PresbyCan Daily Devotional: Recent Episodes
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Ecclesiastes 3:1 – To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (KJV)
Things come. Things go. Life changes. Often these changes, even in keeping with the times, can throw a person for a loop.
Such was the case when Rev. Robin Ross called to inform me that March 31, 2025, would be the last day of publishing new material for the PresbyCan Daily Devotional. It all began on May 25, 1996, as his brainchild, and has been a huge part of his life's passion and work for almost 30 years … learning to grow it as each new phase of technology advanced. He has told, in four devotionals, the story of how it developed: What God Has Prepared, Death Of A Vision, Bread On The Waters, and All One Body.
But much, much more than that, is how he patiently worked with each of the contributors through the years. Some were accomplished writers, and some, such as myself, were not. In response to a single question to him in 1997, he suggested I write about it — although I stated that I wasn't a writer. In the following years, guided and edited, I ended up writing some 400 devotionals.
The Daily (as it used to be called) was one of the families that Rev. Ross raised and/or guided to a point in time where his part in each one's purpose was fulfilled: his children, his congregations, and now Daily.
Though Rev. Ross is the impetus that kept Daily moving, it was not without the help of staff and writers — volunteers all — and the thousands of devoted readers, each and every one of whom will feel some degree of loss.
The numbers are staggering … from a handful of writers in the beginning to a total of 516, and from 700 readers to a peak of 6,200.
What does one do when their life's purpose as they knew it is fulfilled, when what was familiar to them is over?
Or is it?
Take the words in Isaiah 30:21 – "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left." (NKJV)
Or those in Psalm 32:8 – "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (NIV) This is a prime example of the sayings, Let go and let God or Thy will, Lord, not mine.
New devotionals for the Daily may have ended their season, but what they were will never end as they'll be on the Internet in perpetuity. What a legacy for Robin Ross to leave behind: minister, editor, teacher, mentor.
After allowing ourselves a time to grieve this loss, we hope we can come to a place best stated by that famous writer of children's books … Dr. Seuss: "Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened."
It seems only fitting to close with Rev. Ross's prayer in his devotional entitled, All One Body.
Prayer: Today, Lord, we give You thanks for Your wisdom in making us part of the body of Christ. We rejoice in the volunteers that You have placed in the Daily family: writers, readers, prayer warriors, and staff. May our lives together give You the glory that You deserve above all others. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Mary Daniel marydee@shaw.ca
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Encourage Today's Writer
My Closing Remarks
Since I announced the end of new material for the PresbyCan Daily Devotional, I have been greatly encouraged by the outpouring of appreciative messages which I have received. Thank you for letting me know what the Daily has meant to you!
Since my announcement two weeks ago, my thinking has evolved full-circle in regard to my plan to turn Daily into a low-maintenance website. I had originally thought of ending the daily emails and presenting ten random devotionals on the home webpage. But my son suggested presenting automatically each day a pre-selected set of devotionals from either that date or the special day in previous years, so that, for example, on Easter Day, Easter devotionals would appear.
I had also announced, however, that we were going to continue the PrayerLine feature, because it is the most-visited page on our website. Last Friday evening, a reader asked whether the PrayerLine requests could continue to go out automatically in a daily email. It was only then that I realized that such an email could also automatically contain a selection of devotionals just like the website. So, the Daily emails will continue! The key words are "automatically" and "low-maintenance", which mean that I will be able to watch over the website — from a distance! My responsibilities were getting too heavy. It was just time!
There are a few thoughts that I would like to share with you as we close this chapter of life. Firstly, we have no idea of what effects may result from the actions that we do in obedience to the Lord. Undoubtedly, the devotionals were read by thousands more than just the people who read them by email, on the website, forwarded by friends, or as "likes" on Facebook. We also have very little or no idea how the written word influenced the spiritual lives of those who read it. What a great day it will be when the Lord finally reveals what our efforts have contributed to fulfilling His plan for His people!
Secondly, I want to encourage every Christian to bend every effort as an obedient disciple to do what the Lord desires us to do. May we all look forward, as I do, to the possibility of hearing those amazing words that the Lord spoke first to His disciples in a parable: "Well done, good and faithful servant; … Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:23 NKJV)
I especially want to recognize the faithful work of our dedicated volunteer staff. Jane Anne Waller was the first to come on staff to help with the subscriptions and feedback. James T. Hurd has been my backup for reviewing theology and proper editing. Mary Jane Hanson, Elaine Ingalls Hogg, and Sharon Cook have assisted in receiving and processing devotionals. Garnet Schenck and George Myers have moderated the PrayerLine requests, and Terry Folster has posted devotionals to Facebook each day. Thank you, all!
I would also like to thank my wife, Evelyn, and our children for the uncountable hours that they gave me away from them, and for their support over all those years.
To you, dear reader, thank you for sticking with us. Although we may not have met in person, I look forward to seeing you in heaven!
Robin Ross rross@telus.net
Mission, British Columbia, Canada
Encourage Today’s Writer
Fika (fee'-kuh) – a Scandinavian custom of slowing down to enjoy a moment with friends and loved ones over coffee and a sweet treat.
I first learned about this charming Scandinavian custom of fika through Norwegian missionary friends in Madagascar. Fika is deemed so important to Scandinavian daily life that it can be observed at any time of day. Our Norwegian friends invited my friend Bonnie and me to join them one day for their mid-morning fika, which was part party and part coffee break.
I've since appropriated the idea of fika, adapting it to become an occasional fun activity here in my retirement community. I make a Scandinavian treat, and others contribute by bringing baked items that they enjoy making. Cardamom buns are a fika favourite, but there are many delightful Scandinavian treats to sample. We've so far enjoyed Fika in the Garden on a beautiful early summer day in June, Fika in the Fall with autumn treats, and February Fika to celebrate Valentine's Day.
We who love the Lord can also enjoy a sort of spiritual fika through fellowship with fellow believers. It's good to sit down with a friend and talk about spiritual things over a cup of coffee. Not only do we encourage one another as we share our thoughts and prayers, but it also honours and pleases God when we talk about Him.
Malachi 3:16 – Then those who feared and loved the Lord spoke often of him to each other. And he had a Book of Remembrance drawn up in which he recorded the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him. (TLB)
We can also have a fika with God, spending time with Him, remembering what He has done, thanking Him for our many blessings, talking over with Him our future hopes and dreams, enjoying the beauty of the world around us, and turning our burdens over to Him. Quiet times with God like this help to deepen our faith and strengthen our bond with Him.
Psalm 46:10a – Be still, and know that I am God! (NLT)
This time of quiet reflection can then give us the impetus to get up and continue on with the tasks ahead of us. Just as a coffee break helps to carry us through a busy day of work, so a spiritual fika helps to give the balance of quiet times interspersed with the mundane activities of daily life.
Let's think about times and ways to slow down to enjoy a spiritual fika, either with friends or with God — or both — in a quiet, meditative place. Such a time is refreshing and rejuvenating. It's good for the soul!
Prayer: Dear loving heavenly Father, we know that it pleases You when we make You part of our everyday life. May we frequently take time to stop our busy activities and think about You and Your part in our lives. Help us to slow down and enjoy these moments with friends — and with You. Amen.
A Revisited Devotional from November 25, 1997.
Revelation 20:12b – And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. (NKJV)
Recently, I saw a story in the newspaper from one of the southern United States. This particular place apparently has some type of "Social Register", a large book listing the socially in people in this community. If you were not listed, you were in the out group. The news story said a local family which had been very prominent in the past, was dropped from this issue, to make way for other people. Some family members were very angry that their family was no longer to be considered among the social select.
I didn't know there was still such a thing in print, anywhere. I wouldn't be in one. I suspect most people would not. People are busy with other things these days.
In the social structure of this particular town, either you're in or you're out. That's very much human nature. People divide into groups, from the schoolyard on up. The tragic thing is that after we split up into groups, then we reject and cut off the people we feel don't belong to our particular group.
It's not like that in God's kingdom! Everyone is wanted. All who want to be, can be part of the in crowd. Jesus said, "I will never turn away anyone who comes to me." (John 6:37b GNT) The songs and creeds of the Christian church say that the fellowship of the church is way, way beyond the people who meet for coffee at the end of the service. It is people around the world who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ.
Some people may feel that being part of the in social crowd is the most important thing in life. Each of us is called to follow our Lord. If we do, we will one day find our names in the very best book of all: the Lord's Book of Life!
Prayer: Lord, jockeying for position and status over one another is something we do far too well and far too often. May we see the world through Your eyes. There is no us and them, just people You love, and we are called to love, because we love You. Amen.
2 Corinthians 4:16 – That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. (NLT)
"God gave me that gift, but I guess now I can't use it anymore."
I heard the discouragement in Mom's voice as she spilled her despair into my lap. I had taken her for her weekly hair-fixing appointment. As we sat in the driveway, she pined over her situation.
Mom had a rare gift that most musicians don't. She had been playing the piano since she was a little girl. The instructor hadn't taught her everything, however. Mom could do some things an instructor can't teach. She could listen to a piece of music and then play it by ear. Mom could also take a piece of music and lower or raise the key, depending on a singer's voice. Another rare gift that no one had taught her.
