Net Value

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.  1 Peter 1:17-20

Coming from an accounting background, I understand the concept of ‘Net Worth.’  You take your assets, and subtract your liabilities to come up with your net worth.  For many of us, we tend to look at net worth in a more humanistic way.  We ask ourselves, “How much value do I bring to society?  To those closest to me?  To myself?”  Many of us have no problem seeing how much ‘worth’ they have.  Others struggle.  I would consider myself the latter, but there is a catch.  You see as a follower of Christ, I understand that I have infinite net worth even though I myself at times feel at a deficit.  It is that gap between the infinite value of Christ on your side and your own self-worth where you find that word ‘humility.’  You are humbled when you realize the distance between your own feeling of worth and God’s value He has for you.  I realize just how much God has given me.  I once wanted all these material things; a nice house, a car, and other things.  All those wants, and yet, I was a broken man who consistently fell short of Christ’s glory and still do.  And yet, He loved me enough to bless me with all of these things and a wonderful wife who I describe as God knowing what I needed before I even knew it.  Then when I gave my life to Him, I truly understood all He had done for me.  I do not say these things to either brag or boast for I am in no position to do either.  However, I witness this praying it enlightens you as to the many blessings God has given that perhaps you might take for granted.

We are infinitely worthy because our Heavenly Father values us so.  When we gave our lives to Christ, there were angels rejoicing, and we are reminded He has watched over us each and every day of our lives.  He nurtured by protecting us from harm and teaching us lessons unbeknownst to us.  We grew in our faith, and learned to appreciate how an awesome God would come to love people like us.  I do not have a magical answer as to why He loves us so.  In fact, I still at times wonder why He loves me.  What I do know is that He has come to my rescue and moved me out of Harm’s way so often that if I were not spiritually aware, I would have thought of myself as the luckiest man alive.

God always tips the scale in our favor when we reach out to Him.  Tipping the scale does not necessarily mean we get what we want.  It does mean that He always looks out for our interest and what may seem to be disapproval or indifference to our prayers is actually God setting the stage for that which you truly want and need.  That is why He is a God of abundance.  He gives us unlimited power through Him, and it is that which we can claim with confidence we are incredibly valuable to God.  So let us never forget to be humble both in acknowledging where we are and understanding how worthy He is.  How can you greater align your own value and God’s value?  What can you do to instill God’s value into others?  My prayer is that we acknowledge our shortcoming to embrace the worthiness of ourselves through Christ Jesus, and thus, enjoy our ‘net worth’ to God.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Wisdom

Psalm 4:1-7 “Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, and give attention that you may gain understanding, for I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction. When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, Then he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live; Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding.” (NASB)

Hello,

As my wife and I work to raise our 3 kids this passage certainly strikes home. We give instruction frequently. We repeat it, we explain it, we give examples…and repeat it again. Sometimes this is tiring and frustrating, but we keep going. We keep going because we know of the long term benefits of it. We keep going because new situations are new opportunities to learn.

Then the challenging part hits……..the same here holds true of us and God the Father. He wants us to gather wisdom and understanding. He makes sure we have every opportunity to know and remember His instruction.

So, the next time you start to get frustrated at someone else not getting the wisdom and having to repeat it…..think for just a moment about you and God. What instruction has He given that you are struggling with?

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Becoming like a child

Luke 18:15-17

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Today I wanted my devotion to be about children as today is my son’s 4^th birthday. 

The Bible tells us that not only are we to bring children to Christ, but that we are to receive the kingdom of God like a little child in order to enter.  So what does that mean?  If I use my son as an example, I think it becomes clear.  A child does not always obey their parents perfectly.  As a parent, I get frustrated when my son does not listen to me.  I’m sure the same is true with our Heavenly Father when we do not listen to him. 

That being said, if I am out and about with my son and scene danger, I can tell him firmly that he needs to listen to me and he’s going to.  A parent will watch out for their child and the child feels safe with the parent and does not question them.  Our Heavenly Father is also watching out for us.  If we become like a child, we are not going to question what He has told us.

Children are certainly not perfect and God does not expect us to be perfect.  He does want what is best for us though and wants us to love and obey him.

Our Journey to Adoption, Part IX - Blessings from the Impossible

As I mentioned last week, slowly the other possible homes for James and Sarah fell through and left us and the current foster family. The current foster family didn’t take their names off the list, in case we fell through. They also made it seem like they were waiting to decide if we cared enough about the kids. If they didn’t feel like we cared enough, then they were going to adopt. It certainly made us feel manipulated for continuous weekend respite care, not to mention extra scrutiny.

