Thursday Devotional - Chasing After the Wind of Strength (8/17/23)

This summer my kids took turns walking my sister’s dog with my Dad. My sister’s dog, Patty, probably weighs more than most of them! However, my Dad helped them learn how to control her, even if they aren’t stronger than her. I guess you could say they learned how to outsmart rather than overpower.

Solomon was impressed by wisdom’s power over strength.

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18    I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: ¹⁴ There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. ¹⁵ Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. ¹⁶ So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

¹⁷ The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
    than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
¹⁸ Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
    but one sinner destroys much good.

Strength isn’t everything. We can desire strength in order to gain power or fame, but it can crumble in an instant. Man’s wisdom can outsmart the strong, but as Solomon points out, even that can be fleeting. Seeking God’s wisdom has eternal significance, though!

James 3:17-18             But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Are you and I chasing after strength or wisdom? For what purpose and by what means? Let’s seek God’s wisdom for an eternal harvest of righteousness.

Thursday Devotional - Strength and Encouragement from?

Where do you go to get strength and encouragement? Do you talk to a friend or sibling or parent? Or, do you talk to God first?

He’s the One Sovereign over all. He has all the answers and all wisdom. He’s watching over everything.

My parents and sister have had several health challenges recently that have been scary. Then, there have been some huge decisions made in a couple of the non-profit organizations where I’m involved. Some have been stressful and/or confusing.

As I was crying and praying, God reminded me of the verses my kids and I memorized a couple weeks ago.

Joshua 1:8-9 ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I don’t need to be afraid or discouraged. God is with me and will be with me wherever I go! He and His Word are to be my focus. As I meditate on His Word and listen to Him daily, He will provide the direction, strength, and encouragement He knows I need. He can do the same for you! Will you choose to daily spend time with God, learning His truths? Then, we will be better able to rely on His strength and recognize His presence!

Alice

Run, Run, Run!

But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.  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 4:5-8

Today, I felt a need to divert from Moses for a week.  I promise to continue next week.  I just feel God wanted me to simply focus on you.  Not the usual devotional sharing.  Just a moment to pause and reflect in this moment.  I prayed a lot on this devotion because He did not want me to forget where people are today.  Let me start by saying no one would ever consider Mike Tyson a great philosopher, but he said one of the greatest truths about dealing with adversity saying, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”  Many of us can truly relate to that right now.  Maybe you are a bit uncertain about things.  Perhaps there is something going on in your household.  Your spouse is one of the people who is now furloughed or unemployed, or your children might be driving you a bit crazy.  Or maybe you are adjusting to them in your life 24/7 now.  Perhaps you know someone or even a loved one who has recently passed away.  Some may be due to the Coronavirus, and others not.  You might even know someone who must be in the hospital.  Alone.  No matter the cause, you and your family may be faced with some tough choices, pain, and heartache.  Others not even in a hospital are equally suffering from feeling isolated and alone in their own homes.  And yes, some of you might very well be questioning if God really does exist right now.  On the other hand, maybe you are fully grounded and filled with God’s spirit where your faith today is unshakable.  You are not afraid nor worried because you know God is with you.  You know He is with us.  But there is that neighbor, family member, or friend who is struggling.  You can’t find the right words to say or don’t even know the right way to even start the conversation.

I too have fears and uncertainty.  Some at home.  Some outside of it.  All of this is hard because so many are hurting.  “I can’t do this anymore,” has become a whisper in their mind right now.  Perhaps in your mind?  I hear it from many.  I feel it from those who don’t speak.  My heart breaks knowing this might be a part of your being right now in this place, and I can’t fully imagine what you are going through.

But God knows.  He loves you oh so much and feels every ounce of your pain right here and right now.  You may think you are alone in your struggle and pain and that no one can truly understand.  He does.  You may think the walls are starting to crumble and your level of sanity is about to be lost.  Maybe for a moment.  Maybe longer.  God says, “No.  Nothing is going to happen to you.  Not on my watch.”  We know this as Paul said, “For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5a)  Yes, it is ok to acknowledge that there is fear.  But courage is nothing but fear faced head on, and we know great men and women of God are filled with courage and strength.  I think of Joshua going to the Promised Land without Moses, and God speaking to him saying, “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)  I think of Paul speaking to the Phillipians saying, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (4:13)  So while we face tough times ahead and we may feel week, God makes us strong!

