Necessary Food

Jesus said, “It is written, ‘man shall not live

by bread alone, but by every word that

proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

    Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

“I have not departed from the commandment

of His lips; I have treasured the words of

His mouth more than my necessary food.”

    Job 23:12 (NKJV)

I have been challenged lately not to become anxious when I see people at the store with their carts heaping full and some of the shelves bare, and to resist the temptation to buy more than I need for myself. We are living in challenging times to be sure. But I dare say none of us lived through the Great Depression or during wartime rationing and shortages.  Instead, we’re used to having plenty and many of our “needs” are actually luxuries according to some standards.  I hope and pray that God will fill us with gratitude for what we have, rather than concern over what we don’t have, and help us to trust in our gracious Lord to provide for all our true needs.

Also, our priorities may need to be re-ordered.  For as Jesus notes, we do not live by bread alone, but by God’s word.  Food sustains our bodies but we need to hear from God in order to be fed spiritually. Yet how many of us can say, as Job did, that we treasure God’s word more than our necessary food?  My hope and prayer is that we will use a portion of our extra time at home to grow spiritually by feeding on Scripture, studying and meditating on it.  There is help and hope, encouragement and comfort, in God’s word; be sure to feast on some today and every day.

It is good to remember that we have all we need in Christ, for He is the bread of life (John 6:48). Why not share this truth with someone who is anxious and fearful today?

Thursday Devotional - A Different Sunday, Part II

Well, our “different Sunday” may be our new normal for a while. We did get to watch the live-stream of our worship and sermon again. We also got to watch the live-stream of one of my sister’s services, where she was playing most of the music.

We did several additional prayer/Scripture/song times spread out throughout the day, similar to last Sunday (although, not as many ☹).

We started with praising God for who He is, then a thanksgiving session for all His provisions and blessings, and then prayers for how we could help others during this difficult time. It was encouraging to hear all the attributes of God that James and Sarah thought of for which to praise God, all the blessings they appreciated and their own creative ideas on helping others.

1. Praise God

Holy Holy Holy

Acts 4:23-31

2. Thanksgiving

At the Cross

Acts 12:21-24

3. How we can help others

God Will Take Care of You

Acts 22:30-23:22

Acts 4:23-24, 29-30     ²³ On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them… ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

We can pray for safety and health during this time, but notice what Peter and John prayed during their time of crisis. They first praised God for who He is and then asked for boldness to continue spreading His message. We can do the same! The biggest need of people right now is to know their Creator, whether they end up seeing Him soon or not for many more years.  

Alice

You Don't Want None Of This!

You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.  You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.  But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.  Exodus 20:4-6

How often have you heard the danger signs that told you not to do something?  Growing up, I loved and respected both of my parents.  With my mom, she was tough minded.  You never wanted to get on her bad side.  I spent a good portion of a summer in my teen years being reminded of that.  Despite all that, nothing compared to the fear I had of my Dad.  No, he neither abused me nor hurt me.  He loved me with all his heart, and I have nothing but fond memories of him.  But there were a couple of memories that reminded me this was no man to mess with.  Think of a prize fight, and as one fighter tries to hype themselves up, they say to their opponent, “You don’t want none of this!”  I felt like that opponent facing my Dad, but I REALLY didn’t want any of that!  Watching my oldest brother being dealt with once, that was more than enough for me.  Eventually, I did get some of that.  Thankfully, it was only that once!

While we know God is loving, we must always remember that He is the leader of our lives, and we face peril should we put other things ahead of Him.  As God was giving the Ten Commandments to Moses and His people, our focus today is on the 2^nd commandment.  While the tendency is to view idols as something physical, most of us are spiritually mature enough to understand that idols are not always something you can touch.  Very early in my walk of faith, I went to a church new member’s class the day of a big football game.  Of course, I was torn because I’ve been a football fan all my life, but I knew going to the class was the right choice.  It was a testament of my decision to follow Christ.  That was easy to give up as an idol, but what about that idol that you sometimes never see coming?  For me, it’s the man in the mirror.  At times, my own needs and wants will supersede God’s, and I will put them before God.  To fight this tendency, I try to remember to be humble.  My focus is on God being an abundant giver which I do not deserve His provisions.  It’s the main reason Paul talked about humility in such a glowing way saying:

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV)

In viewing the words of Paul, we can feel the gravity of our own actions for as written in this commandment, the gravity of our placing things before God goes beyond just us.  It goes to our next generations.  This is not to condemn us for through Jesus Christ, we are indeed redeemed.  But it is a direct reminder of how our placing God first in our lives can have exponential rewards or devastating consequences.  If you question God’s seriousness, note that God later said to Moses, “Remember, you must not make any idols of silver or gold to rival me.” (Exodus 20:23) #settingthestage

While God’s love is unconditional, it does not mean our following Him is without expectations.  Jesus was perfect not because He took on our sins.  It was because He did what our Heavenly Father would ask of Him without fail or hesitation.  Thus, today’s verses are about following through on what God would ask of us.  Let us take up our crosses, and live for God as if our next generation depended on it.  Because it does.  How can we appreciate the gifts God has given us?  What idols may be blocking you from a closer relationship with God?  My prayer is that we follow Him less God have to tell us, “You don’t want none of this.”  Amen.