After much pressure, even though it was the heat of tax season, we also agreed to keep the kids for part of Spring break so that the foster family could go on a family vacation geared for their older children. However, a few days before Spring break, the other family that was going to take the kids for the other half of the week called and cancelled. We were then pressured that if we really cared about the kids we would agree to keep them longer than originally planned! I felt like we were already going way out of our way and had already taken off some work time at a very busy time of year.

After prayer and talking to my boss about a creative work schedule, we agreed to keep the kids. It was quite a tiring week, but we really bonded with them! It helped to be all together for more than just a weekend!!! God used what seemed like unrealistic expectations to bring blessings. I shouldn’t be surprised, as God can bring blessings from any impossible situation, including death!  

John 11:38-43           ³⁸ Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ³⁹ “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” ⁴⁰ Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” ⁴¹ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” ⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
What are you facing that seems overwhelming, stressful, or impossible? Will you take it to God and then be willing to creatively participate in the solution? The greatest blessings often come out of the most difficult situations.

Alice

Never Fails

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 (NIV)

There is a war coming. Outside, it may appear that the war is with a religion.  That may be true, but my heart tells me something much less obvious.  The greater and perhaps more important war is not outside the church.  It is from within.  It is a battle for its soul.  There are those who believe the church has been lost for a long time.  I was one who believed that it was the answer to all of our problems, and this is something I still believe.  Bill Hybels has said that the local church is the hope of the world.  If that is true, then hope may indeed be fleeting.  We are not being that shining light as a beacon on a hill.  We have become too occupied with telling our outside world to conform or suffer God’s wrath.  Those both inside and outside the church have said we have not spread the gospel enough.  My concern?  It is none of those.  My concern is that we are not the loving people God would want us to be.  We are focused on greater understanding of the word and not living it.

If you doubt there is a war, you only need to breathe in what is happening in society today. There are those who firmly believe we need to build walls, and others who believe we need to open our arms wide open.  Some believe we need to protect our borders, and others believe we need to open them to those who may be persecuted.  I could continue to go up and down the list of ideas for each side.  I have prayed for understanding that God guide my steps and words today.  As I did, He helped me realize something.  There is only one sure thing that He has shown me throughout my life that holds true still today.  Love never fails.

It was love that drove Martin Luther King Jr. to peacefully march to stand through abuse, jail, and threats to his life to lead an entire race to have equality. In the closing of his final speech which foretold of his eventual death, he said these words:

Well, I don't know what will happen now; we've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter to with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life–longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain.  And I've looked over, and I've seen the Promised Land.  I may not get there with you.  But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And so I'm happy tonight; I'm not worried about anything; I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

Forty years after his speech and subsequent death, an African American became President. It did not signify the end of discrimination or bigotry, but it meant that a person like me no longer had to be silent ever again.

It was love that changed my life’s trajectory. A man saw a skinny black teenager and felt he did not belong.  However after watching his grit and determination against all odds, the man’s view changed.  He said to this child, “Before I knew you, I would have nothing to do with you.  After watching you and getting to know you, I would be honored to have you in my home anytime you choose to come here.”  That moment changed both of their lives forever.

Finally, it was love shown even in the face of hate. A church in South Carolina has nine of its parishioners killed by a white supremacist.  At the hearing where he is arraigned, the grieving families speak of anger and pain.  However to the surprise of the world, they also show forgiveness.  Nadine Collier, daughter of one of the victims says to the killer, “I forgive you . . . I will never be able to hold (my mother) again, but I forgive you . . . If God forgives you, I forgive you.”  I went to that church later that year.  The moment I stepped in there, one understood right away why they could say those words with sincerity and conviction.

You see even in the face of hatred, love wins every time. It always has in my life.  If it has not in yours, then I challenge you because as a pastor taught me, The Bible is the greatest love story of all because it is about God’s love for you.  Through sin, He lost us, but through Jesus Christ, He said He wants us back.  Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.  With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”  So to those of you who will biblical or spiritually challenge me that we need to protect ourselves and our borders or ban refugees, I’m sorry to disappoint you.  I cannot nor will not be on your side.  You see?  Love never failed me or my people before.  I will not stand against it now.  It does not mean I will not pray for the President and it does not mean I do not wish him well.  It simply means my God has taught me to love even at the risk of my life, and I will love my brother even if he or she does not know my God.  My prayer is that each of you looks at yourselves and answer, “Does Jesus’ love ever fail?”  Do I love as Jesus loves me?  Amen.

