Thursday Devotional - God Notices and Rewards

We talked last week about especially loving and helping fellow believers. Not only can it attract non-believers, but God notices and will reward it.

Matthew 10:42      ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Hebrews 6:10-12  ¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. ¹¹ We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

God notices and promises to reward those who love and help fellow believers.

I was thinking how much joy I get watching my kids help each other, hug each other, give gifts to each other, especially when it’s their own idea. Last week, they both wanted to give a Valentine to each other. Sarah filled out a card for James while he was at school and James ordered a “candy” card from school for Sarah with his own money!

Similarly, God is pleased when we love, help and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ! We love on Him as we love on each other.

How will you and I show love to God by helping or encouraging a fellow believer this week?

Alice

In Our Corner

Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea.  But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”  Exodus 14:23-25

What is it like to know someone is always there fighting for you?  When I applied for college, my grades were not exactly the best.  I was not this highly regarded 3.0 student.  My aptitude tests were very good, but it was unlikely that I would end up at a major school.  However having gone to one of the better schools in the Detroit area, I was considered for the University of Detroit.  It was still a stretch.  So, as I went to the office for an informal interview with the academic advisor, my spirits were not exactly good that morning.  However, it all changed when I walked in the room.  The advisor was my old principle at the high school, who knew me and my story.  “Kent,” he said as he shook his head with a look of both disbelief and happiness.  The disbelief was he saw my grades were not the greatest, but his happiness was that he knew my capabilities.  Needless to say, I was admitted without further issue.  I wondered what discussions were happening at the admissions board.  While I could not be certain as to what happened, I am certain that ‘Fr. Leo’ was fighting for me.  I could imagine him saying to the admission team, “I know Kent.  He can do this!”  There was never a doubt in his mind even as there was in mine.

God is our champion fighting for us behind the scenes to ensure our victories.  We all know the story of how God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to move to safety from the Egyptian army.  However, we tend to focus on their side and do not see the side of the Egyptians and what they were up against.  They had seen or heard of what God had done to force Pharaoh to free the Israelites and now watched Him perform the miraculous feat of parting the sea, but nonetheless, they chased after the Israelites.  After the fire came down and chariot wheels were bent, only then did some come to a brilliant conclusion. “Let’s get out of here!” they said.  I pondered on their state of mind.  After all that had gone on leading up to this, only then did they figure out this was a bad idea?  They were beyond what I often tell people is their ‘Elsa’ moment.  They needed to ‘Let it go!’  You see, when the Lord is on your side there are battles being fought that we never know about and things changing that we ourselves may not even notice.  People who had initially blocked your pathway are being moved out, and hearts and circumstances are changing today that yesterday were stagnant.  This is perhaps at the center of why Jesus said, “But I say, love your enemies!  Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matthew 5:44-45)

We must never lose faith in God’s ability to make a way when there is seemingly no way.  In seeing the plight of the Egyptian army, we can see the mountains God moved and that our enemies too understand who our God is.  Perhaps today is the moment for you to pause and reflect.  The dream you feel that is out of reach, goal that seems unrealistic, or task that is an endless road of despair may be your moment of reaching the Red Sea.  Maybe God right now is lighting fires blocking the pathway of your enemies and bending the circumstances like chariots wheels.  Do not lose hope for Jesus Christ isn’t a champion because He’s never been hit.  He’s the champion because He’s undefeated.  Rely on this as you go through your times of trials and tribulation.  How can you move forward with confidence that God is leading the way?  What circumstances should you take to Him today?  My prayer is that no matter the battle, we keep in mind God is always in our corner.  Amen.

Marriage Witness

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother,

and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.”

     Genesis 2:24 (KJV)

Jesus said “For this cause shall a man leave father and

mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain

shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain,

but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together,

let not man put asunder.”

    Matthew 19:5-6 (KVJ)

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’d like to commend each of you who are married for bearing witness to God’s wonderful design for man and woman. Although this holiday focuses on romantic love, the Bible speaks of the relationship between husband and wife on a deeper and higher plane, even as a mirror of the relationship between Christ and His Church. 

 Although I haven’t personally experienced a godly marriage (and I admit to a bit of envy of those who have), I am blessed to know many who embody it, especially so many couples at church who have been married for many decades.  I’m sure it’s not always roses and chocolates, but what a wonderful testimony to other believers (and those in the world) that you remain faithful to each other and to God over the years. 

 Happy Valentine’s Day and may God richly bless each of you!

Thursday Devotional - Loving Believers

We all know we are to love one another. It’s often easier said than done. Sometimes it’s even extremely difficult to love fellow believers in our churches. However, I think those are the very people God especially wants us to love and help.  

When Jesus gave His new command to the disciples in John 13, I think He was specifically referring to them loving each other as disciples. They were quite a unique bunch of misfits!

John 13:33-35     ³³ “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

If we have love for one another as believers, that can be attractive to outsiders. Sadly, outsiders often see the quarrels and divisions within the church and don’t want any part of it!

Let’s not be a part of that trend, but let’s allow the Holy Spirit to help us reverse it! What fellow believer will you and I especially love this week? Maybe it’s by giving a helping hand, a note of encouragement, or genuine prayers for their spiritual growth.  

