Thursday Devotional - Jesus is Truth – For a Purpose-Filled Life (6/6/24)

John wrote a compelling Gospel with specifically selected events, miracles and teachings. He knew he didn’t capture everything, but other writers had recorded additional truths about Jesus. So, he ended his book with this final verse:

John 21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

John had a specific purpose in writing what he wrote. He gave his purpose in the previous chapter.

John 20:30-31                   ³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The miracles John recorded weren’t random and neither is the rest of the Bible. I love knowing the Holy Spirit had John write down certain miracles specifically so we would believe! Not only did John (and more importantly, God) desire us to believe, but to experience true life as part of Jesus’s family. We can have abundant, purposeful, and joy-filled life as we know Jesus, understand what He’s done for us and follow His example.  

How has knowing Jesus is Truth, given you purpose-filled life? 

Thursday Devotional - Jesus is Truth – With Purpose in Delay (1/18/24)

Have you ever asked God for direction or provision for something that seemed to be according to His will, but His answer didn’t appear timely?

That’s happened several times to me. I’ve thought God directed me to do something, but then things seemed to fall apart or didn’t resolve in the way or timing I expected. With the adoption of James and Sarah, God miraculously connected us with them. However, the process was delayed and quite frustrating. Various people seemed to step up or appeal for them. Looking back, we can see how God received greater glory through all the delays! He made it more and more clear He intended us to adopt and that He was in control to bring it about.

 

God’s seeming delay is always for His purposes and His glory. As with the raising of Lazarus, Jesus delayed for God’s glory and the benefit of his disciples.

John 11:1, 3-6, 14-15  Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha… ³So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." ⁴When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." ⁵Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days… 

¹⁴So then he told them [disciples] plainly, "Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

 

Can you think back over your past situations and see how God received greater glory and grew your faith through seeming delays? Let’s remember that as we face new situations that don’t seem to be working out in the timing we think is best.

Thursday Devotional - Adoption, Take 2

Thank you to all those who prayed for James last week! He is finally feeling better with no more numbness or blurred vision. We’re praising God!

This week, we willingly face a different set of challenges! We’re four becoming six! We fostered-to-adopt James and Sarah 4 years ago and God had plans for us to do it again (it’s a long story, but we had specifically told our licensing agency we were a closed home during the pandemic).

Tomorrow, twins (a boy and girl, turning 4 in October), will move into our home! They were born the exact day and year as the day we officially adopted James and Sarah!!! Finding that out was one of the many confirmations God gave us to “say yes” to fostering-to-adopt again.

We just took our foursome family photo the end of July, which I thought would be perfect for our Christmas card! I guess not… 😉

God continues to fulfill His purposes from the burden he placed on our hearts over 10 years ago about taking care of orphans.  

Isaiah 1:17   Learn to do right; seek justice.

   Defend the oppressed.

Take up the cause of the fatherless;

   plead the case of the widow.

James 1:27         Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Will you please pray for all 6 of us as we go this huge transition? It’s exciting and scary, all at the same time!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Purposeful Power

Speaking of power, we lost power and internet for over 30 hours last Wednesday evening and all day Thursday, so sorry I couldn’t access or post this devotional!

We often have lots of questions why God allows certain things to happen. He is so powerful and could prevent and stop so many things, but He often doesn’t. We don’t see the big picture.

In Paul’s case, God continued to let him remain in prison unjustly. Yet, it was part of God’s purposes to have Paul preach the gospel to high officials in Caesarea and eventually in Rome (Acts 23:11 the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”)

By the time we get to Acts 26, Paul had already spoken to the Jewish crowd, the Jewish leaders, High Priests, Govenor Felix, Govenor Festus and all the people around them. Now, Paul gets the opportunity to speak to King Agrippa, his wife and high-ranking officers.

