


As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.
So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword.  1 Samuel 17:48-50
They say in broadcasting that the great call of the announcer becomes part of the actual event, and when a truly historic event happens, the great call becomes as iconic as the moment itself.  Yesterday, I had an opportunity to appreciate one such moment.

Ever since I was a child, I have been a fan of boxing.  The big fights were always on television.  Muhammed Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Ken Norton were the great fighters back then.  It felt like I was watching one of them every month, and they were so good, it was a marvel to see any one of them.  As I got older, I had the chance to watch this kid named Mike Tyson.  His nickname was ‘The Baddest Man On The Planet.’  Now that probably sounds a bit braggadocios, but trust me.  This name was well deserved.  At the prime of his career, not only did he win but rarely if ever did his fights last more than two or three rounds.  Keep in mind fights typically go twelve rounds!
He was undefeated when he went into a fight against a man named James ‘Buster’ Douglass.  Most experts gave Douglass very little chance to win.  In fact, Douglass had one of the worst odds ever put on for a prize fight; 42 to 1 or just over a 2% chance.  And then, there I was watching what people call the greatest upset in history as Buster Douglass knocked out Mike Tyson.  Years later as I listened to the announcer on a rebroadcast of the event, I found myself feeling nervous chills as if I were watching this for the first time, and the moment began to play like a symphony in my ears:

“Oh!  Nice upper cut!  By Buster Douglass!  Look at this!!!  He’s knocked Mike Tyson down!!!  For the first time … in his career!!!  Mike Tyson … hits the canvas!!!  He’s in big trouble!!!  He may not be able to recover!!!  It’s up to 7 … and 8!!!  He’s not gonna make it!!!  Unbelievable!!!  Unbelievable!!!  Unbelievable!!!” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euZ08eWV4ME)
This brought me to the story of David and Goliath.  We all know what happened, and we harken to the story when facing insurmountable odds.  However, we fail to understand the true gravity of the situation because we don’t have the context of how great a feat it was. 

We must have true context to appreciate the amazing things God can do in our lives.  Imagine Goliath was that ‘baddest man on the planet.’  Undefeated.  Unmatched.  When you fight him, it’s in, and out in record time.  All nations feared him, and here he came with his entourage to conquer Israel.  He boasts, “Choose one man to come down here and fight me!” (1 Samuel 17:8b)  Israel, went in thinking they have no shot in this battle (worse than even 42 to 1 odds).  The Bible says, “When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.” (1 Samuel 17:11)  And then, this young kid named David, comes in not thinking of who Goliath was but instead focusing on who God was.  He said, “I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!  The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” (1 Samuel 17:36-37a)  Note David focused on who he represented (the armies of the living God) and who ultimately would give him victory, which was God himself.

Then the fight ensued.  David did not try to be something he was not.  In fact, as you read the story he was given armor from King Saul himself.  But knowing that he could not adjust to wearing it, he took the armor off, and went in with 5 stones (see 1 Samuel 17:38-40).  Thus, we learned he fought relying on the abilities God gave him and not what others had given him.  The rest as today’s verses show was history, but to truly appreciate it, you need to have the context.  You can imagine the reaction as David fired the stone, and struck the Philistine.  Then with stunned and excited disbelief, the Israelites watched as Goliath fell to the ground, and they began to jump for joy praising God realizing what David had done; the greatest upset in history!
The story of David & Goliath is meant to inspire us.  It is to remind us that we need not look at the odds nor focus on the shear monumental task we face.  We are to as David did remember who we serve, which is an all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present God.  Furthermore, we are to remember who he made us to be in battle.  This is not to say we do not grow spiritually to better arm ourselves for battle.  But we are to trust God gave us all we need when the battle occurs.  So, let us go into battle remembering we are God’s army and we will win no matter what the odds are.  What battle scares you today?  How can knowing who you are and whose you are strengthen you for victory?  My prayer is that we trust in God for our inevitable victory where you can hear others say like the announcer, “Unbelievable!”  Amen!

Monday, December 10, 2018

How is your leader?


Proverbs 4:10-11

Listen, my son, accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.
I instruct you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.

Many through our organization have been facing a lot of changes right now.  Sometimes change can lead to fear for some.  During this time, I want to simply remind you to not lose sight of who your ultimate leader is.  As you are leaving the support wing in the Ann Arbor office, the white board says:

Time to Lead!
How will you lead our customers to success?
Think Big
Make it simple
Move fast

With Christ as our ultimate leader, remember that his plan is to lead you to success.  He certainly has big plans for your life.  We need to not overcomplicate them but rather keep it simple and move fast when he says to move.