Unfortunately, dementia took its toll — and continued to take things away. First, Mom lost her ability to drive. Confusion made it dangerous for her and others on the road. Mom had been playing the piano in church since she was a little girl, but Bell's palsy forced her to give that up, too. She couldn't see well out of one eye. It was too much to ask someone to drive her to church and let her play in her condition. So, she resigned and told the music leader she couldn't do it anymore. She still had her keyboard at home and could play it, but it wouldn't be the same.
I had no comforting words to give her. But I thought about a MAS*H episode my wife and I had watched a few nights before. Colonel Potter had overlooked a piece of shrapnel, which almost caused a young soldier to die. Another surgeon had to fix his slip-up. Potter responded by flying off the handle at everyone for no good reason. Finally, he called in his psychologist friend and confessed why: he was afraid to perform another surgery, although he had been operating all his life. The psychologist told Potter that someday Potter would lose his touch. "We all do." Whatever that touch is. For Mom, it was playing the piano at church.
Aging is no fun. Aches and pains usually follow it as our bodies begin decaying and things start malfunctioning. But the emotional pains are far worse: not being able to do some of the things we once enjoyed. I have always loved hiking in the mountains, but bad knees and a bad back now prevent me from doing it.
Everyone's body differs, but we cannot prevent aging. But God doesn't want us to slip into depression or walk around discouraged every day. In today's verse, Paul said God renewed his spirit daily. Our spirits, our souls — the real us — don't age. And one day, God will give us a new body with no aches, pains, diseases, or limitations — a body fit for the new heaven and earth He will make.
Until then, as we face the aches of aging, we must keep adjusting to the changes age brings. We must face them knowing God walks with us, and trust Him to keep giving us opportunities to serve Him and others — even if those opportunities look different than they once did.
Let's not allow discouragement to get to us as we face the aches of aging.
Prayer: Father, help us to face the aging process without discouragement or depression. Amen.
A Revisited Devotional from July 18, 1999.
Romans 11:33a – O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! (KJV)
Although I am by no means accomplished in playing the guitar, I can actually bring pleasant sounds out of it. I am getting better at it. There is a true sense of accomplishment in bringing a tune out of that instrument. I'm proud and amazed that my fingers are learning and strengthening. Where once there were only plinkings and plunkings, now there is deliberate plucking in patterns that unfold in melodies and harmonies. Reading music and converting it into sound is like opening a surprise. I know it's something good, but I can't quite figure out what it is until I work through the strings and paper and lines and notes that hold it together. But when it does open up, I say, "Oh yes, I see now. Isn't it lovely!" Then, I want to turn it over in my hands, try it again, play with it. When it's time to put the guitar away, I think about what it will sound like when I work the strings and fingers and paper and memory again.
I find that reading Scripture is like reading music. It sometimes seems a big jumble until I work through it. Just reading the words doesn't always bring out the deeper tones and harmonies and meanings. It is when we "work" the Scripture into our lives and let it play out in our actions, that we can truly grasp how beautiful it is.
Prayer: Lord, You are good. Thank You that You reveal Yourself to us. Help us to be doers of Your Word that we might know You more. Amen.
2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. (ESV)
To keep my brain ticking, I use a free language learning program. The app reports that I've been successful in completing the lessons for 730 days in a row. As a result of my competitive nature, maintaining a really long streak actually becomes high motivation to login every day. So, I am really focused to succeed, yet I am not truly the successful doer of 730 consecutive days of lessons.
One of the program's concessions is to make an allowance for missing a day by using what it calls a streak-freeze — a kind of cheat. When a day's input is missed, to avoid the streak being reset to zero, you can automatically use a streak-freeze, if you have saved them up. Initially, they are limited to only three in about three months: not many. I have needed several streak-freeze days to keep the streak going over the previous two years.
So, I ask: why is my desire to keep a streak going sometimes more pressing than my desire to read my Bible every day? Have I been sucked into the challenge of learning over and above hearing from God? As it is, I spend enough time in front of the computer. Surely, the Bible should come first and not be supplanted by a mere program.
For sixty years, through school, and finally, university religious studies training and teaching, I consider myself familiar with the Word of God. However, I have acquired the conceit of thinking I know what God is saying through my previous encounters with His Word and past revelation.
Sadly, if I am not praying, asking for and engaging with the Holy Spirit's illumination to hear from God today and to aid my reading of the Bible, my mind — if not yours — wanders off into the world, because of the absence of God's inspiring influence through the daily reading of His Word.
For me, prayer is just the start of the dialogue with God, where we first become still and wait, wanting to hear His voice, asking for the presence of the Holy Spirit. How else can we expect to hear from God when reading Scripture? The Bible is often God's unpretentious way of speaking truth to us for today! In truth, sometimes, by an act of grace, His Word leaps from the page — no prayers needed — but not every day!
Does it matter if we miss a day? Can we use a streak-freeze to get by until tomorrow without reading? Yes, but there are no cheats to hearing from God, only lessons to be learnt about missing God's voice for the day and prayers for grace later as He looks to our return.
Prayer: Lord, here I am before the throne of Your grace again. Please fan into flame those embers of longing for reading and hearing Your Word to feed my soul for today, for we need You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
What I love most about being a mom is my children's forgetfulness.
I remember many days when, as a mom with small children, I would want to run screaming down the street. You know those days when the bickering never stops, the spilled drinks could cause a flash flood, and "Mom" is seemingly the word to bellow when one is touched by one's sibling! Those days that stretched my patience beyond the limits, when bedtime could not come fast enough, still stick in my mind. I remember at day's end, when "Walton style" we would say our goodnights, and I would add, "Sorry Mom was so grouchy today", and from their rooms, I would hear in unison, "That's okay, Mom. You're a good mom"! I want to be able to forgive that easily!
Even now, many years since I have heard those sweet voices coming from the bedrooms in my house, I remember the love that was cheerfully given to that weary mom, and the forgiveness that overflowed, even though I felt undeserving of it.
Now, my grown daughters often say wonderful things to me that sometimes take me aback. I recall all the mistakes I made as a parent. I remember how many times I felt like a failure as a mom, and I wonder why they don't remember my mistakes and failures. But yet, my forgetful children love me. Isn't that grace?
Jesus said that we should all become like little children, and I know why! They are so very forgetful, just as He is. As we ask Him to forgive our sins, the Bible says He also forgets them. They are thrown into the sea of forgetfulness!
Hebrews 8:12 – For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. (NIV)
Micah 7:19 – You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. (NIV)
It's funny how those we try to instruct often instruct us.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the forgetfulness of children. Thank You that You are forgetful of our forgiven sins, even though we don't deserve it. Help us to be just as forgiving and forgetful of the sins that are committed against us. Amen.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (NIV)
My daughter's dog, Pepper, is an escape artist. If there is a way to get outside of the yard, she will discover it — something which she did recently. Twice in two days she escaped the fence. I was charged with the task of finding out just where her secret exit was located.
My granddaughters ran around our fenced half-acre searching diligently for any holes under the wire. They speculated about her leaping over the fence, but I told them just to walk around the inside of the fence and to watch Pepper as she, too, walked and ran around the perimeter. I told them that if they simply watched her, she, herself, would inadvertently reveal her secret to us.
Sure enough, it didn't take Pepper long to slow down at a certain point in the fence, to look quickly and intently at a specific spot, then to move along to catch up with us. As we circled the yard again, I stopped at the main gate, the place that Pepper had been slowing down and checking out. Two rectangular openings had been cut in the fencing that stretched across each side of the gate, so that a person could reach through either side to unhook the chains that fastened the gates closed. Those cut-out rectangles were just big enough for a dog of Pepper's size to squeeze through if she stood on her hind legs and pulled herself up through them. Mystery solved!
As I laughed about how clever she had been in discovering the way out, I was reminded of today's Scripture. Temptations are common to all of us. Depending upon our individual innate weaknesses, however, some are easier to turn from than others. It's those others, though, that can bring about much grief, even the downfall of our reputations, businesses, marriages, or health if we succumb to them.
Therefore, let us learn to be clever escape artists, much like Pepper, that we may not succumb to such temptations. Let us be diligent in seeking the way of escape from them, that God promises to faithfully provide, by humbling ourselves in prayer, admitting our weaknesses, and asking Him to strengthen us not only to want to resist the temptation, but also to give us eyes to see the way of escape, as well as the will to accept and make use of it and thereby to gain victory over any and all temptations this world may set before us.
Prayer: Father God, thank You that we can count on You to provide everything that we need to have victory over the temptations that this world lays before us. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Matthew 5:16 – Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (NIV)
One type of things that make personal computers easy to use are the little pictures on the screen called icons. Icons are interesting things — they take up almost no memory, and they exist for only one purpose: to point to the main program. All we have to do is to click on one of the little icons and we get a big program, hidden in the background, opening up a screen full of beautiful colours and sounds and all kinds of capabilities.
In today's verse, Matthew 5:16, Jesus is telling us to let our light shine so that people around us will see our good deeds, and they will, in turn, praise our Father in heaven. Jesus is asking us to be like computer icons for Him. He is asking us to point others to Him. We are not the main program; we are the "pointer" or the "computer icon".
Prayer: We thank You, Lord, that You are the light of the world. There is a lot of darkness in our world, and we need to see Your light. Help us to be like computer icons and point others to Your light. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
When I left my place of employment 35 years ago, I was given an hibiscus tree in a pot. We moved it with us, and it grew into a beautiful tree that was about four feet tall and three feet wide. In the summer, we would put it outside, and then bring it in during the fall season. It would flower throughout the winter, and then we would repeat the process. Occasionally, we would have to treat it for flies and other ailments.