Acts 26:1-8    Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”

So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

If God is powerful enough to raise Jesus from the dead, then He is powerful enough to do anything. He is watching over us. He will powerfully accomplish His purposes in our lives. It may not go as we planned, but as He planned! Like Paul, you and I can trust His purposeful power. How will you and I do that this week?

  

Alice

Finished

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.”  A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:28-30

“Are we done yet,” asks my daughter as we go down the path of her impending punishment. This is the conversation we seemingly have over and over again.  We discuss something along the lines of, “You need to take responsibility for your own actions,” or, “It’s not about what you want.  It’s about what we expect from you.”  We try to be careful realizing one day this strong-willed child will be a force for good.  But yesterday, I simply wanted the little girl who tried to please her Dad with little tears running down her face.  So, we get to her punishment, and then, we are finished.  She storms upstairs frustrated that I have been harsh (in her eyesight), and I am hopeful she understands the right things to do in the future.  While we are finished with the conversation, it is part of the bigger picture of helping one young girl become a young woman.  My wife and me understand one of our purposes is to help her make that transition from young girl to a God-fearing woman, and we pray she will one day appreciate that.

Trusting God is key to ensure His purpose for our lives is fulfilled. This past week, I kept reflecting on today’s verses on Jesus’ crucifixion.  Why did He say, “It is finished,” when He knew He would rise from the grave?  Jesus had done all that He needed to do on earth.  He showed He was the Messiah through teachings and miracles.  He gave the hope of the Good News to come.  He took on all that the world could offer, and most important of all, He gave His life in sacrifice for us.  He submitted His free spirit to God.  There was nothing left for Him to do.  So, His work here on earth was … finished.  But we know it was not the end.  How often do we continue to fight and claw through a situation without an end in sight?  Perhaps now is the time to focus both intently and with clarity what God’s next move is for your life.  Our work or efforts in a situation may be indeed ‘finished,’ but we must remember that just because our work is finished does not mean it is the end.  Only God makes that determination for as written in the book of Isaiah, “When He opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.” (22:22b)

God has a purpose for everyone.  Sure, the journey may seem endless, and sometimes, we may not even feel like we know where we are going.  But if we trust in God, we know there is a bigger plan.  So let us focus on continuing to both seek and fulfill our purpose such that when the end is truly in sight, we can speak as Paul wrote:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

What Godly purpose do you have left unfulfilled?  How can you make steps toward finding God’s purpose for your life?  My prayer is that we continue to follow God unconditionally until we can say to Him, “It is finished.”  Amen.

Our Journey to Adoption, Part I

For a while, we thought it wasn’t God’s timing for us to have children. Then, in 2009, we were studying the book of Isaiah and I was challenged by God’s command to take care of widows and orphans.

Isaiah 1:17   Learn to do right; seek justice.

   Defend the oppressed.

Take up the cause of the fatherless;

   plead the case of the widow.

James 1:27         Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

As we researched “orphans” in the United States, we realized there are very few orphanages anymore and few of them actually adopt out the children. However, there are thousands of children in the foster system. So, we prayed about whether God was directing us to take care of orphans by pursuing foster-to-adopt.

In God’s timing, several months later there was an “Orphan” conference in Grand Rapids. It was all about fostering-to-adopt. We attended the conference and then signed up for an official orientation class in our area through the Department of Human Services. However, we had bad traffic, were 2 minutes late and the doors were locked when we arrived. We knocked on doors and called numbers we had, but to no avail. We took that as literally a closed door, at least for a time.

God knew we didn’t need to be licensed yet. James wasn’t going to be born for over 2 years. I think God planted the idea early so He could prepare our hearts and test our willingness.

Has God planted a desire or goal or purpose in your heart that hasn’t gone anywhere or worked out, at least not yet? Will you seek and then trust His perfect timing?  

Alice

Thurs Devo: No More Delay!