Let’s love each other well!

Alice

Taking Care Of Itself

As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?  Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.  The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”  Exodus 14:10-14

Who do I trust?  Where things are out of my control, I begin to ask myself that very question.  Do I trust in man or do I trust in God?  Sometimes, I trust in both.  When I first started my job at Thomson Reuters, there was a moment where I began to doubt if I truly fit.  Maybe I was not smart enough to do the job.  Perhaps at the ripe old age of 32, the world had passed me by.  I was having that discussion with a colleague who would become my mentor in a way.  Shortly after that day, he helped me get the opportunity to perform my tasks as everyone else, and over twenty years later, I find myself still helping others.  From then on, I trusted him, and even at times where he was critical of me, I listened and learned.  All this was before I gave my life to Christ.  As I look back, God was watching over me even then.  Why would he align me with someone who could help me the most?  How did He know exactly what I needed?  So, there are times where I am trusting someone, but it is not that I trust them over God.  Instead, I trust God leads my path where He puts someone there to help me.  To inspire me.  To teach me.  It’s like a prayer asking God to help me with the things I do know and to provide me with the people I need when I don’t.  The rest kind of takes care of itself.

We must always put our trust in God above man realizing at times God will give us people who will do His will for us.  In my journey through Exodus, the Israelites have reached the Red Sea, and Pharaoh has sent his army after them.  In reading this part, I happened to notice a subtle change in the complaints of the Israelites.  God had done all these amazing things that had both freed them from captivity and led them through the wilderness to the banks of the Red Sea.  Yet when the sounds of the Egyptian chariots had come, they trembled with fear, and began to blame … Moses?  “What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?  Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness,” (Exodus 14:11a-12) said the Israelites to Moses. What have you, why did you, and didn’t we tell you became the talking points?  Talk about killing the messenger!  Their trust in God had fallen down and shifted to Moses.  But this is why Moses was such a great man of God.  He trusted God over the voices of man.  As we previously discovered, he learned to trust God’s voice even over his own (I’m no great talker, remember?).  He made the bold proclamation, “The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.” (14:13b)  We often find ourselves putting our trust in the wrong people.  That is what happens when we look at the trees and not the forest.  God will provide us with vision to see what is possible, provisions beyond what our inner voice says, and faith to guide us to where we should go with or without someone.  All we need is faith in God.  He has never failed us.

We must always trust in God’s control of things.  We will often struggle trying to determine to either drive our lives or let Jesus take the wheel.  The reality is we need to trust Jesus already has the wheel and pray for wisdom that if we do choose to steer it, He is holding our hands guiding us.  So do not hesitate to linger or question God.  Trust that He has your back, and just move forward with the confidence Moses would lead the Israelites into the Red Sea.  Where are you trusting man where you should trust God?  How can you listen to God’s voice over your own?  My prayer is that we put our trust in God and let the rest take care of itself.  Amen.

Seasons Change

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

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

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

Everything in life has a season.  Life it’s self is a season.  Sometimes those seasons are short (like a Michigan summer) and sometimes those seasons go on for what seems like forever (like a Michigan winter).  Through each of those seasons, we see ups and downs.  We connect with new people and loose others.  Sometimes we grow closer to God and sadly, other seasons we drift from him. 

This week, is the end of a season for me.  Next week will be the beginning of a new season for me.  During this current season of my life, I have grown closer to God.  I have meet some amazing Godly people and built relationships that will hopefully last for seasons to come. 

As we move through life and different seasons, it is critical to stay connected to the Lord.  To always make time for him.  Today, I want to encourage you to do just that as you go through seasons. 

I would also like to ask for prayers as I move to this new season of my life.  I have been here at Thomson for nearly 20 years and Friday will be my last.  It is a time of excitement and yet a time of fear.  I know this has been the Lord’s guidance therefore I am comforted about this season change.  I will miss sharing with all of you and hearing from you.  Thank you all for the encouragement and support through the years.

God bless each of you!

One Another

“This is My commandment, that you

love one another as I have loved you.”

     John 15:12 (NKJV)

“With all lowliness and gentleness,

with longsuffering, bearing with

one another in love.”

     Ephesians 4:2 (NKJV)

“Therefore comfort each other and

edify one another.”

There are some 59 “one another” verses in the New Testament—verses exhorting Christians to show love, grace, patience, etc. to one another.  Listed above are just a few of them.  I’ve heard a sermon series on the “one anothers” and it was both interesting and convicting.  They seem easy enough in the abstract to do but often hard in practice.  I can usually be loving and patient when it suits me, but it can be a big challenge when it’s inconvenient, when I don’t think I have the time or desire to deal with the person or situation.

 For example, the other day my heart sank when I saw my neighbor poke his head out of his condo as I walked down the hallway to my place. He’s a dear man who lives alone (and is lonely, I think) and he loves to talk.  A conversation with him is never just a minute or two and I was anxious to get home and do the things I had planned.  So when he asked me to come in to see the new set-up he's designing for his trains, I was sorely tempted to beg off. 