Through all you are going through, God is with you!  These are indeed challenging and uncertain times, but it serves as an opportunity.  A chance to reconnect with love ones.  A chance to pause, reflect, and commit to some new things and recommit to some old ones.  And finally, a chance to look to the heavens, lay your troubles, fears, and worries down at cross, and surrender it all to Jesus.  The reason for today’s verse is not to share an elaborate story on what it means.  It is a reminder.  When Paul was near the end of his journey, he was not concerned about his death.  He only cared about the race he was running and finishing it to the very end.  Today is about capturing the spirit of Paul and not focusing on what happened before today.  It is about finishing the race where “the prize awaits me-the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return.”  So run!  Let these months be the moment we decided to pour it all out onto others and remind them as Jesus said to His disciples, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)  There are no questions for you to ask yourself or answer.  Just trust God is with you every step of the way, and my prayer is we simply, run, run, run!!!  Amen!

Removing The Veil

Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.  Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  2 Corinthians 3:12-16

What is it you are afraid of?  You might be worried about offending someone or hurting their feelings.  You might lose a relationship or show that you are flawed like everyone else.  But there was one fear of mine that I am going to share with you today.  It’s the one that superseded all other ones.  It was the one that haunted me because no matter what I did or how I tried to avoid it, it always found me in some fashion or another.  My greatest fear was what did everyone think about me.  You see, the only time I truly saw ‘me’ was when I looked in the mirror.  Other than that, I was just a man who fought every single negative stereotype that’s ever been said about people that look like me.  My view was if I ever wanted to get ahead in life, I had to do everything I could to be the very opposite of the worse things people could see when they saw me.  I talked better.  I worked harder.  I took inappropriate jokes easier.  I ignored things because any hint that might seem different would force me into that stereotypical box people had.  And the fact is I did such a great job of it that I lost the real me.

Over the last couple of years, something changed.  God forced me to be different.  He challenged me to be something I had never been comfortable with; me.  It forced me to acknowledge some very tough truths.  One was to love the person I had become.  This was easy because I had a beautiful God-fearing wife who told me as much.  Even when I could not believe who I was, she believed in me.  Next, was to embrace who I am.  I’m not perfect.  I am a sinner.  But I am God’s child, and I am so blessed to have a savior like Christ.  The toughest one of all was simply tell the world who I am.  That is the hard one.  Why?   Because that’s the one that says I’m not like everyone else, and there are things I now say that will ruffle others feathers.  I’m black, and I’m proud.  I am not some militant angry person.  I am Christian, and with all those things together, there are some things that I just simply won’t tolerate anymore.  For example, I will no longer accept someone telling me that I need to respect a leader who under any other circumstance I would not respect at all (easy to figure who that might be).  I will listen to you, and empathize.  I will always show both compassion and care for others, and I will always love as Jesus loves us.  But I am God’s child, and I no longer have to apologize for who I am.

The verses today remind us that we are free to be who God intended us.  Paul’s comparison of the old and new covenant is very telling.  In the old covenant, the Israelites were forced into this feeling that they were to serve God, and this was best done by following His rules or order.  When we think of it, the problem was easy to see.  They were slaves to the law but not God.  This of course was not God’s intent.  Thus, the new covenant through Christ liberated them to serve God in an entirely different way.  It was to love God first and foremost, and through love they would both see and understand those things which God coveted most; our heart, mind, and soul.  They thus had confidence to try to go farther than before for even as they would fail, they would simply get up and strive to be better servants.  This is what changes everything for us.

God did not make us to be meek.  Jesus Himself is humble, compassionate, and loving.  But He is not soft!  He has no problem calling out issues, and was willing to call out the Pharisees even as they would crucify Him.  He chose Saul, a persecutor of Christians, on the road to Damascus to make him a leader of the new covenant.  Do not be afraid of who you are!  God made you exactly as you are to do His will.  It does not mean we won’t have to grow and change.  What it will mean is that we will be stronger and better than we could possibly imagine if we trust Him.  What do you need to remove from your life today to better see Christ?  My prayer is that we are bold as the verses say and remove the veil.  Amen.