Ministering Gifts

“As each one has received a gift,

minister it to one another, as

good stewards of the manifold

grace of God.”

    1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)

I love the older hymns and the stories behind them.  Recently, at church we sang a hymn that I was not familiar with called  Jesus, I am Resting, Resting.  I thought I’d pass on to you what I learned about the hymn because it illustrates how God entwines our lives to bring us comfort and encouragement.    

Jean Piggott composed this hymn in 1876 and a few years later, her brother Thomas Piggott went to China as a missionary.  In a letter while there, Thomas wrote: “I am, I can truly say, more grateful every day for the opportunity of serving Christ, and I believe this to be the only true and sober view of life’s realities. The work pressed home now, will make all the difference a few years hence.” In 1901, Thomas was executed at the age of 53, along with a number of other Christian missionaries, in the Boxer Rebellion. J. Hudson Taylor was greatly saddened at the loss of his friend and fellow missionaries and apparently, “Jesus, I am Resting, Resting” was a great comfort to him during this time.

It’s wonderful how God used the writing of this song by one Christian to minister to missionaries and other Christians over the years.  Because Jean Piggott was faithful to use her God-given talent of composing, others were comforted and encouraged in difficult circumstances, and God was glorified. We have each been given different gifts and God expects us to use them to minister to others.  Even if what we do seems small and unimportant, the important thing is to stay faithful and we may later find out that it had an impact on someone else.

Thursday Devotional - A Different Sunday

Well, we didn’t meet in person with our fellow church members last Sunday. We did get to watch the live stream of our pastor’s sermon, which was encouraging!

In addition, since the President declared last Sunday a National Day of Prayer, we tried to pray together as a family most hours of the day. I compiled a list of things to focus on in prayer, Scripture passages to read, and songs we could sing together. We all took turns praying first, deciding which room of the house to pray in for that prayer time and what song to sing.  

Here’s what we ended up doing for our 7 prayer sessions throughout the day:

1. Prayed for the President/VP/Governor/other officials

I Timothy 2:1-3

Doxology (James’ pick)

2. Prayed for our church, pastor, and other church leaders

Acts 20:27-31

Deep and Wide (Sarah’s pick)

3. Prayed for the health of our family

Psalm 24:1-2

This is My Father’s World

4. Prayed for our school/director/teachers/families

Psalm 119:7-16

The B-I-B-L-E (James’ pick)

5. Praised God for His attributes and character

I Thessalonians 5:16-22

My God is so Big (Sarah’s pick)

6. Thanked God for His provisions and blessings

Psalm 150

I will Sing of the Mercies

7. Prayed for various needs of family members and friends

Acts 28:27

Amazing Grace

As we won’t be meeting corporately at church the next few weeks, I’ll probably plan something similar for the next few Sundays!

I Timothy 2:1-4  I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 

How did you spend last Sunday? In extra time in prayer, too? Many people need our prayers for wisdom and discernment. Let’s be diligent to pray.  

Alice

The Noise

On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled.  Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.  All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently.  As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply.  The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain.  Exodus 19:16-20

Quiet time.  One of the reasons I tend to write my devotions very early in the morning is because that is when my head is clearest.  It does not have distractions, and I can see God’s intent more clearly than when there is a bunch of calamities around me.  I think of how God through His word gives me instruction for myself and my family, and how He inspires me to write words that I normally would not come up with.  Do you appreciate those times?  Perhaps the reason that we hear God so clearly during these times is because of the noise outside of those times.  It made me think that if God is all knowing and can do anything, perhaps He knowingly inserts ‘the noise’ in our life as well.  It’s the noise that forces us to be present in the world, and through that noise, we realize that deliberate effort must be made to fully engage with Him.  It is in a way a test to make us focus.  That’s why prayer time is important.  Prayer is the discipline of focusing on Him despite all that is around you.  Thus, ‘the noise’ has a purpose just as the quiet times.