Last fall when it was time for it to come in, it seemed to be struggling a bit, so we took a sample down to the local garden centre. The owner diagnosed it as having a disease common to these plants that can be outside. He said that there was no treatment for it.
But he had no idea how much this plant meant to us. We did a bit of research and changed the soil, but it continued to deteriorate. By January of this year, it had no leaves; it was just a trunk with branches. We admitted defeat and put it outside for the remainder of the winter. We live in Canada, with snow and very cold winter temperatures. When spring came, we figured that it was time to dispose of it. I started to cut it back and put it into bags. My husband said that I should leave the trunk for now.
About two weeks later, the trunk started to show green leaves. We were ecstatic. We moved it back to the garden for the summer, and I am happy to report that we just brought it back into the house this fall. It has a long way to go to regain the growth it once had, but with time and nurture, we will see flowers from this plant again.
As I reflect on this, I am reminded of the times when Jesus saw life in people when no one else did. At times, even His disciples were unable to see what He saw. Jesus saw the faith of a paralyzed man and his friends who lowered him through the roof to Jesus. Jesus saw Matthew, the tax collector turned disciple. Then in the midst of a crowd, a bleeding woman touched just His cloak and found herself healed. When the people came to hear Him preach the good news and receive healing, Jesus saw them with a shepherd's eye:
Matthew 9:36 – When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them because they were distressed and dejected, like a sheep without a shepherd. (CSB)
It is so easy for us to see a person or a circumstance and make a negative judgement call, but what if we took our view from what Jesus sees? And what about you when your life seems to show no hope and needs life? What possibilities does Jesus see in you?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You that You came for us to have abundant life. Thank You that even though others can see no hope in people and situations, we have a God Who sees life in everything. Help us to be close in relationship with You, Who always sees life in us. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 143:8 – Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. (NLT)
Stopping for directions sometimes took a great deal of courage.
In the days before GPS systems, smartphones, Google maps, Alexa, and Siri, finding an unfamiliar location could be challenging. Filling stations offered maps to travellers. Each state map had an inset of the largest cities and showed most of the street names in the downtown areas.
If people sought country roads, however, they were out of luck. No 911 system of address numbering existed. Country residents were assigned a rural route and box number — which typically weren't displayed anywhere. Pity the mail person who had to remember who lived where. But at least people knew who their neighbours were.
Before the technology boom, asking for directions was common — at least for women. I often sent my wife into a store or filling station for directions — but rarely did I go, nor were other men likely to stop. Pride was my issue — and probably theirs. To enter a store and ask for directions was unmanly. I've been guilty of riding around for thirty minutes — wasting precious fuel in the process — rather than admitting that I didn't know how to get where I needed to go.
Although the psalmist had no wheels, he wasn't afraid to admit that he needed God's direction. He often got lost on his journeys and knew that only God could point him in the right direction. His motto was, "Trust the Lord with all your heart and let Him guide your path."
Pride will cause us many missteps, and not getting directions from God is one of them. If I think that I have it all figured out, I don't need to consult God to see if I really do. But chances are that I don't, and I will find myself driving around in circles, making the same wrong turns.
Fear of what others think will also keep me driving when I should stop for directions. What will the convenience store clerks and owners think if I, a man, stop for directions? Really, who cares what they think? Similarly, some will always think that I'm foolish to follow God's will and pray about every detail of my life.
Rather than being foolish, stopping for directions is the smartest thing to do. It saves time and fuel. It also saves us from sinful detours and foolish decisions. Let each of us make sure that we get our directions from God regularly.
Prayer: Father, give me courage to consult You on every life journey. Amen.
Psalm 26:8 – I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells. (NIV)
Psalm 84:10 – Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. (NIV)
We all tend to get attached to the churches where we worship. Within the bricks and walls, stones and stained-glass windows, we find a womb-like sanctuary where we can feel the presence of God as we pray silently or praise God with others. Amidst a world which is always in a hurry and sometimes hostile, it's therapeutic and refreshing to find a place of peace and acceptance, faith and love.
Over many years, I've worshipped and served in different churches with varied ministries and missions, programs and projects that identified their congregational focus and practice of faith. No matter how different the churches were denominationally or spiritually, I always felt that I was in a place of peace where I experienced God's presence, whether it was a small country church or a grand Gothic cathedral. They were, and still are, special places to me, where heaven and earth seem to meet, where the Eternal One abides with mortal ones.
I think that the psalmist of old understood this, too, which is why he preferred God's company and the house where He lived, rather than sitting around with dishonest and deceitful people. In the midst of a culture that was destroying itself with greed and corruption, the writer of Psalm 26 took solace in being with God, away from the maddening crowd. This is something important that we still need today — a place of quiet in a noisy world, a sanctuary of hope in chaotic times.
Perhaps, you are undergoing a lot of pressure in your life. Maybe, you are in a situation that burdens you, or in the midst of circumstances that threaten to overwhelm you. Perhaps, you have been too strong or self-sufficient too long, and now feel stretched, exhausted, and vulnerable. Maybe, you don't know what to do or where to go. Can I suggest that you find a nearby church sanctuary where you can bring your heartfelt pleas and personal prayers to God? Like me, you probably need somewhere to lay down your burdens and just be embraced by the living and loving God. A local church building or even a large cathedral may be just what you're looking for. Try it and see.
Point to ponder: Where can I go to find God's peaceful presence in my life?
Prayer: Lord God, Whose presence abides on our planet and Whose blessing can be found in many places on earth, we seek Your peace and love to help us endure and overcome our problems and troubles. Guide us to a sanctuary where we can quietly pray, experience Your loving presence, and praise Your holy name. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 – When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (ESV)
One of the positives from being incapacitated and not finishing the restoration upstairs was that I had some money left to employ someone to finish off the re-glazing of the doors of the French windows in our dining room. Earlier this year, I had the worst door window replaced, but I could not afford to get the complete doors and side panels done at the same time.
Now, just in time for winter, the whole area has been updated. Hopefully this will lessen our fuel bills.
As I looked out of the new, clean, clear glass on the one side of the doors, I noticed that in the intervening spring and summer months, there has been an accretion of fug on the other side. It made me reflect upon today's verse. How easy it is to allow the fug — the fallenness — of the world to impede our view of our existence in the world with Jesus. We know that Jesus loves us and died for us so that we may see things more clearly, both in ourselves and also in the world about us for what it is: either for or against God's kingdom.
Even as we are fully known by Jesus, we are called to lay aside childish, worldly, self-centred ways and set our eyes on Jesus and His kingdom here on earth and in heaven, and to serve Him where we are placed. Sadly, heaven is only a glimpse at the present. All we can know is what has been revealed in the Bible: that Jesus came from there to bring us into His presence and to deliver us from falling into the hands of the evil one, if we trust Him enough to let Him be our Saviour. Not that we avoid the world, but that we do not succumb to its thrall, by God's grace in Jesus. We can see the good more clearly for what it is and also the opposite for what it is, because the Holy Spirit is given to help us in our times of need, and also to enable us to rejoice in the good that we encounter and in which we share.
Like my windows, however, we need a good spiritual cleaning now and then to enable us to see more clearly what is going on outside!
Prayer: Lord, thank You for cleaning us and redeeming us from our past. May we ask Your forgiveness and cleansing again today so that we may see more clearly what it is that You are doing in us and in our world today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:19a – In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself. (NRSV)
This is a story of two men.
The first was my father. His name was Grant. Grant was born and raised on a small farm in Ontario, Canada. In 1939, while he peered into a mirror and carefully scraped shaving soap and a few sparse whiskers from his young face, the farm radio crackled with the news that Canada was at war. Grant soon bid farewell to his parents and boarded a Toronto-bound train where he volunteered to serve in the Canadian Army.
The second man was named Karl. Karl was born and raised in Germany. When his country went to war, Karl joined the German navy.
The war ended and Grant returned to civilian life, as did Karl. Years passed, and the 1970s found Grant serving as minister of Mackay Presbyterian Church in the northern Ontario mining town of Timmins. Strangely enough, Karl's journey also led him to Timmins, where he found work as a night watchman on a construction site. It was there that Karl met a Christian architect who befriended him, helped him to dedicate his life to Christ, and invited him to worship at … Mackay Presbyterian Church. Karl found a warm reception amongst that faith community.
Not long afterwards, as part of a Remembrance Day Service talk with the children of that congregation, Grant invited Karl to join him at the front of the sanctuary to help share a message of peace with the little ones.
There they were, two men, former enemies, a soldier and a sailor from opposite sides of the ocean, from opposite sides of the war. Some 25 years later, they stood side by side, united by nothing less than the peace and reconciliation of Christ.
Who is your enemy? Who is it that upsets you? Who triggers rage in your heart? Who is it that you find impossible to forgive? Let the names come to you.
And then search for the light of Christ in that darkness. Listen for the voice whispering, "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9 NRSV), and pray that the reconciling love of our Lord would find a way into human and hurting hearts everywhere.
Prayer: God of all people, You know whom I consider to be my enemies: those who undermine my work; those who tie my stomach in knots; neighbours; relatives; strangers. God of reconciliation, plant seeds of love in my heart, and lead me by Your Spirit, so that together, we may build bridges of peace and unity, in the Spirit of Christ. Amen.