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 119^th 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 48^thverse, “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!

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!

Thursday Devotional - Timely Encouragement

My Dad’s been back in the hospital this whole week with lots of fluid on the left and right side of his lungs. They gave him strong medicine to help drain the fluid, but he still can’t move much or breath well. Yesterday, they surgically went in and drained another liter of fluid and he’s still not a lot better. On top of that, he got a hematoma where they made the incision in his back. So, it’s been a scary week for all of us. He’s lost over 20 pounds since he’s been in the hospital, so now he’s down to only 160 pounds (and he’s 6 feet tall).  

The doctors still don’t know why fluid is pooling or what the underlying issue is. He had stents put in a couple arteries back in the summer, changed his diet completely and got an excellent report back in September. However, now his heart function is very poor and they don’t know why.

We know we can trust God and ask Him for guidance and healing and care. We’ve been crying out to Him. In God’s perfect timing, we’ve been studying several chapters in the Psalms in Bible Study the last couple of weeks. I’ve read and re-read them. Here are a few of the verses that are especially encouraging right now.

Psalm 59:17  You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
    you, God, are my fortress,
    my God on whom I can rely.

Psalm 23:4    Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

Psalm 139:13-16      For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.

Maybe you are going through something difficult or you know someone going through something difficult. Which of these verses encourages you and which ones will you share with someone else to encourage them?

Alice

Enough!

Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom.  But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me, my sister.”

 “No, my brother!” she said to him. “Don’t force me! Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don’t do this wicked thing.  What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you.”  But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.

Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!”

“No!” she said to him. “Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me.”

But he refused to listen to her.  He called his personal servant and said, “Get this woman out of my sight and bolt the door after her.”  2 Samuel 13:10-17

“What’s wrong with you,” said my mother with clear disdain in her voice.  “What’s wrong, mom,” I replied.  She says, “Didn’t I teach you better than that?  Don’t you ever go through a door without opening it for the woman,” she said.  “Yes, mom,” I replied without hesitation.  As I grew older, there would be one day where a woman would look at me and become upset for my opening the door for them.  “Don’t you think I can open the door on my own,” she would ask.  “Yes, but I was just being polite as I would to anyone else,” I replied.  If you live in the Midwest, opening doors for each other is almost like standard operating procedure.  But, that never would have started if it were not for the first lady in my life: my mother.  You see, I open doors for men because it’s the courteous thing to do, and I open them for women because it’s the right thing to do. My mother taught me to have a higher bar of respect for the opposite sex.  

My heart is deeply troubled by the state of our nation in lieu of the treatment of women as of late, and to be honest, I have had enough of it.  In today’s world, we fight over who to believe when there is any act of misconduct.  Women who have been abused speak up, and we want to fall into the ‘he said/ she said’ line.  We somehow decided to blur the line as to who to believe strictly because it is expedient to ‘what we want to believe.’  The mistake I work hard to avoid is not to jump to a political, gender specific, or even personal view. Instead, I focus on a Godly one.  Why do we need to tear her story down so much?  Do we believe the other side is up to some ulterior motive?  Is our team’s record at stake?  Do we not realize just how wrong that thinking is?  What does it say to the women in our lives?  Here’s the thing.  To those who wish to make this a political issue, I will just say this.  It comes back to one simple thing.  All women are to be respected whether we believe them or not.  If I am ever accused of wrongdoing, my confidence has always been that my actions reflect what my mother taught me, and that and God would handle the rest.