Tues Devo: Building from the source

Colossians 2:6-8 “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” (NASB)

What an interesting time we live in! As we look at the political and social landscape today, not only are there strongly differing opinions – but in an age with technology where those opinions can be freely shared. What is truth? What is only part of the truth? What is completely false, but looks good? What evidence can be crafted to support the feeling/opinion?

It is certainly challenging to sift through and figure out what is truth. We need context, we need history, we need full details, and we need an open mind. If we don’t approach discovery with an attitude of wanting truth instead of wanting to support our pre-conceived feelings we will miss things.

I am not here to say in the political arena what is and isn’t truth and what is and isn’t right (happy to chat on that 1-1, seems to be more effective that way) but I am here to encourage all of us as believers to start with the source of truth as our real foundation for belief – not just our opinions and feelings. Scripture should shape our feelings and opinions. We must approach God’s word looking to learn and be influenced, not looking for support of what makes us feel good. I think Paul addressed this in his letter to Colossae where he talked about being rooted AND built up in Christ. He then just a verse later talks about the dangers of being swayed by people with their opinions and traditions. We must watch what is driving our opinions and beliefs – and it should be Christ through His word. How do we do that? Read…..the whole thing! Don’t fall into just looking for 1 or 2 verses, get context and seek understanding – let that propel you forward.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Great Physician

Mark 2:17

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Yesterday I had to take my son to the doctor because he had an ear infection.  He had been up the night before crying that his ear hurt.  Upon hearing that he had to go to the doctor, suddenly he felt better.  Of course I knew better and still took him to the doctor to get the medication needed to heal him.

This started me thinking this morning about how the world often lives when it comes to the Great Physician.  We really don’t want to go to him unless it’s serious.  And while Jesus said it is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick, we may very well be sick but we pretend to be healthy so we do not have to go to the Great Physician. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are all sick!  We have this deadly disease called sin.  We are in need of the Great Physician to give us the medication needed to heal us.  This medication can only come from him. 

I urge you today to go to the Great Physician and seek the medication needed to heal whatever it is in your life that you need healing from.

Our Journey to Adoption, Part VIII - Glory from Delay

The delayed process to adopt James and Sarah was frustrating. However, 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.

Last March and April we continued to keep James and Sarah on weekends as we awaited the outcomes of other possible families for them. First, their biological mother said she appealed the termination, but she only thought she did (or wished she had, or wanted to believe she had). No record of an appeal was found, so the termination of the rights was not reversed.

Second, the uncle that said he was interested in the children didn’t have enough money to come up from Texas to even meet the children. He already had three of his own children, and didn’t have a permanent residence at the time. So, he relinquished his interest.

Third, one of James’ former foster families turned out not to be interested in adopting the children themselves, but wanted a relative of theirs to adopt. The relative didn’t have any recent connection to the children, so they were also scratched off the list. That left us and the current foster family.

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 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.

Alice 

Tues Devo: Tension

Colossians 1:19-22 ”For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross, through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (NASB)

Hello,

The continued recent political tensions in our country (No, I will not really go into how I feel…) had me thinking about tension in general. As believers we will never escape tension. Notice how the Colossians are described here prior to their conversion – “hostile in mind”. Paul also mentions how Jesus came to “reconcile all things to Himself” – if something needs reconciliation, there must be an issue!

There is a natural tension between right and wrong, between God and Satan, and between those who follow God and those who don’t.

One thing to note about this tension however is that peace comes through the person of Jesus Christ (through His blood on the cross as Paul reminds us above). Most people look at achieving peace in the midst of tension as coming to an agreement in the middle, not necessarily on one “side”. But since God is the creator of the world, well….He kind of is right! What is truly amazing is that instead of being forceful and tyrannical, He offers reconciliation through peace and love.

So, yes – there will always be tension, but we can help ease that tension one person at a time as we share the peace and love of Jesus.

Will Hill

Resolutions

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow wearyand lose heart.

Did you set a New Year’s Resolution?  If you did, how are you doing with that?  They say that it takes 21 days to make something a habit.  You are right there, so very close to making that change a habit! 

When you first start to do something, it can be a challenge.  This could be exercising or eating healthier.  After a while though, it just becomes natural to your life. 

My friends, if you did not set a resolution to draw closer to God this year, I want to encourage you that it’s not too late.  Start today!  Maybe you need to spend more time in prayer.  Maybe for you, it’s more time in the Word.  For some, it’s going to Church on a regular basis.  Whatever it is that you need to do to draw closer to God, don’t delay, start today and before you know it, it will be a habit.