James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (ESV)
In my experience, the Lord usually takes His time in answering prayers. Sometimes, we receive the answers that we are looking for, but sometimes, the answer is not what we expected. His answer might be Yes, No, Wait, or "I have something better in mind!"
Recently, I had a message on my phone from a cousin whose cat had just died. She wanted to know if she had prayed in the wrong way by asking God to heal her cat of diabetes. Her prayer was not answered. Did her prayer cause him to die? I called her back and assured her that her prayer was absolutely genuine and right.
During our conversation, she suggested that she would like to see a Christian counsellor. I promised that I would see what I could do and get back to her later in the week. We live seven hours apart, and I did not know of anyone I could refer her to.
The next morning, I sat down at my desk and said to the Lord, "Help me begin to find someone to help my cousin." I then forgot about it and went on with my morning duties. One hour later, I checked my emails and noticed one from someone whom I did not recognize. It was from a Christian counselling service in a nearby city. The person who sent it said that this was being sent to me in case I knew of anyone who could make use of their counselling services.
With tears in my eyes, I thanked the Lord for giving me the wisdom that I needed in order to bring assistance to my cousin. I emailed the person back explaining that their outreach to me was a direct answer to prayer and told them about my cousin. He said that they could refer my cousin to a therapist closer to where she lived.
I called my cousin and shared this with her. She was overcome with gladness and was so thankful that God had answered our prayers so quickly.
Have you ever had an almost immediate answer to prayer? They are miracles, and we never forget them. The next time you pray, who knows, you may receive an answer almost before it is off your lips. A friend of mine often says, "God is seldom early but never late." Let us thank Him that His timing is perfect.
What a friend we have in Jesus!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for answering our prayers, whether over time or immediately. We leave our cares and concerns in Your loving arms. Amen.
Children are so motivated by rewards. When I teach French to my grandchildren, we usually play number bingo, using cards from my teaching days. They listen as I call out the numbers in French, and when they have a complete row, they shout "Bingo!" They are excited to collect their tiny bonbon, less than a centimetre in size. They can play this game for an hour.
Another day, we grandparents took all four children to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. There they loved to take part in various sports challenges like "skiing" by standing on a platform that moves from side to side, while avoiding obstacles on the "ski hill" projected onto a screen.
When they had exhausted every challenge, the two boys discovered a scavenger hunt based on the Stanley Cup, Canada's famous hockey trophy. They ran around looking for answers to the trivia questions on a sheet of paper. That meant actually reading the information at each display, searching for the obscure bits of information. Finally, every blank was filled, and we rushed triumphantly to the front desk to hand in our answers. "There's not actually a prize for this," said the receptionist. I could sense the boys' disappointment; they expected something for their efforts.
As adults, are we not motivated by rewards as well? When I taught in a school whose students and staff memorized Scripture every month, we were recognized at the morning assembly if we memorized the entire portion by the end of the first week of the month. In June, we were especially rewarded if we had accomplished this feat every month of the school year. A paper certificate and applause was nothing, however, compared to the internal satisfaction of hiding God's Word in our hearts.
Acts 10:38a – And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good. (NLT)
We are so programmed to achieve in order to receive a reward, and we are often disappointed when we do good and are not recognized. We should learn to do good things just because that is what Jesus did. The Bible does, however, promise that eventually, we will be rewarded when we work for Him.
Ephesians 6:7-8 – Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do. (NLT)
Let us shift our focus and realize that it is an eternal reward that we are working for, and it doesn't necessarily come in our lifetime. Just as the master in Jesus' parable praised his servant, "Well done, my good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23a NLT), let us look forward to words of commendation from our Lord when we finally see Him face-to-face.
Prayer: Lord, help us to work enthusiastically for You, realizing that our real reward comes from You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Galatians 5:16-17a – So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. (NLT)
When Minnie, our miniature donkey, arrived, we were excited to meet the new member of our livestock family. Within a short time, however, we realized that something was wrong with her feet. Her hooves all pointed slightly upward, instead of facing down. This caused her to walk on the tender flesh of the back of her legs. We called the farrier immediately, but he was not encouraging when he saw the problem.
Next, a multitude of x-rays revealed that Minnie's leg bones were deformed, which in turn was causing her not to be able to stand flat upon her hooves. The vet sent the x-rays to a bone specialist who verified the findings and said that there was nothing to be done and that perhaps euthanasia was the kindest option. After much thought and prayer, we decided to keep her and give her a chance.
We had the farrier return, and he cut the toes of her hooves very short. He continued to return every month to do the same thing. Minnie's walk began to improve slowly. The children and I continued to pray. Now, six months later, somehow, someway, Minnie is walking and running and leaping like any healthy, normal donkey. The farrier is mystified, but I am not.
Romans 3:23-24 – For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. (NLT)
Before we come to know Christ, each and every one of us has a crooked or deformed spiritual nature. Once we commit our lives to Jesus, however, then and only then is our crooked nature able to realize healing transformation through Christ's Holy Spirit, Who indwells all believers. His Spirit begins to take what is crooked within us and to straighten it out. Through His power, somehow, someway, He is not only able to guide us to do God's good and perfect will, but He is also able to give us desires which are the opposite of what our sinful nature desires. The crooked becomes straight.
We don't know just how Minnie's deformity is being made straight. We are just grateful that it is happening — just as I, and all God's people, should be thrilled and grateful for the transformation that His Spirit is making in our spiritual lives each and every day as we endeavour to follow our Lord.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the transforming work of Your Holy Spirit within us. May we always yield to His guidance. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
One of the newest members of my congregation is Jeffrey Alexander. He is nine months old. You should know two things about him. First, he loves to cuddle, and second, he can sleep anywhere. He teaches me things about trust.
I've heard lots of sermons about trusting God with one's life. I still have trouble with that. I think that most twenty-first-century people want to be in charge of things and to run their own lives. They may have trouble believing that God is to be trusted, or even have trouble believing in God, period.
Jesus said, "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7 NIV) I think that little Alex, as he's called, at nine months, understands this better than I do.
I can be holding him during the fellowship hour, and he will nod off to sleep, right in my arms. He doesn't seem to care that I'm not one of his family. He has all the trust in the universe, as he snuggles in against my shoulder and drops off to sleep. To him, the world is a secure place, filled with loving people who care. He is free from grown-up hang-ups, and he can return that love freely.
Matthew's gospel records that one group of people who were full of grown-up concerns were the twelve disciples. They were asking, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus took a small child, stood him in their midst, and told them, "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:4 NIV)
In time, Alex will learn other things about trust; but for now, let's allow him to help us learn about trust in God's kingdom.
Prayer: Lord, in this busy world, full of so many things that we think are important, help us remember that You do care for us, as a parent cares for a child. Lord, if we became more like children, the better adults we would be! In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (NASB)
Sifting through old memories-in-a-box can often uncover some long-forgotten items that stir a few controversies that are as relevant today as they were back then. One such item was a 30-year-old Sports Illustrated article that asked, "Does God care who wins the Super Bowl?"
Since much of my career was spent in society's sandbox (sport), it was an intriguing question to ask, especially since I recall a little mea culpa along the way. It is now a shade embarrassing to admit praying for the outcome of a particular hockey game, seeing that it was sort of miraculously answered, then later wondering about the absurdity of putting God on the spot.
What about the fan for the other team praying for a different outcome? Pretty simple summation, wot?
Many fans are familiar with the athletes who raise an arm to the heavens or kneel down after a touchdown or a home run, or teammates gathering in a circle to bow in prayer following a win. We recognize those who show outward glory to God.
Then, there are guys like major league pitcher Dave Dravecky, who had managed a sparkling comeback from cancer in his throwing arm, only to suffer, in a highly publicized television highlight, that same arm snap in a throwing motion in the midst of a game. Dave Dravecky thanked God for a career in baseball and went on to another distinguished career — in ministry.
Some committed Christian athletes believe that God does get involved when they win. Legendary Green Bay Packer, Reggie White, a pastor himself, objected to theologians' general view that God would not care about the outcome, if He even knew that such a game was being played in the first place. White bowed to Scripture references such as God's support of David against Goliath.
Particularly hair-splitting is my preference for God-incidence over co-incidence. Does God really deflect that pass or cause that fumble?
Far too many fans get intensely tuned into the game, while thousands of innocents are injured or die in wars in the Middle East and Ukraine or starve in Africa or North Korea. Methinks our good Lord has many other things on His mind. For us, sport is playtime, escapism.
Yep, the Grey Cup game is coming in Canada and the National Hockey League faces off another season today.
Remember … God just might care … care that it's only a game.
Prayer: Lord, help us to remember that Your instruction to us, through the example of Jesus Christ, is to serve You through serving others. We often tend to shrug off the evils that surround us because we have little interest or control. But we are thankful that the very least that we can do is to pray — for Your help in our distress, and for Your will to be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.
Genesis 25:20 – Isaac was forty years old when he took as his wife Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. (CSB)
Forty years is a long time to wait to get married. It impresses and perplexes me that God would make a "Faith-Hall-of-Famer" wait that long for companionship and family building. I've read the book of Genesis many times and Isaac's age at marriage never stuck out to me until this time.
In popular culture today, it is a focal point of complaint that women are always waiting for their covenant relationship — but as I was reading today's verse, God humbled me and informed me that while women wait for their desire for a husband to be fulfilled, men of God are waiting, too!
