Fresh Grace

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are

not consumed, because His compassions

they fail not. They are new every morning.

Great is Your faithfulness!”

     Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)

“But He gives more grace. Therefore

He says: ‘God resists the proud, but

gives grace to the humble.’”

     James 4:6 (NKJV)

I’m generally pretty good about being grateful for each day. But earlier this week, I only felt grateful that the day was over.  I’d let my flesh rule me.  My heart just burned over wanting to give my opinion on an issue because I was so pridefully sure I was right—and it was over something so trivial, yet I could not let it go and the matter kept coming back to me again and again.  In addition, I was very frustrated over some tech issues that made it hard and time-consuming to do my work.  Nothing I tried to fix the problems did any good--I even yelled out loud at my computer at one point (at least I was working at home).  At the end of the day, I turned off my computer with disgust at it and myself. 

I went for a walk outside to clear my head and then a verse of Scripture came to me---God is rich in mercy and His compassions never run out; they’re new every day!  He is abundant in grace!  And this doesn’t mean just salvation grace, but also grace for every day of our lives, even when we’re not walking as we should.  If we humble ourselves, God extends grace and mercy to us.  Of course, He doesn’t want us to stay in that condition; instead, He cleans us up and says to start again afresh.  Those truths washed over me and I regained my peace. And I felt true gratitude over all my Lord Jesus has done for me!

Do you need God’s grace and mercy today?  Don’t delay; He’s waiting to give to you richly.

Thursday Devotional - Life's Ups and Downs

Vacations come and go too quickly, most of the time. We often wish they lasted much longer! However, if we were always on vacation, we probably wouldn’t appreciate it as much.

I know several of you tackled weeds this past long weekend. They’re not fun to pull, but I certainly have a greater appreciation for the flower bed and yard after having worked in it myself!

Life is full of ups and downs. Solomon reflected on this in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Easy or pleasant things usually only come after lots of hard work or difficulties. Through the years, God has helped me learn to not wallow in difficult times. It will not last forever. Whether it’s hours, months, or years, a better day is coming! Then, with His help, I’m better able to enjoy and appreciate the pleasant times in life, whether big or small!

How does this encourage or challenge you in your current season of life? 

Alice

Spiritual Tight Rope

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

    do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do,

    and he will show you which path to take.  Proverbs 3:5-6

There is a tight rope to walk when walking the path of worldly and Godly righteousness.  I struggle when there are two sides of seemingly the same godly coin.  For example, I was reading an article about protests having no place in Christianity.  It used the verses of James 5 to emphasize this stating, “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.  You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.” (James 5:7-8)  The emphasis was on patiently waiting for the Lord to exact justice on those who would be either oppressive or doing wrong.

This is stark comparison to that of the beliefs of civil rights leaders.  One in particular named Martin Luther King, Jr came to mind.  A famous quote of his says, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  Where might this be biblically prevalent?  There are many areas, but one that speaks directly to this is Proverbs 31 where is says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” (Proverbs 31:7-8)  So which is right?  The author of the article later noted that not all protests were wrong to push for justice, but he elaborated that some protests are not founded biblically.  I could see his point, but it led me to ask some very difficult questions.  How are we to know when to wait for God and when to act?  Are all peaceful protests right, and are all violent ones wrong?

The answer lies in the prayer of serenity.  It simply states:

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Serenity is defined as the state of being calm and unruffled.  The word is not used in the Bible, but is referred to in many ways (ex. “The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:26).  Another word that comes to mind is ‘humility.’  Why?  Because it opens one’s heart to God and removes all selfish motives as noted in James 4:7, which says, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Serenity and humility are crucial when navigating a righteous path.  Today’s verses are good fundamental marching orders, but they are only part of the story.  We want to trust in the Lord, but how sure are we that what we are doing is God’s will?  How are we to trust that which we do not understand?  Do we even know if we are seeking His will?  It is a complicated road and we can potentially either oversimplify or over complicate it.  Thus, it becomes crucial that we put ourselves in a state where we can best hear God.  That’s the serenity part.  Furthermore, we must ensure our hearts are focused on God and not ourselves.  That’s the humility part.  If we can merge the two together, we can have a full view on what next steps to take.  We march bravely if needed or stay patient and wait for further instruction.  Therefore, these two things together are crucial in ensuring our steps taken are the right ones.

God is with us each step of the way.  The world will continue to throw challenges.  Thus when we are dealing with a situation whether it be simple or complex, we must ensure that we are in the best position to hear God and with an open mind and heart that will speak to God in a way that pleases Him.  Then, we will have the best chance toward success.  What process can you take to ensure you have serenity when going to God?  How can you approach Him with a humble heart?  My prayer is we are holding on to God’s hand as we walk across the spiritual tight rope.  Amen.