We have been instructed with wisdom and are being guided along a straight path.  Today, make sure to trust your leadership and follow their lead. 

Friday, December 7, 2018

Advent Waiting

“Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
neither faints nor is weary,
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
and to those who have no might
He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall,
but those who wait on the Lord
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.”
    Isaiah 40:28-31 (NKJV)

Advent is a time of waiting, of preparation, of eager anticipation.  There is hustle and bustle over the next few weeks but we know that our waiting will soon be over, Christmas will arrive and we’ll rejoice in celebrating our Savior’s birth once more.

However, other times of waiting may not seem joyful to us.  Instead, anxiety, impatience and uncertainty often fill our hearts while we wait, especially when we’re seeking God’s guidance/direction for a major decision or when we’re longing for an answer to prayer but God seems silent.  Yet the Bible tells us that when we wait on the Lord, He will renew our strength.  If we trust in the sovereignty of God, if we know that the outcome is in His hands, then we can wait with hope and strength.

This passage also reminds us that God’s understanding is unsearchable. Our finite minds struggle to realize that He uses times of waiting for our good—to build our character, to strengthen our faith, to form us more in His image, to accomplish His purposes. It is hard to wait but God’s timing is not our own and we can trust that His timing is best. Even when we pray and pray and don’t seem to get an answer, we must remember that God does not forget His children as we wait for His will to be made known.

I don’t like flying so the idea of having wings like eagles isn’t particularly appealing to me. But I'm comforted by the imagery of being borne up by God and held close to Him as I wait. And by the strength He gives, we can run and not be weary, we can walk and not faint, we can persevere during our seasons of waiting.  Because He is the everlasting and faithful God, we can eagerly anticipate these blessings while we wait, during Advent or any season.  Amen!

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Thursday Devotional - Feeling Helpless


My Dad is home from the hospital! He is on high doses of a diuretic and an arrythmia medication. He has a ways to go to recover and regain strength, but he’s glad to be home!
Last night, though, James had another asthma attack. It seems like it has been one health issue after another all Fall (two almost week-long hospital stays for my Dad and several weeks struggling with asthma for James). We’ve done lots of praying for wisdom and direction. God’s the ultimate healer and the only one we can always turn to for help. He’s always listening and always available. 
Psalm 34:1-5, 19-22           
 I will extol the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame…
 
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
    but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
    no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

As verse 19 says, not even the righteous are promised an easy life, but we are promised God will hear and help us through any trouble. Last night, I prayed several times for help and guidance. At different points, I felt helpless and that there wasn’t anything else to try. After several breathing treatments (medication and steam) over the course of a couple hours and a hot shower to try to help James, God did bring to mind a couple more things to try (Motrin and a humidifier). Finally James was able to fall asleep. Then, I finally started breathing better myself (and was able to sit down to write the devotional for today)! 😊

Where are you feeling helpless? Will you turn to God for help, listen for His answers and then give Him the glory? The book of Psalms is a great place to go for encouragement. Many of the Psalms that David wrote were while he was helplessly hiding from Saul and fleeing for his life (over the course of several years). He praised God in the midst of it all and knew Who to go to for help!  

Alice
  


Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Righteous Anger


Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves! Matthew 21:12-13 NLT

Is it ever right to display anger?  As I am raising my youngest child, I have found that there are typically four levels of dealing with things she has done wrong.  There is the first level where I must talk about where she went wrong, and going forward, provide guidance on the right way.  In these cases, it is not major.  Call this the ‘threw the recyclable paper in the wrong bin’ wrong.  Then there is the situation where the consequences of her mistake have more gravity, and thus, the conversation gets a bit more serious.  There may be a punishment or discipline given based on this level.  This would be the ‘carelessly broke my favorite glass’ wrong.  Next, there is the ‘you know what you should have done, and yet, you chose not to’ wrong.  This tends to be the defiant and rebellious choice that has severe consequences (ex. Coming home at 11 when curfew was 9:30).  Let’s qualify this as the ‘playing indoors and hitting the 55” HD TV’ wrong.  These all can be dealt typically with discussion and dialogue as to things done and better choices that needed to be made.   However, the last level is a dangerous one.  It’s the one with serious consequences and she is lucky to not be in far more serious danger or harm. Call it the ‘She stole a car?!?!‘ wrong.  In these cases, the response will have no two-way dialogue.  The punishment is severe regardless of the outcome, and is usually met with a reaction rarely ever scene.  I think of it as ‘The house is on fire – GET OUT’ reaction.  The intent is for my daughter to understand this is one thing that must never ever happen again.  Whether you’re a parent or been on the receiving end, one can understand another’s anger in this situation. 