As I read through Genesis, I saw that Abraham had to wait a hundred years for Isaac to be born. Then Isaac had to wait forty years for Rebekah, and twenty years after that for a set of twins: Esau and Jacob. Esau had to wait forty years to marry, while Jacob had to work and wait seven years to marry Rachel and Leah, due to local customs and a little bit of trickery on the part of his father-in-law.
It doesn't just stop at marriage when it comes to waiting on God's timing. The Hebrews had to wait four hundred years for freedom from slavery in Egypt. Millions of people had to wait hundreds or thousands of years for Jesus, the Messiah, to be born.
From these testimonies, we see that waiting is instilled in God's plan for all of us as believers. It strengthens our faith and tests our doubts so that we may grow to be more like Jesus.
Even if you are not waiting for marriage or to start a family, you can feel like you are waiting for God to tend to your medical diagnosis, your rowdy teenager, your overbearing boss, or even that red light on your way home from work.
So, the next time you have to wait for anyone or anything, remember that you are not the only one whom God makes to wait on Him and His promises. He makes us all wait from one year to forty years to a thousand years. That should give us comfort, because it is from waiting that His promises are best fulfilled. As Jesus has proven, God always keeps His promises, no matter how we act while we are waiting.
Prayer: Omnipresent God, please still our hearts while we wait for You to act in our lives. Give us Your work to do and Your people with whom to fellowship while we wait. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
I heard it coming in the distance an hour or so before it arrived in my neighbourhood. At first, it was just a few soft rumbles that gradually increased in volume until finally the storm was right over my house. One thunderclap was so loud that I literally jumped in my seat. Unlike previous storms, which usually moved on in a few minutes, this one stayed for quite a while, as magnificent peals of thunder rolled across the sky, accompanied by bolts of lightning and a downpour of rain. I had a ringside seat as I watched and listened.
It was a majestic and powerful experience. As it continued, I thought of the times in Scripture when God seemed to speak through thunder.
God's voice is described as a sound of thunder. It's so powerful that it can't be contained in the tones used by mere humans.
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Psalm 29:3b-4 – The God of glory thunders. … The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. (NKJV)
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Job 37:2-5 – Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, and the rumbling that comes from His mouth. He sends it forth under the whole heaven. … He thunders with His majestic voice, and He does not restrain them when His voice is heard. God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. (NKJV)
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Psalm 29:3-4 – The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. (NKJV)
God spoke to people through thunder.
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When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments: "Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off." (Exodus 20:18 NKJV)
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When David was praising God for deliverance from his enemies, he said, "The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice". (Psalm 18:13a NKJV)
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When Jesus was troubled about his coming death, He prayed, "Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. (John 12:28-29a NKJV)
God speaks to us today through His Word and the Holy Spirit. But thunder can cause us to look up and remember God's power and His work in nature. It shakes everything and causes us to pause what we're doing — it gets our attention, perhaps even startles us out of our normal everyday experiences. Next time a thunderstorm happens, pause and reflect, and let it be a reminder of God's power and presence in your life.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for how thunderstorms display Your power and glory. Help us to use them as a reminder of how You work powerfully in our lives. Amen.
Psalm 34:17 – The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. (NIV)
1 John 5:14-15 – This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him. (NIV)
Depression and anxiety are mental health disorders, and millions of people throughout the world suffer from them. They do not discriminate or show favouritism, and there is no shame in admitting to having a mental health condition. We need to talk about it openly.
Recently, I was faced with a family crisis and God's divine intervention was required.
My daughter suffers from depression and anxiety. She had been doing well over the past few years, but when she became engaged in a family conflict, she was unable to cope, and her stress and anxiety levels increased. Upon realizing this, I asked if I could drop by so that we could talk, and she agreed. As I drove across town, I asked God to touch my lips so that I would say the right words. I also prayed for a sign, because I needed help.
As I prayed, there appeared in my vision the face of a pastor friend whom I know and trust, and my heart leaped for joy. I asked my daughter if she would be willing to speak to a friend who was a pastor, and she answered, "Yes!" I called, and my heart felt as if it would explode with gratitude when this friend answered. I explained to my friend why I was calling. She said, "Yes, I have a few minutes. I will speak to her." I listened as these two strangers talked. At the end of the conversation, my daughter was calm and relaxed. About fifteen minutes later, she said, "Mom, thank you. My conversation with Pastor Ruth felt like lancing a boil."
We are told, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2 NIV) Pastor Ruth provided spiritual support to my daughter, and I will be forever grateful to her for her kindness!
Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (NIV)
Who will you call when you need help? When we need medical, mental, physical, or spiritual advice or counselling, it's good to seek help from professionals. But I pray that your first call will be to God!
Prayer: Dear Lord God, we thank You for hearing our cries for help when we call to You. We thank You for sending us the right people to help us through our difficulties. It is in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen!
This year when I started to work in our rock garden, I decided to take out about half of it that had been taken over by Gooseneck Loosestrife. Doesn't the name tell you that it doesn't know how to play nice? When we moved here ten years ago, this plant was well contained and added a lot to the garden. Its white gooseneck-shaped blooms were just what was needed in this space because of a lack of other plants. Every year, these bullies have spread and spread, much to my displeasure. Last year my lilies were crowded out, Astibles were crying uncle, and the Hosta plants were fighting a battle for their lives. I googled the monsters, and one article described them as thugs and mobsters. One of the worst things about them is that they spread through a network of roots or rhizomes that never give up. Even though I pulled many plants and even dug out roots, I now see a new crop coming up. What tenacity!
As I often do, I put this scenario in the light of Scripture and found that roots are mentioned several times in the Bible.
1 Timothy 6:10a – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. (NIV)
Whew! I'm glad that I don't have a lot of money! But wait! If I replaced money in that verse with other things like power, or recognition, or you name it, it can be anything that we put before the Lord in importance. I don't have to look too far to see where roots run deep and choke the life out of a happy heart.
Sometimes, dreadful things take us over like addictions, power hunger, or sin, but sometimes, it can be normally good things that become more important to us than God. God reminded me that lately, I have found myself being discontented. I look at my perfectly good furniture and want new. I love retirement, but have found myself discontented with not having enough money to do all the things that I would like to do. Because my mind is on things that I do not have, I have found myself not appreciating what I do have.
Colossians 2:6-7 – So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (NIV)
Let's look at our root system to see what is taking root in our heart. As Christians, we would do well to recognize that the physical tenacity and scope of Gooseneck Loosestrife in gardens should more than be matched and countered by the tenacity and growth of the spiritual roots of our lives in Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Thank You, God that You know that our tendency is to root ourselves in the things of this world which choke out Your will for our lives. May our roots instead grow deep and wide in Christ, more than the rhizomes of the Gooseneck Loosestrife. Strengthen us in the faith as the Bible teaches us. Amen.
Psalm 84:10 – A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. (NLT)
Several years ago, at the University of the Nations, a YWAM (Youth with a Mission) base in Kona, Hawaii, I was a gatekeeper. My job was to screen visitors who approached the gate by car, and to let them through. As people drove up, I would check for a sticker on their window. If they didn't have one, they would have to state their business. If their reason for being on campus appeared legitimate, I could raise the wooden barrier, and they would be able to access what the campus had to offer.
This assignment was an important responsibility. I had to be alert and on my toes. I realized that my job monitored peoples' access to the opportunities of YWAM's purpose: "to know God and to make Him known". The stickered cars obviously had some connection to this purpose. Other vehicles approaching carried tradespeople, or the frequent delivery drivers, or visitors arriving for a child's birthday party. I never actually encountered anyone suspicious.
Just as we gatekeepers protected the campus from unauthorized vehicles, the gatekeepers in the Old Testament "were responsible for guarding the entrance to the house of the Lord when that house was a tent." (1 Chronicles 9:23b NLT) They even slept nearby. Later, they opened the gates of the temple every morning, and cared for the interior and the articles of worship. They had to be honest, reliable, and trustworthy in their jobs.
The tabernacle and the temple needed gatekeepers to guard and care for them because they were the house of the Lord. In Moses' day, the tabernacle was where the presence of God was most powerful. Once it was complete, "the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle." (Exodus 40:34b NLT) Five hundred years later, Solomon dedicated a beautiful temple, and the musicians and singers praised the Lord. "At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God." (2 Chronicles 5:13b-14 NLT)
Today, the presence of the Lord is most powerful when believers who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit gather together. The apostle Paul reminds us, "Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16 NLT)
We who know the Lord have the awesome privilege of being His gatekeepers. Let us give others access to His very presence by living attractive lives that make Him evident and available.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the wonderful opportunity that we have to be gatekeepers, allowing others to experience Your presence. Help us not to take this responsibility lightly. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Hebrews 4:14 – So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. (NLT)
Dams burst, bridges crumbled, interstate highways closed, and roads washed away.
October 3-4, 2015, was a historic weekend in South Carolina, USA. A low-pressure system moving through the southeastern section of the country tapped into moisture from a hurricane off the eastern coast, providing the ideal setup for floodwaters not seen in a thousand years. Schools closed, emergency personnel emerged, and National Guard troops were called out. Some areas received over 20 inches (50 centimetres) of rain. One member of a road repair crew was swept away in his vehicle as the bridge that he was crossing disappeared beneath him.