God expects better than us.  Somewhere along the line, decency got lost.  I do not look to a side to blame because it is all of us.  We have somehow substituted doing the right thing for ‘they did it, and so I can do it’ mentality.  Well another thing my mother used to say is if everyone jumped off a cliff, you should too?  God does not want to hear your excuse.  He wants your submittal to His way of doing things.  In a discussion with a friend, we centered on the word ‘integrity.’  Our actions must be above reproach.  We have no control over what the world does to us.  We do have control of how we show love and reverence to God.  I was not comfortable writing this.  Not one bit.  But God made me uncomfortable to the point I had to because I am tired of women living in fear and us as men (and in many cases women) ignoring it like we had no stake in the game.  I love the women in my life far too much to let this lie any further.  If a woman comes forward regardless of your belief, stop tearing her down!  Period!  This must end immediately!

Women must always be respected and heard regardless of their motive.  I look at my wife, and I think of Ephesians where it says:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.  In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (Ephesians 5:25-28)

While this only applies to my wife, it is the standard that I pray we uphold of all women.  I want to be clear.  There are zero acceptable excuses for disrespecting a woman making an accusation of abuse.  If you sense yourself looking for one, focus on Jesus saying, “But I say, do not resist an evil person!  If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other cheek also.” (Matthew 5:39)  How will you respond the next time a woman claims abuse?  How can you be more respectful of women as a whole?  My prayer is that God has prompted your heart to simply and unequivocally say, “Enough!”  Amen.

Just Walk

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  Matthew 14:28-31

When I am tired, where will I find strength?  When I am afraid, where will I find courage?  When I am lost, where will I go?  These are the questions of a person in crisis.  You know this because the questions are not complicated but very important.  They are questions of desperation.  They are the sounds of a person who has looked every which way possible without finding an answer.  All of us have been there before.

It was Freshman year of high school.  My mother and me were living in an apartment, and she had fallen sick during the semester.  Yes, we had other family nearby, but my mom never wanted to be a burden to anyone.  She endured whatever pain she needed to accomplish her goal.  In this case, it was to finish her MBA and ensure her and her son would make it through the year together.  I ended up going to school a good portion of the year on my own.  I would wake up, get my clothes ready, and walk to the subway stop a half mile away to ride to school.  My mother and father were not big on excuses.   So, I just did it.  No fanfare.  No drama.  No poor me.  Just walk.  There is a word for that.  Some might call it ‘grit.’  I call it ‘faith.’  It means that when you end up in the situation where all you have are those three questions, you answer simply, “Start walking.”  When you are tired, you get up, and start swinging.  When you are afraid, you realize you have nothing to lose, and you fight.  When you have no where to go, you make steps in a direction, and you keep walking.  My mother and father always had faith in God.  They instilled it in me.  That’s why I got up, got dressed, walked to the subway, went to school, and then rode back to the hospital where my mom laid in bed writing her thesis paper.

One might ask where was God in all of this?  He was teaching.  Planning.  Preparing.  He is all-knowing that my mother and me would face other storms.  But He was always there.  Carrying.  Protecting.  Guiding.  My mother and me did not make it because we were something special.  We made it because we served an awesome God who watched over us.  He kept us out of Harm’s way, and kept my mother fighting when the pain was too great for her to even sleep.

The storms in our lives (or winds as Peter saw) are the tests of faith where God either found or watched over us.  Think of the storms from your past.  Sometimes, you may not have come out of it like you wanted, and you may not have known what to make of it all.  However, when it was all said and done we looked to God, and said, “I don’t know how I made it through, but thank you!”  Thank you, Jesus, for watching over me.  Thank you, Jesus, for making a way when I could not see one.  Thank you for giving me the courage and strength.  I do not know what you might be facing today, and I am unsure what storm may come tomorrow.  But I want you to remember that God is always there.  Always encouraging you to keep walking.

So as Christ said to Peter, come.  Sure, Peter eventually started to sink, but how many of you have taken that first step only to sink?  Remember the first steps Peter took, he did not sink!  He literally walked on water!  It is interesting that it noted he began to sink only when he saw the wind.  Perhaps that was why Paul said, “For we live by believing and not by seeing.” (2 Corinthians 5:7).  Let us live by these words of faith by belief in what God can do.  Not seeing what seems impossible.  My prayer today is we take courage from the words of Jesus Christ and have the faith to just walk.  Amen.