Finish Empty

“By this we know love, because

He laid down His life for us. And

we also ought to lay down our

lives for the brethren.”

     1 John 3:16 (NKJV)

"I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God, that you

present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy, acceptable to God, which is

your reasonable service."

     Romans 12:1 (NKJV)

The greatest sacrifice in history was the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. But many have given their lives in protecting our country and defending the freedoms that we too often take for granted.  Although we may not ever be in a position to give the ultimate sacrifice, either in the military or as a citizen, we can give ourselves away as Christians to serve others and bring honor and glory to our Lord.

Sacrificial giving is a key concept in the Christian walk, exemplified by Jesus Christ.  We’re exhorted to finish the race strong and well, but perhaps we should also be mindful to finish empty—that is to give so much of our time, talent and treasure away that when our time on earth is finished, we know that we have done all we could for the cause of Christ. I don’t want to have regrets when I stand before the Lord to give an account one day, do you?

I encourage everyone to participate in a Memorial Day observance this weekend, to  remember and honor those who have been killed while in service to our country.

Thursday Devotional - Chasing after the Wind of Possessions

What is your favorite possession? Mine is my shiny black piano. In fact, I was very upset a couple years ago when James accidentally chipped one of the main keys when he happened to be throwing coins in the air. In fact, we now have a rule that nothing gets thrown in the air in the living room and no toy is to ever touch the piano. 😊

I don’t know what Solomon’s favorite possession was, but he certainly didn’t lack anything. Just as he didn’t find satisfaction from chasing after wisdom, wealth, pleasure or greatness, apart from God’s plans. He also found chasing after possessions equally meaningless, apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 2:17-25     ¹⁷ So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. ¹⁸ I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. ¹⁹ And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. ²⁰ So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. ²¹ For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.²² What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? ²³ All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.

²⁴ A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

You’ve heard the sayings: “You can’t take it with you;” and “No u-haul behind a hearse.” Solomon had worked hard and accumulated much, but realized he wouldn’t take it with him and he had no control over what happened to it after he left.   

I do want to teach my children to take care of their property and especially treat other people’s property with care. However, it’s far more important I leave behind a spiritual legacy of faith and trust in God than a perfect piano! Their spiritual inheritance is eternal while their earthly inheritance is not.

Where else are you and I more focused on possessions (accumulating and protecting them) than on our relationship with God and the impact that has on others around us? Let’s focus on our eternal legacy! 

Alice

Goodness and love

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

The choir at my church had a Spring Cantata yesterday.  It was based off Psalm 23.  There are so many things I could pull out in this Psalm but the one part that really hit me was the last verse of the chapter. 

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The part that we don’t often focus on is the part “all the days of my life”.  It is in this lifetime that we are told that goodness and love will follow us.  It’s not after this life.  After this life is when we will dwell in the house of the Lord.  While there is a lot to look for after this lifetime, we still have a lot to live for in this lifetime as well. 

Have you stopped today to think about what goodness and love follows you today?  It’s there if you just take the time to look for it.

El Shaddai

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord

appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am [El Shaddai];

walk before me, and be blameless.”

     Genesis 17:1

“Also God said to [Jacob]: ‘I am [El Shaddai]. Be fruitful

and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall

proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.”

    Genesis 35:11

One of the Hebrew names of God used frequently in the Old Testament is El Shaddai. It is often translated as Almighty God because He is sovereign, eternal, all powerful.  One of my study Bibles indicates that the name El Shaddai reflects God’s character as the strengthener and satisfier of His people. Thus, the name is also translated as the All-Sufficient One. 

I have experienced both aspects of El Shaddai and that causes me to fear and love Him all the more.  He has proven Himself faithful to me time and time again.  I have found out that He is always more than able to provide what I need--physically and spiritually.  His grace is sufficient for all my big issues and small issues, and everything in between. I find that the more I commit my ways, needs and concerns to Him, the more I see answered prayers every day. And that helps me to trust Him more and more.

I encourage you to spend some time pondering God as El Shaddai. Let the revelation of Him as the Almighty and All-Sufficient One quiet your fears and concerns, and bring peace to your heart. He alone can truly strengthen and satisfy.  Entrust everything to Him who is able and rest in the knowledge that He will bring His will to pass.

Thursday Devotional - Chasing after the Wind of Greatness

Solomon didn’t find satisfaction from chasing after wisdom, wealth or pleasure, apart from God’s plans. He also found chasing after greatness equally meaningless, apart from God.

Ecclesiastes 2:4-11      I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. ⁵ I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶ I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. ⁸ I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. ⁹ I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

¹⁰ I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
    I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
    and this was the reward for all my toil.
¹¹ Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
    and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
    nothing was gained under the sun.