I’ve been on several delayed flights recently. The worst one caused me to miss a connecting flight. The most frustrating part was that I received notification that my connecting flight was also delayed, but it ended up leaving on time (and without the 5 of us from my first flight)! I also received over a dozen notifications about changes to the departure time of the first flight. I understand weather delays can’t be avoided, but clear and accurate communication would be helpful. It’s stressful waiting, especially when the information given to us isn’t reliable.

God won’t keep changing times on us. He will accomplish His purposes and plans fully and we can trust Him to follow through.

Revelation 10:5-7     ⁵ Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. ⁶ And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! ⁷ But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

God’s given us the Bible which is full of His plans. We don’t have to be in the dark about the future. We can know the “mystery” of God as we read and study His Word. He’s given us exactly what He knows we need to be adequately prepared.

Do you and I truly believe God created everything, cares for everything, and has a master plan? If so, how are we taking advantage of the resources He’s given to us to know His plans for the future? The better we know His truths, the more we will experience peace while we wait. 

Alice

Split Decisions

 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.  Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.  James 1:5-8

As much as I love the Lord and follow Him, there are times that I struggle with the latter.  It is not because I do not want to follow God.  Instead, I feel torn between the love I have for my fellow man and the love I have for God.  It explains why I really struggle with condemnation.  Sure, we all must be accountable for our sins and grow to be better advocates for God.  But there are people who I love dearly, and God has said that they are living in sin.  That’s a tough pill to swallow!  Thus, my world feels like it is unstable.  These are the times I realize my spiritual growth is a continual work in progress.

The word of God is meant to be a spiritual guide.  We all have situations where we are either unsure of what to do or how to respond on a spiritual matter.  The words of James thus seem to be words of condemnation for those in that divided world.  In fact, lots of the Book of James seems like it (ex. Faith is dead without good works – James 2:26b).  However, these are words of guidance and clarity.  If we look at these verses through that lens, one receives God’s wisdom in reading it, and thus is not in the ‘should not expect to receive anything from the Lord’ camp.  The words are welcome to the troubled and torn because they give direction.  We must look at the word of God, and pray that we find guidance in it and have both the courage and conviction to follow it.

Following God is not meant to be easy as Jesus said, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” (Matthew 7:13)  But do not be discouraged by your past and current struggles for after telling Peter he would deny Him, Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.  There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:1-2)  It is ok to struggle with things God says to us.  The key is to keep walking toward Him.  Never give up.  Never lose faith.  What is your struggle with God today?  How will you continue to rely on God when split between God and the world?  My prayer is that we continually challenge ourselves to rely on God when facing split decisions.  Amen.

The Spirit Within Us

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

This was a tough week personally as a member of my team unexpectedly passed away.  This was the first time I experienced the loss of someone who I saw nearly every day.  I asked for God’s wisdom as to why this person had to go when she did.  The thing that came to mind was that God sends angels among us, and many times, we do not know it until they have left us.  It became apparent that she had done her work among us because she had touched the lives of so many within our group that the spirit of her life was ingrained in us already.  It reminded me of the time when Jesus had spent all of His time with the disciples, and although He had conquered death, His spirit through the disciples would allow for the Gospel to spread throughout the world.

We should aspire to touch as many lives as possible displaying the spirit of Christ within us.  Today’s verses refer to the great responsibility we have as Christians (aka The Great Commission).  However, I want to focus on the moment.  The disciples had just witnessed the greatest miracle of all, the resurrection of Christ, and they anxiously waited for their next command from Him.  Jesus did not take the moment to celebrate with them or boast of His prediction coming true.  He simply stated His role as authority figure and for them to carry on His work until time for His return.  He laid the foundation for the early church, and once the message had gotten to others, the building of the church had begun.

We have greater influence on the spreading of the Gospel than we realize.  My friend’s life was filled with moments where she reached out to others and inspired them to live better.  More importantly, a bit of her spirit lives in each team member because above all, she was a child of God, and the team both responded to and loved her because of it.  Will your life to inspire others to become followers of Christ?  How can you better influence those near you through Christ?  My prayer is that we live our lives each day exemplifying the spirit of Christ within us.  Amen.