Infinite Power

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Ephesians 3:14-19

The other day, I was in a situation that bothered me.  Deeply.  I tried to put my feelings into words at the time, and they seemed to escape me.  Taking more time to pause and reflect, I was able to articulate what was happening.  In my mind, I had gotten comfortable in my faith believing that everything was happening because it was God’s will … until I didn’t agree with it.  Then I had begun to question whether God was with me or better yet was I with God.  When God makes us uncomfortable, He is trying to make something change from within.  A pastor once called it a ‘Holy Discontent.’  It means something within our spirit is so disruptive we cannot shake it and it will not let us go.  It was scary, and it made me want to run away and hide.  So, I began to just pray about it, and was reminded of one important aspect in my faith journey.

My goal is to try understanding what God wants me to do, and then draw on His strength to act.  He asks me to tune out the noise and trust Him.  That way, I move forward without worry or concern.  There is an inner determination and infinite strength telling me that where I am going is beyond my current condition, and if I focus on Him, I will get there.  This is what spiritual growth sounds like.

When you allow God to lead you, spiritual growth is attainable.  I love what Paul says in today’s verses.  First, there are the words that talk of the greatness of God.  Words such as ‘glorious, unlimited resources’ and ‘wide, long, high, deep’ describing Christ’s love for us.  Next, it expands on what God will give us.  ‘Empower, inner strength, experience, and strong’ are all words further underlining God’s gifts that we should expect for our trust given to Him.  Finally, the end result from all of this are the words, “Made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”  While these are simply words of prayer from Paul, they should be music to our ears when we are going through something difficult or challenging.  They remind us that when we cannot see a way out of circumstances, God always has a way for us.  Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”  This is what Paul understood as he prayed over the Ephesians for bigger things beyond what they could see.  Through Christ, we have strength where there is seemingly none left, and love for us when we feel alone.  We can be neither defeated nor denied for there is something better ahead for us.  We only need to claim victory in His name.

There is nothing you cannot overcome with the Lord’s help.  Our spiritual growth is not about our current circumstance.  It is about learning to see beyond our current circumstance to a future God intends for us.  Therefore, let us connect to that inner strength Paul spoke of looking beyond today and seeing our bright and glorious future.  What circumstances are affecting your view of God today?  How can you allow God’s vision for your future dictate the decisions of your current situation?  My prayer is that we remember to draw upon the infinite power of God.  Amen!

Thursday Devotional - Empowering Power

Romans 1:11-17  ¹¹ I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

¹⁴ I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:11-17

Paul is an amazing example of one who truly loved God, loved other people, understood God’s power, and humbly relied on God’s power to do what God had called him to do – preach the gospel! By faith, God’s gospel empowered Paul to serve! By faith, God’s gospel can empower you and me to serve where called.

This past week I got to prepare and give a 30 minute talk on Romans 3 to a group of over 200 women in our Bible study. Being one of the leaders is a job God’s specifically called me to do for over a decade, but it still doesn’t come easy! God has always provided what was needed, though.

I like to be ready by the night before, but last week I wasn’t. Some of my illustrations didn’t fit well, but God gave me a couple different illustrations the day of that helped me (and hopefully others) better understand what Paul was teaching. Yet again, God empowered me to do what He called me to do (in His time)!

      

Where do you get the strength to serve? Do you and I rely on our own self-discipline and self-righteousness? Or, like Paul, do you and I rely on God’s power through His righteousness, giving Him the glory? His power is far greater than my abilities!

Alice

The Quiet Storm

But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.  Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”  Mark 4:37-41

I was reminded of my brother’s wife while dealing with a situation.  She had a nickname of ‘Quiet Storm.’  She had that because of her soft spoken ways but strength that was unrelenting and unmistakable.  Although she passed away over 35 years ago, she left a great impression on all those she touched.  One of them was me.  She was strong in her faith, and I remember when she spoke, she spoke with a subtle seriousness that let me know she was no one to mess with.  Today, I miss her greatly, but am heartened by her spirit that lives in her children and in my memory.  I am reminded that in silence, there indeed can be strength.