God always wants our attention.  In our journey of Moses, we get to where the Israelites reach Mount Sinai.  Prior to today’s verses, God had prepped Moses for what was to happen saying, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch.” (Exodus 19:10b-11) Think of it like you are the councilman for town’s 4^th of July event, and the people putting on the fireworks show are telling you what’s going to happen.  You think, “Sweet!”  So, Moses shared with the people what was to occur.  In reading this chapter, one might think this sounds like a bunch of noise and bravado from God.  But let’s put this in context.  You see, God did not show off all this to amaze the people.  He did after all part the Red Sea and provided for them all throughout the journey.  That’s amazing all by itself.  But He wanted their attention because something big was about to happen, and in this case, ‘the noise’ gave them awareness of what was to follow.  The next thing to occur was the authoring of The Ten Commandments.  How often do we take noise as things to distract us from God?  While that often is true, sometimes the noise is the bell that notifies us something needs to happen.  Before a race is run, there’s the starting gun that goes off.  In much the same way, God can create moments that can trigger us to respond in a way He wants us to.

God is always in control.  If we believe this through all the good times, we certainly should remember this when there is so much around us going on.  With all the distraction and major disruption about us for the next few weeks ahead, this is perhaps the noise to awaken us to what really matters.  It is a time to seek out God and remember His sovereignty, wisdom, and presence.  Let’s make this time as the starting gun to a new sprint toward God and His love.  How has disruption in your life been a motivator for greater focus on God?  What will you commit to ensure more discipline finding Him in times of calamity?  My prayer is we are attentive when God inserts in our lives ‘the noise.’  Amen.

Partnering with God

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my

fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of

fowler and from the perilous pestilence.

He shall cover you with His feathers, and

under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”

    Psalm 91:1-6 (KNJV)

Our intern pastor was talking last week about the seeming paradox in the Bible concerning God's role and ours. For example, in teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus said they should seek God's will to be done and to ask for God to give them their daily bread (Matthew 6:10-11, NKJV). Yet we don't just pray and then sit back, without doing anything, waiting for God's will to come to pass and for food to show up at our doors.  No, we're to pray and then go about our daily business, seeking God's help to obey His will and following the means of provision He gives us. In that way, we partner with God, doing our part and trusting Him to do His part.

I was thinking how this applies to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and I turned to this psalm. It says that we should not be afraid of “pestilence that walks in darkness” and that God "shall deliver" us from the perilous pestilence. Does this mean we should stick our heads in the sand, do nothing and just presume that God will deliver us? Of course, God doesn't need us to do anything to accomplish His will. But He has given us common sense to use in situations.

So we express our concerns to God in prayer. We rest upon God’s sovereignty and remember that whether He chooses to deliver us from harm or through it, the Lord never leaves us nor forsakes us. We trust that God is our refuge and fortress, and that He will guide us through all our days. But we also should take reasonable precautions and measures recommended by health and other authorities to keep ourselves and our families safe, and then rest in Him.

With God as our partner, we can have His peace in our hearts, even while the world around us is in crisis.  

Thursday Devotional - Imperfect Picture

The Old Testament tabernacle, temple and sacrificial system were all put in place as a representation of Heaven and foreshadow of what Christ would do to give us access to Heaven. It was a picture of what was to come. It wasn’t a perfect picture, because the sacrifices didn’t really pay for our sins and the priests couldn’t forgive.

Hebrews 9:1-3, 7-9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. ² A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. ³ Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place… But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. ⁸ The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ⁹ This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.

God’s specific details, long-term plans, and creativity never ceases to amaze me!!! He had His plan of redemption planned out well before giving Moses the Law, before calling Abraham, and before flooding the world. He even gave hints of His plan to Adam and Eve after they sinned (Genesis 3). He knew we couldn’t do anything to pay for our own sins. He knew we couldn’t do anything to earn forgiveness and bring about restoration. He had to do it all, and do it all He did!  

Have you ever gone on a trip and been blown away by the beauty you saw? It was far better than the pictures you saw online ahead of time. The pictures didn’t do it justice. Similarly, let’s experience and appreciate the benefits of the new covenant with direct access to God and true forgiveness!     

Alice

By Themselves

Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him.  Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives.  But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.  They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you.  If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”  Exodus 18:19-23 

My mother was a tireless worker and determined woman.  She worked not only to raise her three sons of which I am the youngest but also for the civil rights of African Americans as a founder for a not for profit organization giving youth exposure to corporate America.  Back in the 70’s, the first generation of African Americans were growing up to have opportunities their parents never had, and through my mother’s organization, doors were opened to many who would later go onto college and universities seeking professions many of us today never knew were once unavailable.  Think of a time when you had no idea what you were going to do in your life, and one day, someone showing you a whole new world.  That was my mother to me and others.  One of the most famous sayings my mother told me time and time again growing up was that no one makes it in this world by themselves.  This was such wisdom my mother taught me that I have never forgotten.  It is why I am always open to listen to others because one never knows who God sends you to provide counsel in times of uncertainty. 