Simply Out of Love

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.  1 Corinthians 13:1-3 

There is a project that I took on at work this year.  It focuses on helping others see their potential, and the reason I chose to take it on will not result in my getting praise or a promotion, and my passion for pursuing it is not for an expected reward at its completion.   Rather, it is the sincere hope that it makes a difference in the lives of others, and my drive comes from the love I have for my team and organization.  For that reason, the project deserves my best effort and dedication toward its success.

Our love for Christ must be the driving factor for our actions.  Many people believe in faith by works.  They believe that by doing things as written in scripture, they will receive an upper hand in Heaven.  Others take the approach of being saved by confessing of Jesus Christ as Lord by mouth, and then continue their life as if nothing has changed.  Both beliefs are flawed.  While there is some truth in both statements, neither indicates a true relationship with Christ.  I think of my wife and how wonderful she has been to me for all of these years.  My love for her grows continually, and as such, it motivates me to be a better husband to her.  In a similar way, a true love for Christ motivates us to act.  Thus, works are not a driving force toward salvation.  Instead, it is the byproduct of our growing relationship.  Furthermore, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord is something that cannot be an idle moment that just passes us by.  It is a transformative event that like any growing relationship motivates us to change making the relationship better.

To love Jesus is to commit to Him fully and unconditionally.  Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.  My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23)  This is at times challenging, but all growth, spiritual and otherwise, is.  We strive toward having a wonderfully unyielding relationship with Him.  That is what love for Christ is all about.  How do you measure your love for Christ?  What more can you do to reflect His love?  My prayer is that we grow for Christ simply out of love.  Amen.

Earned - Not Given

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  James 2:14-17 

I remember when I pledged for my college business fraternity, and I figured it would be pretty easy because it was after all, a business fraternity.  Wrong!  Obviously I just plainly ignored the word ‘fraternity.’  That would all change as I was instructed to walk through a foot of snow on campus early on a Saturday morning.  Then when I got to ‘The job interview you never wished for,’ it was clear if I ever got through it, I’d cherish the moment I joined.  Then after initiation, a truth was revealed to me.  The things that are worth the most are never given to you.  They are earned.

We earn our right to be called children of God through our actions.  Many of you are probably asking what about God’s grace?  It is given even though it is not earned, and yet it is incredibly valuable.  Furthermore, works cannot get you into Heaven anyway.  While both statements are true, it is neither in the grace given nor the deeds that have the greatest value.  The greatest value is in the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ, and as we have learned, no enduring relationship comes about without hard work.  We will fight with God and question His judgment.  There are times we outright fail Him.  But when true transformation happens, we realize just how much love and value there is gained.  That is why I say grace is given, but a spiritually growing, on fire, boundless relationship with God has to be earned.  No short cuts.  Nothing easy.  You do not just ‘get it.’ 

Being in a relationship with Jesus Christ is awesome!  He only asks that we follow Him.  None of us have to do it, and if we simply believe He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave, we receive the gift of eternal life.  But a true Christ driven and purposeful life comes with the pain, sacrifice, willingness, and strength to do all you can for the one who gives us life.  What transformative change is happening in your life?  What will you do to maintain your purpose driven life?  My prayer is that we work continually on our relationship with Christ because it isn’t just given.  It is earned.  Amen.

It's Not About Me

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
      my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will bring justice to the nations.  Isaiah 42:1

We all remember the first moments of our being born again.  I was reminded of that this past Sunday during church service.  The pastor talked serving God above all other things.  It took me to the very first thing that I learned in my first days as a born again Christian.  I had started reading Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life, and the very first sentence of the book has been my guiding principle of my walk of faith.  It simply says, “It’s not about you.”  That phrase always gives me peace and clarity as to God’s expectations of me.  When I feel like complaining or don’t really feel up to doing the right thing above ‘the easy thing,’ I am reminded it is about serving God.  It’s not about me.