Counties and cities place bridges strategically because people need them. Transportation departments work rigorously to ensure their dependability, since they cross bodies of water — some small and some not so small. Some languish only a few feet above the water that they traverse, while others are perched hundreds of feet above the canyons that they cross. Regardless of how long or how high they are, their purpose is clear: to get people or goods to the other side.
Often when a bridge is out, an alternate route exists to reach a destination. Not so with God. The author of today's Scripture maintains that Jesus is our High Priest Who has bridged the gap to God. Sin created the gap long ago when Adam and Eve chose to disobey the one restriction that God had placed upon them. Their descendants have suffered the consequences of their bad choice — all being born with a bent toward sin.
Jesus said that He was the only way to God — the only bridge. Good works won't take us across the bridge, no matter how meritorious they are. Not enough good works exist to place God under obligation to save us. Knowing the Bible and believing that Jesus is God won't help us traverse the bridge — even the demons know and believe that — and shudder! Having affection for God doesn't work either. And we surely can't buy our way there.
God has designed that nothing short of receiving Jesus' Spirit into our lives and accepting His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sin will enable us to bridge the gap to Him. All other efforts will cause the bridge beneath us to collapse.
Make sure that you are crossing a reliable bridge in your journey to God.
Prayer: Father, I acknowledge Jesus Christ as the only bridge to You. Amen.
Hebrews 12:2 – Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NKJV)
It was October 1968 during my first year of training towards ordination that a group of us men invaded the home of a saintly eighty-year-old lady for the purpose of encouraging her in her faith by having what was then called a Cottage Meeting with her.
She was gleeful as she sang along with us to the music of an accordion. After a short sermon, centred on the cross, we sang my favourite hymn, written by Fanny Crosby:
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all — a healing stream —
Flows from Calv'ry's mountain.
When we finished singing and had a closing prayer, she raised both hands over her heart and announced in a quivering but very intelligible voice, "Young men, please remember. Always stay near the cross, because the devil is afraid of the cross." That proclamation has never left me, even after fifty-six years.
We left her that day committed to conquering the world for Jesus, all because of the cross. My personal awareness of the significance and meaning of the cross exploded into overdrive. My favourite preacher at that time was Billy Graham. It is said that he once attributed the large number of responses in his crusades to the one central theme of his sermons: the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the cross.
If we had lived in Jerusalem on the day of Christ's crucifixion, I wonder how near we would have been to the cross. Little did I realize that in my eightieth year, I would be spiritually, figuratively, and even physically near the cross. Let me explain.
From a window in the suite where my wife and I live, we can see a large cross about 100 metres away atop the church next door. During the day when the sun is shining, it appears to reflect that bright light, and all is well. When night comes, the spotlights beneath the cross illuminate it so that it becomes a source of comfort and reassurance in the darkness which surrounds it. As I am looking at it now, I have to repeat, "Jesus, keep me near the cross!"
How near are we to the cross today, to the crucified Christ? Our nearness to the cross will be evident to those who see and hear us. It will be reflected in how we react to what is happening around us and what we do each day of our lives.
Prayer:
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o'er me.
Amen!
The day dawned with a bright blue sky and warm temperature. We decided to take the boat and anchor in a secluded bay to read and swim. The lake remained unusually calm, but the significance of this was not to be understood until that evening.
We called our sons after they finished work to see if they wanted to join us. We started the boat to make our way back to pick them up from our dock, but as my husband put the boat into drive, it would not engage. I called our sons, and they said that they would launch the other boat at the marina slip and tow us back.
It was about this time that we noticed that both our phone batteries were getting low, and we had not brought cords to recharge them. The boys called us from the marina slip to say that the propeller would not lower into the water. Using video chat, my husband talked them through what to do, and then his phone died. After a quick switch to my phone, the call resumed, but immediately went dead.
By now, the sun was beginning to set. We both sat looking towards the horizon for any sign of a boat. I prayed, but felt calm, which is not my usual, natural state during a crisis, especially in the boat.
It seemed like an eternity until we saw the boat. Tow rope attached, we slowly made our way to the dock. We still had a task to get the boat released from the tow rope and into the dock without power. The calm waters remained, and we were able to complete the task. The sun had now set and we still had to take the other boat back across the lake and through the channel to the marina slip, about a 15-minute boat ride in the dark. Again, mission accomplished on the calm waters.
As I reflected on the day, I remembered that I had prayed, "Lord, send help." "Lord, help the boat to start." "Lord, help our sons to launch the boat to come and get us." As I spent time in prayer the next morning, the Lord showed me that He had answered my prayers, not in what I had prayed for, but in the calm waters and in the comfort and calmness that comes from my relationship with Him amidst the crisis. This prompted me to reflect on the first verse of Psalm 20.
Psalm 20:1 – May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. (NIV)
How often we don't see the hand of the Lord in situations! The Lord showed me through my time in prayer that we can trust Him to answer our prayers in a way that He sees the need to be. Can you trust Him to do that?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we cannot thank You enough for Your care and love for us. Help us in all situations to draw closer to You. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
My summer home is both small and old — 30 years old this year. The appliances have all been updated, but the kitchen sink is original and sometimes hard to get clean. The other day, I scrubbed it with my favourite cleanser, but there were still some stubborn marks that I couldn't remove. I didn't have any of the stronger cleanser that I normally use, and when I went to the store, I couldn't find it anywhere. Then, I saw what I call the "magic sponge", or Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser, available from a variety of sources. I grabbed a package from the shelf. And sure enough, when I got home, a few swipes with the magic sponge and my sink looked like new.
Curious as to how it works so well, I discovered that it uses a melamine foam that works like super-fine sandpaper. Add a little water, start scrubbing, and its open-cell structure allows the sponge to lift and trap dirt in its cavities.
But there's a downside. Because of their abrasive surface and the constant rubbing, these sponges wear out quickly, until there's hardly anything left to hold onto.
As I was scrubbing, I thought about how this sponge's cleansing abilities are a picture of how the blood of Jesus cleanses us from the sins and stains of our lives.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJV)
1 John 1:7-9 – But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)
The Holy Spirit continues to scrub away at our sins while we go through life as a follower of Christ. But that came at a cost: Jesus had to sacrifice His life so that we could have abundant life. In a small way, we can compare that to the sponge wearing itself out while scrubbing away stains.
1 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. (NLT)
We may not be asked to physically give up our lives for others, but we are asked to love others sacrificially and generously, offering grace and forgiveness when we'd much rather act differently. Let's commit to wearing ourselves out for Christ.
Prayer: Thank You for Your sacrifice on the cross so that we may be cleansed from all unrighteousness. Help us to love others with Your love. Amen.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)
Sophie, my retriever cross, had started panting during our walks, so I took her to see our veterinarian. After a thorough examination, the vet deduced that it was most likely a touch of arthritis, due to Sophie's age. She also remarked how fit and agile Sophie was at the age of eleven. Her advice was to begin Sophie on a course of green-lipped mussel powder that has remarkable powers to relieve arthritic pain. Following said advice, I did so, and though Sophie still panted some, she seemed much improved, until the day that she wasn't.
It all began when we came in from our evening walk, and Sophie declined her meal. Considering the high heat that day, however, I was not concerned. The next morning when she declined her food again and I noticed her panting increasing at an alarming rate, as well as a weakness in her hind quarters, I knew that something was dreadfully wrong. As my veterinarian was away, I called another clinic, an hour away, who told me to transport Sophie immediately.
With my daughter's help, we carried Sophie to the car, and I was on my way. The vet assistant met me at the door, and after a preliminary blood panel was completed, the veterinarian informed me that Sophie was in kidney failure, and nothing could be done. Her symptoms pointed to a silent tumour on the kidney, something that does not normally reveal itself until it is too late, something to which retrievers are very prone. Something which, in turn, caused Sophie, in the vet's words, to throw a blood clot or stroke that was paralyzing her hind quarters and causing great pain. The veterinarian knew what needed to be done, and so did I, so I gave him permission to euthanize my beloved girl.
As I stood there in tears, with Sophie on the table beside me, and a friend who had graciously driven to the clinic standing with me, my friend said to me, "How very hard it is to make such a heartbreaking decision!" My answer to her came as a surprise to both of us, as I said, "Love always comes with a price tag."
Later, as I was walking for the first time in eleven years without Sophie at my side, I remembered those words and how true they are, especially for God. Let us be especially grateful to God, Who loved the world so much that He was willing to pay the price tag which demanded the death of His one and only precious Son, Jesus, Who lovingly came to earth to die, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Prayer: Thank You so much, Lord God, for being willing to pay the price of love for us, which demanded the death of Your beloved Son. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
James 1:12 – Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (ESV)
Recently, I wrote about how God healed my body quickly while renovating my bathroom. Praise be to God! Now it is my turn to find that this is not always the case.
After doing too much cleaning on the caravan roof, my body gave up and protested in no uncertain terms. I had damaged my left knee, thigh, hip, and back. In unison, they screamed out at me to STOP! I had no choice but to leave the cleaning unfinished. Grrr.
For nearly a week, I have been gradually recuperating, unable to do much except swallow nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain-killers to be able to sleep. Healing this time has been slow and frustrating. I guess I am guilty not only of assuming that the will of God is in line with my expectations, but also that His timetable for my recovery is speedy. I suspect now that my timetable for things to be done is not His.
I've not read much Bible, since significant pain makes it hard to concentrate on anything meaningful. Even my favourite television series has lost its thrall.