God’s strength is within us to do what is necessary.  I read in Mark this story about Jesus, and could never really understand the depth of His strength here.  There was a storm threatening to take down the boat.  The disciples woke Him up in a panic.  The interesting part is the question they ask.  It wasn’t, “Jesus, help us,” or, “Jesus, can you save us, please?”  It was this disdainful almost self-righteous response saying, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”  Reading it now, it made perfect sense!  When you truly do not believe God is who He says He is, you ask questions as if He is not.  All of this commotion, and yet, Jesus is comfortably relaxing.  Then He shows in just a moment His authority saying, “Silence!  Be still!”  All is calm again.  In that moment, we understand the whole point.  In life, we have to endure storms, and we deal with the calamity and chaos that goes with it.  However if we know who Jesus is and we call on Him, we have His quiet strength.  When all around us is falling apart, we can find rest and peace to deal with all that is around us.

In the storms of life, we have the surety that Jesus Christ is our strength and refuge.  We have certainly seen mighty storms recently, but Jesus says in Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Whether your storms are as visible as they are in Texas or unknown but just as challenging in your heart and soul, find strength in Him.  What is your storm today?  Where are you questioning Jesus when you should be asking Him?  My prayer is that we trust in Jesus Christ; the always dependable ‘Quiet Storm.’  Amen.

In Remembrance

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.³ Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.  After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.  Hebrews 12:1-4

When we are alone, we are never truly alone.  There was a time that I felt utterly by myself.  No one to understand me and no one to care.  That sounds extreme because I had loving parents and a large family who lavished me with love.  However somehow, I had worked myself into this mental trap where I felt useless to those around me.  This was me at nineteen (Am I the only one hearing ‘Steely Dan’ in my head?).  Lost.  Feelings of failure and hopelessness ran through my mind.  Then a voice said to me in song, “Put the weight on my shoulders.”  This was the first time that I truly knew there was a God.  It was then I knew everything would be alright.  Thirty one years later, He’s still there, and has never left me.  Yes, I’ve grown in my faith by leaps and bounds, but it is good to always remember where God’s presence affected your life because it strengthens you knowing where He can take you if you trust in Him.

We must always look past our current circumstances by remembering how faithful God has always been.  Paul spoke to the Hebrews about God’s righteous discipline of His children and how we are to embrace it with enduring strength by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.  Think of how tough a sale that was!  Even though my dad past away years ago, I remember that last whipping from him like it was yesterday.  Not sure unconquerable strength was one of the virtues I got out of that one!  However, Paul was trying to prepare them for what was to come instead of remind them what had happened.  He wanted them to keep fighting for their journey of faith would not be an easy one, and God and others would test them as they struggled with the weight of their sinful ways.  Thus, his words were incredibly insightful not only for them but also us.  It is for us to remember that when things get rough, we have a savior who endured far worse circumstances.  He will be with us through our trials, and when no one cares or understands, He does!  Just hang on for as you keep your eyes fixed upon Him, strength to endure will come, and you will be victorious in the end.

Joy always comes in the morning if you can withstand the tests in the darkness.  I listened to a song that reminded me that I will eventually overcome my struggles because I serve a God who with Him I cannot lose.  But until then, I will keep loving Him.  That is what our journey of faith is about.  It’s seeing victory beyond our current circumstances, and in the meantime, keep loving God with our whole heart.  What is shackling you from focusing on Christ?  How can God’s past promises reassure you of a brighter tomorrow?  My prayer is that when faced with challenges we look to Jesus and His past faithfulness in remembrance.  Amen.

Trapped

“You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.

You do not want a burnt offering.

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.

You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.

Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.”. Psalms 51:16-19 NLT

http://bible.com/116/psa.51.16-19.nlt

My wife is really smart.  She understands that I am often not motivated by her pointing out how wrong I am about a something.  I love her more than anything, and the best way for her to get what she wants is not to push for her way.  Instead, she shares how it affects her.  She knows that a psychological wall always comes up when the focus is on her wants, but it comes down when she appears in need or pain.  Now some might view this as being manipulative, but this is the beauty of her.  She would never take advantage of this liberty.  Why?  Because she loves me, and it’s her unconditional love for me that ultimately breaks me.  I thought about this when thinking about God’s will for my life.  By giving my life to Him, I agreed to serve Him.  In serving Him, it means that I at times will be broken out of His love for me.  Sometimes, it is simply breaking for what makes his heart break (see the Devotion ‘Heartbreaker’).  But other times, He just pushes me to where I am trapped with nowhere else to go, and I have no other choice but to go to Him.