We should always remember that our walk of faith revolves around serving God and not how God can help us.  In the book of Isaiah, the prophecy of the coming Jesus Christ is told.  While we know He is the son of God, He is noted as a servant who is upheld as an authority figure by God.  In living a life like Christ, we are to remember that our relationship with God is one of admiration, love, and servitude just as Jesus’ relationship as the Son is.  Put another way, we are to give of ourselves selflessly and completely toward being a servant of God.  We are giving without expectation, and following without question.  That latter one is tough for me because I always want to understand why.  However, my understanding is secondary to God’s expectation of me to be a good and faithful Christian servant.

While our walk of faith is both rewarding and fun, it is not always easy.  Even Jesus asked God for clarity when following the path which led to His crucifixion (see Matthew 26:42).  What is noteworthy is Jesus asked that God’s will be done over all that he might have wished for.  That is what we must understand.  Us doing God’s will trumps all.  What are your struggling with God about?  How can you be more submitting to God’s will?  My prayer is that we remember that it’s about serving God. It’s not about me.  Amen.

Focusing On The Gifts

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.  1 Corinthians 12:4-6

  

This past week, I had a opportunity to teach a class that I somewhat feel was made for me.  I focuses on understanding and developing your strengths.  The basis of the class is very simple.  We are all gifted with certain things that we do  exceedingly well.  The key to personal success lies in our ability to both understand and master use of those strengths.  It always made me focus on one simple question; why did God give us all different strengths (or gifts)?

We are given different strengths so that we can see others as God sees us.  We spend a great deal of our lives trying to focus on the things we are not.  Maybe we are not the smartest person or perhaps we do not look as good as we think we should.  These are stories the world tells us.  However, God does not see us for our imperfections.  He sees us as His children.  This is not to say we are perfect, but instead, we are His greatest creation.  His masterpiece.  God sees the beauty in us all, and when we are indeed connected to Him and utilizing the gifts God has given us, we are a perfect reflection of Him.

God created mankind in His own image (see Genesis 1:27).  We are given gifts as a reminder of His brilliance for all of us to see.  If we as Christians can see people for the things they are rather than focusing on those things they are not, we will have grown spiritually by leaps and bounds.  God wants the best from all of us.  What is stopping you from releasing it?  Do you know the gifts God has given you?  My prayer is that we focus on the gifts God has given each and every one of us.  Amen.

Recognizing Purpose

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.  For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.  1 Corinthians 3:8-9

People have said that I am a tireless worker.  I’m the person who hardly ever calls off and struggles at times to use all his leave time.  This is not a badge of honor.  It is just what I feel I must do, and it does not make me any better than anyone else.  In fact, people who take time off to stay home with their children or have great vacations during their leave time have a lot of my admiration.  That being said, my parents instilled this strong work ethic in me, and to a degree, it drives one of my God intended purposes in life; to be there for others in need.

We all have a purpose that is God intended.  God has watched and prepared us through situation and circumstances so that when the time comes, we would know what His purpose for our life is.  Many of us are fearful of that very thing.  I truly understand that belief because my greatest fear is of the unknown.  However, our God is truly amazing, and He has proven time after time after time that He knows better than us.  So while we may be fearful of what God’s purpose for our life is, we must be courageous to act on it for as today’s verse points out, we are in God’s service.

God has a plan for us all!  My mom finished her Master’s Degree from an Ivy League school writing theses from a hospital bed and raising a thirteen year old child through his freshman year of high school.  How you might ask?  She would tell you it was because God willed her to do it.  God’s purpose for our lives centers on our understanding that as Rick Warren says, “It’s not about you.”  Don’t just accept God’s purpose for you.  Embrace it.  What is God prompting you to act on?  How are you living out God’s intentional purpose?  My prayer is that we have clarity to recognize the purpose God has for our lives.  Amen.