In these situations, it is easy to fall victim to the temptation to become distant from God. In our exasperation to inform God of His timely duty to us, we can become rather sulky that God is not healing us straight away.
Maybe, as well, we are carrying other burdens — spiritual, psychological, or emotional — that are not visible and find their origins elsewhere.
God knows all these things about us and our foibles, whether we choose to recognize it or not.
The evil one lurks, looking to take advantage of such times. He desires to turn the screws on the pain, to ramp up the fear, and to amplify the sense of separation from God and our unworthiness.
The truth is that no matter where we are or how close to death we may be, Jesus is always there for us, waiting to be asked in. We just have to open the door to our hearts and trust in what is unseen.
It is my experience that prayer, praise, and thanksgiving are great weapons against the darts which the evil one wants to shoot into our lives and to stoke up resentment. As I write in the midst of the clamour of pain, I am reminded to worship and to remember what He has done for me in my life so far. I have no basis for an excuse. All that I have is a gift, even life itself. If you are willing, say with me today this prayer:
Prayer: Lord, I am sorry for taking Your love and forgiveness for granted. I rejoice in all that You have done for me. I rejoice that You came to set me free from the life that enslaves. I humbly ask for Your holy presence to come and be with me today. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Psalm 51:10 – Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (NIV)
I struggle with my faith versus my thoughts. There are things that I believe in my heart about God, but I also have doubts in my mind. For instance, I believe that God is infinitely powerful and just, but doubts arise when I see so much violence and injustice in the world. I believe that I am saved by Christ's sacrifice on the cross, but then, I doubt His influence over the church when I see Christians aggressively hating people who oppose them. I believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, but then, I doubt its transformative power in making us better human beings when I hear preachers ranting and raving about crushing or killing their political enemies.
I am also aware that, like David who wrote today's psalm, I am a sinful man who has, at times, made bad choices that have hurt other people, especially those whom I say that I love. My selfish thoughts and devious desires damage my faith. I am what John Newton once called himself: a wretch. In other words, I am a great sinner in need of an even greater Saviour.
If we read Psalm 51 honestly, we will be convicted by the Holy Spirit and made aware of our own foolish choices and sinful deeds. David doesn't hold back anything from God because he understands that God knows everything about him — every false choice, every greedy decision, every little secret. He comes before God as a broken man who knows that he has done something gravely wrong. But even with all that staggering burden of guilt, shame, and worthlessness, David still holds on to the fact that God can cleanse him of every sin, renew his unclean heart, and restore him to God's love forever.
David's story is our story, too — and we have even more besides: we have Jesus as our Saviour, Who cast Himself on the cross at Calvary in order to remove our blemished burdens and despicable deeds. Christ gave us His life so that we might live with God as forgiven, redeemed, and restored children of His grace forevermore. In other words, with Christ, we can begin again.
Point to ponder: What have I done that has offended God and damaged others? How can Christ cleanse and restore me?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know everything about us, so we cannot hide any sin from You. Help us humbly to approach Your throne of mercy and grace, asking You for forgiveness and restoration. We know that we do not deserve any of this, but we hold on to the fact that You have the power to do this. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Isaiah 40:29 – He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (NIV)
Recently, my husband and I were at our local fast-food restaurant enjoying their one-dollar coffee and warm apple pie. At the next table, two ladies were having a conversation. I picked up the conversation where one said to the other, "You have to let go and slow down, it's not good for your health." Then, she went on to bombard her with a list of stuff that she herself needed to get done "because no one else can do it", to an eye roll from the other!
Is that you? Me?
No, not me. From a very young age, I was taught by my father to prioritize. I carried that into my personal, professional, and volunteer life. As young parents, we learned the art of division of labour within our family. As our family grew in years, responsibilities were transferred over to our children.
Friends, perhaps you have a lot on your plate. Perhaps, in your mind, you are responsible for a lot, and you fear that if you let go, everything will crumble and fall apart. When we aren't leaning on Jesus, our to-do lists can be overwhelming, especially when we feel that we must do it all.
When God created us, He made us for Himself. He created us to live in harmony with Him and to rely entirely on Him for our needs. He has jobs for us to do, but He wants us to do them with Him, for His glory, not for selfish gain. We have to let go and share responsibilities. We are not created to endure, control, and hold everything together — and when we strive to do these things, we will eventually break under pressure. When we think only of ourselves and what we will personally gain from striving to be in control, we drive helpful people away. We will stumble, we will fall, we will fail.
Friends, we don't have to do it all or do it alone. We are one body in Christ, each with our own God-given abilities, talents, and gifts. Let us collectively use our varying abilities, talents and gifts for His glory, not ours.
When you feel the need to be in control, call out to Jesus. When you feel that no one else can do it, call out to Jesus. When you feel like the world and all its expectations are crushing you, call out to Jesus. When you feel like you can't go on, call out to Jesus.
Prayer: Loving God, thank You for loving us enough not to let us continue walking a road of self-sufficiency that leaves us dry and maxed out. Lord, renew us today. Show us what to let go of. Show us where we are being prideful in our actions, and forgive us for not relying on You. Thank You for Your patience while You wait for us to rely on You. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
2 Corinthians 4:7b – We ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. (NLT)
The last of the green grapes had been in the refrigerator for at least two weeks. I decided that it was time to eat them up or throw them out — something that I am loathe to do — and I scolded myself for not enjoying them sooner. Taking them out of the bag, I rinsed them in the sink and laid them on some paper towelling to sort through the bunch. The green globes pitted by bad spots, wrinkles, or splits, along with the definitely spongy, soft ones were systematically discarded. What was left, which I deemed worthy, became part of my breakfast that morning.
This process of sorting through the fruit and discarding those not worthy reminded me of an important truth concerning God: God discards none of His people. No matter how old and wrinkled we are or how fractured and split by life's occurrences, no matter how weak and ravaged by illness, or how our minds have become impaired, we are still loved, valued, and of use to God for the glory of His kingdom.
In fact, God delights in using the imperfect. The apostle Paul revealed this when he wrote these words of truth to the church in Corinth:
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 – Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. (NLT)
Today, you might be feeling like those poor old grapes that I discarded: a bit worn and wrinkled, tired or useless, foolish or powerless, sick or discouraged, unemployed or poor. If so, choose to take your eyes off of your own circumstances and focus on God's truth. He loves you. He will never discard you. He still has a purpose for you in His kingdom, a purpose which He is able to bring to fruition as you abide in the true vine, Jesus Christ, Who has promised, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit." (John 15:5a NLT)
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You have a plan and a purpose for all of Your people, no matter what our circumstances may be. Help each of us to remember this truth and always to choose to remain in the true vine, Jesus Christ, that we may always continue to bear much fruit for the kingdom. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Isaiah 40:12 – Who has scooped up the ocean in his two hands, or measured the sky between his thumb and little finger? Who has put all earth's dirt in one of his baskets, weighed each mountain and hill? (MSG)
Riding in the back seat, our two small boys were excited as we neared Redwood National Park in California, USA. We told them that we would soon see very old giant trees. As we got out of the car and walked to one of the ancient Sequoias, we could not contain our amazement as we saw its immense girth and height. We mistakenly thought that we could try to capture this moment of wonderment to keep with us. So of course, we took the classic photos standing in front the majestic Seqouia. Then, we had another brilliant, spur-of-the-moment, creative idea.
The boys took some of our camping rope from the car, circled the giant trunk, and tied the rope to mark the meeting point. When we returned home, we circled the rope on the grass in our small backyard. It was astounding to see how much space that it surrounded! The rope was a very creative marker, yet it failed miserably in encapsulating our experience.
Trying to fathom God's love is like that, too. A children's Bible teacher once suggested asking children to try to measure God's love by using a tape, a clock, and a measuring cup, and by reading these three Bible verses and responding:
- Psalm 108:4 – For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. (NIV) Response: No tape can measure it!
- Psalm 103:17 – But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children. (NIV) Response: No clock can measure it!
- Psalm 23:5b – My cup overflows. (NIV) Response: No measuring cup can hold it!
We experience many things in that way. We gaze at brilliant stars, behold sunrises and sunsets, imagine ocean depths, and thrill at mountaintop vistas. Our responses involve trying to comprehend the great distance between our smallness and a seemingly unending expanse. Our human minds grope, trying to take it in. We are instinctively drawn to know and understand more. Our searching can lead us to the truth of God's absolute love. Do you feel the urge to explore? The apostle Paul prayed this for his friends:
Ephesians 3:17b-19 – And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. (MSG)
Prayer: Almighty God, how we long to take in the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Teach us more and more as we plant our feet firmly on that love. May it flow from our lives back to You in praise. Amen.
Mark 6:20 – Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. (NIV)
Being a Scottish preacher in American churches can be quite novel at times. For some reason, folks like to listen to my Scots accent because they find it to be quite lyrical. I used to think that this was a great thing and relished each time I was asked to preach in a different pulpit. Over the years, however, I realized that my accent could sometimes get in the way of the gospel message. People in the pews liked to listen to how I preached but didn't absorb the sermon. Sometimes at the church door after the worship service, someone would say, "I loved your Scottish accent, but I didn't understand what you said."
King Herod may have felt much the same with John the Baptist. The cruel king had imprisoned John for preaching against his marriage. Herod's wife was greatly offended, so Herod had the fiery preacher arrested and thrown into a jail below his palace.