This brought me to reflecting on God’s righteous anger, and how it is to help us never fall into those circumstances again.  In reading today’s verses, there are a couple of things that struck me.  The first thing was the wrongness of the people.  The people in the temple selling animals were like those false evangelicals on TV peddling a ‘prayer cloth’ guaranteed to help God hear your prayers for $20.  I know it sounds silly, but there are people who believe in these things.  Through my bible study, someone helped me reflect on another perspective, which was Jesus’ reaction. Reading His knocking things over, you can imagine this near crazed response of anger from Jesus.  When we think of anger, God’s word speaks of it as sinful as Ephesians 4:26-27 (And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.)  However, there are numerous times where God was angry with His people, and thus carried out His wrath when they were sinful (ex. Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 and Lamentations 2:1).  The principle here is to understand that God hates sin in all forms.  He is loving of us, and His righteous discipline will vary from multiple warnings to one swift and decisive response.  Our goal is to always look to walk in a way that shows our love for and submittal to Him living our lives free of sin.  That is not to say we will not sin, but our walk of faith both mirrors an understanding of His authority and focuses on a life He would expect of us.

God’s love is both awe inspiring and overwhelming, and it can bring us to our knees. Like a loving parent, His anger toward us is never intended to hurt us.  It is a reminder how precious we are to Him, and we can live a life filled with His love and blessings.  It is to correct us toward living a life that is for Him, and that He alone is indeed enough for us.  Let us focus on understanding why God’s discipline is just and not questioning His judgment.  When you have sinned, are you repentant to God?  What lessons have you learned from God’s disciplining of you or others?  My prayer is that we learn to understand the love God has for us when He shows His righteous anger.  Amen.

Better Measurement

Hello,
So often in life we face choices that have us scratching our heads wondering which choice is the better choice. Not the choices of good vs bad – but choices where no option feels inherently bad. So, how do we decide what is better? What is the measurement we should use in these cases? Let’s look at a couple examples from Scripture:

  • 1 Peter 3:14-17 “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. ” (NASB)

  • Luke 10:38-42 “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”” (NASB)

In the 1 Peter passage we see that the better choice is clearly aligned with doing what is good and right over that which is evil. And we are not to weigh short term consequences, but rather give preference to a longer perspective in terms of eternity (which by the way, does last forever….)

In the passage in Luke, we see that Martha is not doing anything bad – just trying to be a great host for the honored guest. But, Jesus shows that we are to value our time with Him. By saying that Mary had chosen what was better we can also see that we are to be focused on fixing and preparing our hearts rather than just an outside appearance.

I think these are great measurements of a better choice – and easily applied to our lives.
  1. Is one pleasing to God vs. against His word?
  2. If both are pleasing to God, which one focuses on fixing and preparing our hearts and shows the value of time with God?

I pray this challenges and encourages you today.

Will Hill

Monday, December 3, 2018

Dating Profile


Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

If you had to create a dating profile for your Christian walk, what would it say about you?  Would you have a very generic profile with the best picture that you could possibly find or would it really tell who you are and have an every day picture?  Would it conform to the world and how they look at dating or would it be able to be tested and approved for what God’s will is?

Ten years ago today I went on a first date with a man who almost didn’t get a date with me, because his online dating profile was very generic.  I thought he was no different than the rest of the guys out there, looking for just one thing, which was not going to get him a date with me.  His initial note to me was simple and stated that he was interested in me.  I wrote him back explaining that based off his profile, I saw no reason that I would be interested in him.  This fueled him to then reply with a book about how much we had in common.  How based off my profile, he knew we would be a good match as Christ was the center of both of our lives and that we were not of the world as many people are. 

Fast forward ten years later, I am now married to that amazing man. 

It could have all been very different however if my profile would have been generic and conforming with the world’s way of thinking. 

Thinking again about what our profile would be like if we had to create a dating profile for our Christian walk, how many people would swipe past you vs how many would stop and contact you as they were interested in who you said you were?  Would that relationship stand the test of time because you stated who you really are or would it fade as the person got to really know you?