Solomon attained greatness that far exceeded anyone before, during or after his time (I Kings 3:11-13). He used his wisdom not only for his own benefit, but for the benefit of his entire country and those outside his country. Yet, attaining greatness for the sake of attaining greatness, didn’t satisfy.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25     A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

God desires us to live, work and serve with excellence. If we pursue greatness on our own and for ourselves, though, it won’t bring lasting joy and true satisfaction.

Where are you and I more focused on earthly greatness than on the great things God has purposed for you and me? I can easily get caught up in my own expectations of myself or family members rather than what God deems important or a priority. God may have us pursue a prestigious degree or position, keep an immaculate house and pristine yard, or master a unique skill. Let’s make sure it’s the greatness He desires, used for His glory, then it will bring lasting joy that satisfies!

Alice

'The Other' John 3:16

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.  1 John 3:16

It is far better to give than to receive.  That was something my mom taught me when I was little.  As I look back, I reflected on those times that made me the happiest.  It was usually around birthdays.  My favorite childhood birthday was when I turned seven.  We were in San Francisco for my mom’s job, and her and some colleagues took me to an old-fashioned Italian restaurant.  I’m guessing my affinity for Olive Garden must have started there, but I digress.  We were done with dinner, and our server brings out a little birthday cake.  She begins to sing ‘Happy Birthday.’  But she was not the only one.  The tables around us began to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ as well.  Before I know it, the restaurant has become the Mormon Tabernacle Choir because everyone (I’m not kidding … everyone!) began to sing.  Tough act to follow for a seventh birthday.  My mom marvels that I remembered that day because to her, it was just part of being my mom.  To me, it meant the world, and it still does today.  However, it brings joy to my mother’s face that I remembered it.

As a Christian, I remember watching the Passion of The Christ for the first time.  I understood what Jesus had done for us, but that moment in the theater changed my trajectory.  Seeing the graphic nature of what Christ went through leading up to the crucifixion was simply at times unbearable to watch.  It was so painful (spoiler alert 😊) that I barely remember Him walking out from the tomb on the third day at the end of the movie.  While it is true that the depiction of His crucifixion was somewhat off, the concept one could get of what He went through was deeply impactful.  I can still remember it to this day.  It centers me whenever I wander too far from course.  It keeps my faith grounded on the solid foundation He made for me.  He went through all of that for us.

Real love is always about giving.  Not receiving.  Most of us focus on John 3:16, which says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  Today’s John 3:16 (1^st John, that is) speaks very similarly of the sacrifice Jesus made.  However, while one spoke of the gift God gave to us through His Son the other commissions us to give as Jesus gave.  Now this is not to say we are to lay down our life throwing caution to the wind.  However, it requires us to have a selfless love for others.  We are to give of ourselves so that others can know the love of the one true living God.  If you think of the one moment you truly knew God was real, what would you give for someone else to have that moment?  Couldn’t your selfless act be the one that either makes a difference in another’s life or helps someone recognize God truly at work?  My pastor understood this as he quoted from Philippians 2:4 saying, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

There is truly no greater love one can have for another than to give their lives for them.  My wife gives me the greatest amount of joy in my life.  It’s not because of what she does for me.  It is because when I do something for her and she smiles, nothing can ruin my day.  That is the kind of love today’s verse speaks of.  Jesus too spoke of this saying, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)  Whether it be for a child, a significant other, a parent, or someone in need, let us renew our commitment to God by committing to give more to others.  Where are you reserving space that God wants more from you?  How can we give more of us for our brothers and sisters?  My prayer is that while we find comfort the words of John 3:16, we act remembering ‘The Other John 3:16.’  Amen.

Serve humbly

Galatians 5:13-14

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  

America’s view of freedom seems to have gotten out of control.  We often hear comments about having freedom of speech and freedom to do whatever we want.  The time in which Paul wrote Galatians seems to not be all that different than how the world is becoming now.  He gave them, and us, a warning.  While we are called to be free, that does not mean we should misuse our freedom.  We are warned not to use our freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

So what does this look like for you?  It might mean that instead of going and buying yourself something, that when you see a person in need, you help them out.  Maybe it’s that single mom next door that is struggling to give her kids the best she can while trying to work two jobs to pay the bills.  Maybe you can show her love by mowing her lawn or helping with the kids.  Maybe even dropping a gift card to the local grocery store in her mailbox.

This week I want to challenge you to serve one another humbly in love.  Since I know that sometimes people can struggle with ideas on how to do this, I want to invite anyone who reads this to leave a comment on a way that you have been served humbly in love by someone else.  Read through the comments and see if something that you see gives you an idea for how you can serve someone else.  Let’s spread the Love of Christ this week to those we come in contact with.