Committing to God means that we have to accept that He will break us to build us up into the people that will follow Him.  While reading these verses, I realized David was in this place of utter submittal to God.  He recognized where he was wrong, but to admit guilt to God wasn’t enough.  He understood God wanted more than just repentance. He wanted all of David that not only included a repentant heart but also a broken one.  Our heart fights hard to do things its own way only to have God trap it in a corner with one of two choices.  The first is for it to fight with all its might to keep its ways, sinful and not, and maintain its comfort.  The other choice is for it to submit, which is what God ultimately wants, and through submitting, a person is shown God’s favor.  We must always be careful in our repentance for sins.  Repentance is what God wants, but not as an act or as someone once told me a ‘check mark on our check list.’  He wants us to feel the weight and gravity of our guilt and sinful nature.  It is this ‘brokenness’ that brings us closer to the heart of God, and if we understand who David was, these verses underline why he is called a man after God’s heart.

Brokenness to God is a sign of strength.  Not weakness.  We may focus on always being strong, but brokenness says that our source of strength is God.  He is our Alpha and Omega.  When we acknowledge this and realize that we are neither the beginning nor end of our greatness, only then will we truly be able to achieve all things because we are fitting into God’s image.  Not our own.  What is it that God might be trying to break you from?  What new area of your life are you willing to surrender to Him?  My prayer is that we embrace God’s love for us even when He corners us and we find ourselves trapped.  Amen.

The Best In You

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.  Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.  1 Peter 4:10-11

I have done a number of presentations on the idea of utilizing your strengths.  It is my favorite topic this time of year because I first was enlighten by that very topic then. It has molded me in a number of ways. Various tests have told me that my greatest strength is my heart for others, and it impacts everything I do.  For example in high school, it took me forever just to write a 500 word essay. I’m guessing some of you who have read my devotions are laughing right now at that very idea.  Some have even outright told me, “Kent, you might want to shorten some of those down.”    However, the thing that has changed from my high school days to my devotion writing is what God has placed on my heart.  My best writing always comes when God inspires my heart to say things about His love and grace.  It is the relationship I have with Him that encourages me to love on others and challenges me when I want to distance myself from them.  That is my strength, and I do my best to release it to all who I come into contact with because they then see the best in me.  They see what God sees in me.

Our talents and strengths are a reflection of what God has instilled in us, and they are to be shared with the world.  Most of us choose to use our talents at work or display our strengths only at home.  However as the latter part of today’s verse clearly points out, it asks us to “Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies."  Not a lot of room for partial effort here.  Do you ask yourself are my spiritual gifts shared not only with family and friends but also coworkers?  Do you volunteer for causes that could benefit from your talent? These are questions I have asked myself only to realize that I fall short and need to take corrective action. You see, this is not optional for followers of Jesus Christ.  We must share our time, effort, and talent with our church and community for if we are not, we are unfortunately part of the problem.  If you are unsure what you can offer, do not let it discourage you. Just show up!  We will never know what we are capable of unless we just try something.  It could be as simple as helping a child in a reading program or as complex as constructing a church on a mission trip.  Whatever God inspires you to move on, act on it.

God created this incredible individual called ‘you!’  You are strong, beautiful, and a gift from an almighty God who we are humbled to be in His service and is indeed worthy of praise!  He has instilled in you gifts whether you realize it or not.  Our mission is to not shelter them for a select few.  Today’s verse says, “Use them well to serve one another.”  That is our purpose.  What gifts do you have to offer in your church or community now?  Will you stop hesitating and start trying to serve today? My prayer and challenge is that we stop sheltering ourselves and display what God sees; the best in you.  Amen.