But then I remembered that he too loves Jesus and how we’re supposed to love one another and bear with one another.  More importantly, I remembered how the Lord always has time for me.  I’m never an interruption; He never tells me to come back later when He’s not busy. So by God’s grace, I was able to rejoice with my neighbor and encourage him to pray about a certain issue.

 I have a long way to go, but little victories like this encourage me to keep pressing on.  Why not pick out one or two of the “one anothers” and try practicing them this week? Jesus said that by showing love to one another, all will know that we are His disciples (John 13:35).  Let's show the world we are His by our loving words and actions. 

Thursday Devotional - God's "No" to Jesus

Do you ever feel like God isn’t listening because you aren’t getting your desired answers to prayer? Did you ever think about the fact that Jesus didn’t get a “yes” answer to all His prayers, either, even though God definitely heard Him?

Hebrews 5:7-9      ⁷ During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸ Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered ⁹ and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. 

God heard Jesus’ prayer to spare Him from death:

Matthew 26:39a    Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.”

God answered Jesus’ prayer “no.” However, Jesus acknowledged that might be the answer and ended His prayer praying for God’s will to be done instead of His own. (Matthew 26:39b “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”)

Just because we don’t get the answer we want doesn’t mean God isn’t listening. He has a better and more perfect plan, even if we don’t understand it at the time. (Like God’s answer “no” to Joe and I wanting children early on in our marriage, but later providing them almost a decade into marriage in a very unique way.)

What other “No” from God do you and I need to accept? Let’s submit to His will, like Jesus did. When we pray for His will to be done, the answer is always “yes!”

Alice

Embrace The Journey

The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness.  The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night.  And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.  Exodus 13:20-22

This past weekend represented the end of the football season.  I am sure there is a mixture of sadness if you are a fan like me and relief if you are like my wife.  That all being said, one must realize that a journey started well back in July last year culminated for one team, Kansas City, out of thirty-two celebrating a Super Bowl championship.  However, that was not what they were thinking early in November when they lost to a team they would later have to beat for the chance to win Super Bowl.  Back then, they were barely the best team in their division let alone the league.  But that was the last game they lost in the season.  For them, it had to be an amazing journey each team member will relish for the rest of their lives.

Sometimes our journey of faith is like a season.  It ebbs and flows having various changes in courses.  I can speak to that having suffered a lot of disappointment and pain lately.  However, I was reminded of a story of a Vietnam veteran named James Stockdale, who was imprisoned and tortured for over seven years.  His story of perseverance has been studied by not only military leaders but also business and religious leaders as well.  The question that he was asked was quite simply how he survived in such dire circumstances.  His answer, which is better known as The Stockdale Paradox, was this:

You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end — which you can never afford to lose — with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.

You see, his faith was that he would get out of there even as things looked incredibly bleak in isolated moments.

We must always view our relationship with Jesus Christ as a long journey where God’s glory is there even if we cannot see it at that moment.  Today, we come to the part of Exodus where Israel has been freed by Pharaoh, and God is leading them on their journey to the Promise Land.  There was an easier road that was more direct road there, but God chose to have go a different way.  The Bible said, “So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.” (Exodus 13:18) This was much like I spoke earlier in the story of God ‘setting the stage.’  However, today I wanted to focus on the ‘how’ and not the ‘what’ God was doing.  He led and guided them every step of the way by clouds, light, and fire.  They traveled day and night knowing where to go and which way to turn.  As I thought of my own journey thus far, I did not always know where I was going.  But there was a time that I began to fully put my trust in Him, and time after time, He would lead me the right way.  So, I now trust Him even as I know the twists and turns are upon me and I cannot see the ultimate destination.  But through the storms and battles, there is God leading the way, and we know the destination at the end where there is as said in the Bible ‘milk and honey.’  It’s that faith we must maintain even in the most trying circumstances.

God is always the light in front of us.  Ours simple but challenging task is to simply follow.  Martin Luther King once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”  Understanding this, we must fully commit to finding this light and following it even if it appears to lead us somewhere, we might not have anticipated.  We should learn as Israel did that God loves to set the stage for His glory to be revealed for all to see.  No matter where you are today in your journey, recommit your trust in Him to guide you to the Promise Land.  Where are you in your journey today?  Are you following the light God has placed in front of you?  My prayer is that we trust in God and embrace the journey.  Amen.

The Lord is my Strength

Psalm 59:16-17

But I will sing of your strength,
    in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
    my refuge in times of trouble.

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

A few weeks ago I shared that I was excited to be able to watch my nephew leave for bootcamp.  This past week, we got word that he was being discharged.  Long story short, he couldn’t get past some of his past and was not going to be able to handle what would be ahead if he was still hung up on the past.  He will hopefully be home sometime this week. 

In times of uncertainty, prayer is the best thing we can do.  God is our strength in times of trouble. 

Each of us face times of uncertainty.  Sometimes those are exciting but uncertain times.  Sometimes those are not so exciting times.  Through it all, we need to remember that we can rely on the Lord and we are to sing praises to him. 

Next week I will share more on facing times of uncertainty with the strength of the Lord.