God always sends us what we need to move closer to His will being done.  In today’s verses, Moses was dealing with lots of things in Israel’s long journey.  I found myself at the part where Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came to visit Moses, and Moses shared stories of God and how He brought them this far.  Moses was heavily involved in dealing with the problems and concerns of the people, and having seen this, Jethro became the confidant Moses needed at that time.  Like a great time manager, Jethro asks, “What are you really accomplishing here?  Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?” (Exodus 18:14b) In today’s verses, Jethro laid the foundation of future prosperity for Moses and His people.  I asked myself why God didn’t just tell him this.  Then I remembered what my mom told me.  No one makes it in this world by themselves.  God sent Jethro, a voice Moses obviously trusted, to help him in his time of need.  We all need that voice, don’t we?  Whether it be a spouse, family member, or friend, God places people strategically in our walk of faith to not only help us prosper but also guide us.  

Through the Holy Spirit, we will know their counsel is of God (note in verse 19 how Jethro notes God’s guidance in his advice), and most importantly, we must act as if God Himself commanded us to. 

It is wonderful to have people surrounding us that God places in our lives.  Furthermore, it is equally as rewarding to know God places us in others lives to make a difference.  Jesus is the perfect example of this as Isaiah foretold of the coming of Jesus saying, “And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6b) It is important that we use God’s wisdom to choose our friends wisely and listen when He talks to us through others.  Otherwise, we may be missing out on what God’s plan is for our lives.  Let us be open to God’s counsel to make us better followers and leaders.  What trouble might you need God’s counsel in?  Who has God placed in your life that can aide in your journey or spiritual growth?  My prayer is that we open our minds and hearts to remember no one makes it in this world by themselves.  Amen. 

Love Is The Greatest

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

I told a friend I loved them the other day.  Yes, someone other than my wife.  Now to be clear, it was not the kind of love I have for my wife, and I made that clear to them.  For those of you not familiar with Greek history, it defines four common kinds of love.  There is Storge (affectionate), Phileo (friendship), Eros (romantic), and Agape (love for all).  C.S. Lewis described it almost like wedding cake. Storge is the frosting. Phileo is the punch that goes with the cake.  Eros is ‘the cake,’ and Agape is the offering of the cake to someone else.  The love I spoke of with this friend was Phileo, but before it got to that, I had to have Agape love or a love that is given freely devoid of fear of being hurt.  It made perfect sense as I read something else Lewis wrote that said:

To love at all is to be vulnerable; love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact…you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal…lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change.  It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation.  The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.  – Four Loves

Some people say the word love is thrown around too freely.  I don’t buy into that.  I believe what they mean is that true love is not shown enough.  We don’t want to get hurt.  We do not want to feel the pain of it being broken.  Thus, as Lewis says so well, we lock it up where few can get in.  However, one of my most endearing philosophies of life has been that when your heart is broken, the pain you endure is the price for the love you have always wanted.  Having met my wife, nothing could be truer than that.

God’s love is the key that unlocks everything.  There is a reason love is the greatest of things.  Paul understood this even as he admitted to not know everything saying, “Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!” (1 Corinthians 13:9) Love is a mystery.  However, when I look at a picture of my wife and I when we got married, I feel love deep down.  As my wife loves me, I feel the love God has for me.  As I think of my parents love for me, I sense how God watched over me over the years nurturing and growing me.  I am so humbled God provided me with all of this as I know many may not have had what I had.  But no matter if your home was filled with love or had none at all, God gives you all of His love unconditionally, and when you give love, it eventually, and I mean, always comes back.

God’s love is an ever-giving free flowing gift.  However, like C.S. Lewis says you must be willing to open yourself up to it.  You see, it is like when Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” (Matthew 6:24) You will either be closed to love, which leads to no heart for God or others or take all that comes with love’s territory: pain, suffering, and ultimately glory.  Isn’t the latter the crucifixion in a nutshell?  Let us all take up the cross and share love with all we encounter so others will begin to believe the word ‘love’ isn’t thrown around enough.  Who can you show God’s love to today?  How can you be a shining example of the Agape love of God?  My prayer is we acknowledge Paul’s words in saying love is the greatest.  Amen