Herod, however, did not neglect John. He liked to listen to the preacher, although he didn't fully understand what John talked about. Perhaps the prophet preached on the kingdom of God, which Herod would think rivalled his own sovereignty. Or maybe John talked about repentance for being sinful, which Herod totally ignored. Whatever the case, Herod appears to have missed his opportunity to be reconciled to God. He liked listening to John, but he may have never truly heard a word which could have changed his life forever.
Some folks are like that, too. They know about Jesus and have perhaps listened to some of His teaching. Unfortunately, instead of fully embracing Him as their Saviour and Lord, they just label Him as another historical holy man whose sermons were quaint and applicable to the past, but not relevant in today's world. In other words, they listen, but do not hear, which is why Jesus told His listeners, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:9 NIV)
Point to ponder: Do I like just listening to what Jesus has to say, or do I hear how His words challenge me to change my ways?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to be truly open to Your gospel message and holy teachings. Challenge our lives so that we may change our ways by applying Your Word in our daily lives. In Your holy name, we humbly pray. Amen.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 – We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (ESV)
Pastoral visitation has always been one of my priorities. Early in my ministry, I made an appointment for a regular pastoral visit with John and Helen. The first 15 minutes were filled with niceties, but then, Helen said that she wanted to tell me something that I might not want to hear. At this point, John slouched down in his chair as if to disappear from the room.
Helen looked me in the eyes and said, "David, your sermons are boring, I mean BORING. You stand up there, read every word from your notes and don't connect with the congregation." I was crushed and struck down. My first inclination was to offer a prayer and get out of there. We talked for a few minutes, and not meaning it, I thanked her for her honesty and left.
I came home and told my wife that I was resigning from ministry. We lived in a railway town, and I decided to go down the street and talk with Waddy, who worked for the railway, about becoming an engineer and making a lot of money driving trains. I was distraught and saw myself as a failure to God and to my congregation. How many others felt the same way as Helen?
However, I did not go down the street to Waddy's house. Instead, I went to my study to tell God that I was done. As I spent time with Jesus, He showed me that Helen was right. He had called me to preach the Word, not to read a prepared text. I slumped into my chair and cried out to Him for help.
It was not long afterwards that I had an experience with the Holy Spirit, Who began to free me from my text and to help me to deliver my sermons instead of reading them.
We are struck down, but not destroyed. I lived through today's verses and came out manifesting the life of Jesus. During our lives, we are afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. The good news is that Jesus is always with us to pick us up and turn what may seem to be a disaster into a great victory.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being Who You are: our Saviour and Lord. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for bringing the Word of the Lord alive in our lives. If we find ourselves struck down by some affliction at this time, we ask You to wrap Your loving arms around us and hold us. Lord Jesus Christ, we trust in You. Amen.
Psalm 5:1-3 – O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. (NLT)
In 1991, my husband and I prepared to go to post-communist Czechoslovakia to help start a Christian school. Actually, God had planted the idea years previously. Now, through a series of circumstances and confirmations in Scripture, it was happening! The hurdles that needed to be overcome, however, made us feel very unsettled. Terry had to request a leave of absence from his teaching job in our small village in British Columbia, Canada. The small Christian school that our three boys attended suddenly folded, and we found ourselves home schooling. The pastor in Bratislava was still waffling on whether he would actually agree to have a school. My mum wrote us a fearful letter, saying, "It will be so hard to live there." A huge challenge was knowing that we didn't yet have accommodations for our family. As the months of getting ready went by, the hardest part was just waiting to go.
The apostle Paul also experienced waiting. He had been arrested after preaching and taking part in a purification ritual at the temple in Jerusalem.
Acts 23:11 – That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well." (NLT)
Despite this wonderful promise, some time elapsed before Paul actually came to do what God had said he would do. The Roman governor Felix kept Paul in prison in Caesarea for two years, biding his time instead of deciding his case. On his way to Rome, Paul faced delays and challenges with a fierce storm at sea.
Acts 28:30-31 – For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him. ( NLT)
As our family waited to go to Czechoslovakia, plans slowly began to fall into place. The pastor finally signed the contract with the company who sponsored the school program. My husband received permission for a year's leave of absence from his teaching job. My mother resolved to be brave and write positive letters. And an hour before we left our home, we received the phone call that we had accommodations in Bratislava!
We have to wait expectantly for God to act. Sometimes, circumstances have to be worked out. God is always there, working on our behalf, even when we don't immediately see any evidence. Let's put our trust in the Lord, daily bringing our requests to Him.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for working on our behalf, even when we doubt. Help us to trust You and just wait. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
I love Southern Gospel music, even if that makes me "un-cool"! I like its folksy, real-life lyrics, and I could almost dance to the joyful tunes. Actually, I am almost sure that King David danced to Southern Gospel music!
Today, I am reminded of a beautiful song sung by Jason Crabb called "Sometimes I Cry". The song tells how even in a life dedicated to God, we find ourselves lonely and hurt.
Sometimes in our attempt to protect the reputation of God — as if it needs being protected — we smile and don't let people know that we also experience the pain of this world. When asked, "How are you?" we smile and tell everyone that we are fine, when maybe our world is falling apart. Maybe we have had a dry season spiritually and have become so thirsty that our tongues are parched. We actually long for someone to dip their finger into the cool water of Christ's grace and touch it to our tongues, but yet, we stand tall, not wanting anyone to know our weaknesses or our struggles. After all, we reason, they might get the idea that God hasn't met my needs or maybe they might see my imperfection and wonder what kind of God I serve. Then, as the song goes:
But sometimes I hurt and sometimes I cry
Sometimes I can't get it right
No matter how hard I seem to try
Sometimes I fall down
Stumble over my own disguise
I try to look strong
As the whole world looks on
But sometimes alone I cry.
I know for myself, whenever I share with anyone about my chronic depression, I go away feeling like I might have let God down somehow. Shouldn't Christians always be happy and cheerful? What will they think of my faith when I share that there are days when it is hard just to get out of bed? Some days, I am a mess! There are times when my prayers seem to go no higher than my head and even precious words from the Bible ring hollow. There are times when I fall down and ask "Why?" and question almighty God. How many will sign up for this Christian life, when I look like a human being suffering all the same things as everyone else?
It is at times like these that our hearts need to cheer with joy, as my heart does, at the knowledge that Jesus knows what we are going through, and does not expect our Christian testimony always to be absolutely perfect!
Hebrews 4:15-16 – This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses since he had the same temptations we do, though he never once gave way to them and sinned. So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need. (TLB)
Prayer: O Lord, give us Your joy to cheer our hearts amid the down times of life. Amen.
In the past two years, I have attended various programs at university, my church, my hostel, and my place of work. All these programs had one thing in common: the participants were given a good farewell as we moved on to the next phase of life.
At these programs, I tried to etch deep into my mind the faces of those whom I have known, because there would never again be any gathering on earth in which every single one of us would be present, without anyone missing. If we gathered for a reunion, a wedding, et cetera, still, we would never be complete. For some reason, one or another would be absent.
However, there will be a time when no one will be missing:
Revelation 20:11-12 – And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it … And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God … and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (KJV)
Every single person who ever lived, regardless of their beliefs and position, will stand before God. Meanwhile, I picture so many human beings drifting like boats in this sea called life, totally unaware of the judgment day coming. Some boats are tethered together by the bonds of family, community, benefits, purpose, and even religion. But eventually, those bonds break at some point in life, and even those bonds that do stand the test of time will break at death. Then, all those boats, with you and me in them, will move one by one to their own individual destination.
Now, there are two possible final destinations for each and every person: heaven or hell. I don't know how you are living your life, either secretly or openly, but I just want you to know two things. First, there are those whom time, death, or circumstances have taken from us. We will all see each other again in front of the great white throne. But many of those people will stand there pondering their life and what is to come. Secondly, from that throne, we will all go alone either to heaven or to hell, our final destination, depending on how we have lived our lives, and whether we trusted in Christ as our Saviour.
Think about it! Meditate on this! Are you going to be reunited forever in heaven, smiling and rejoicing as you behold the beauty and glory that God has prepared for you? Or would you be screaming, weeping, and wailing towards an eternal doom? If so, please just go on your knees and ensure that your way is right with God.
If heaven is already your final destination, pray for more grace to stand till the end. Also, tell others about the great white throne judgment day that is coming.
Prayer: Lord, help us to live lives that lead towards the heavenly reunion so that we may smile together on that great day. Amen.
James 4:2b-3 – You don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong — you want only what will give you pleasure. (NLT)
We settled for less because we didn't know that we could have had more.
My wife and I sat across the table from a couple whom I would soon help to renew their wedding vows. Since we hadn't seen them in quite some time, we enjoyed catching up on each other's lives. Most of the conversation centred on grandchildren. Then we finalized the details of the renewal ceremony. They had been together twenty-five years and wanted to celebrate. When the waitress stopped by, we placed our orders. My wife ordered her usual: chicken fingers.
When our meal was over, I heard the husband whisper to the waitress, "Bring me the check." My wife and I both protested, but to no avail. Then being the comic she is, my wife quipped, "I should have ordered ribs." Our host replied, "You should have." We settled for less when we could have had more.
Obviously, we're not the only ones who do that — and not just with a meal that someone buys for us. In today's Scripture, James indicates that our entire lives experience paucity simply because we don't ask God to make them any better, or because the motives with which we asked were tainted.
Lack of faith that God can actually deliver what we want or need will result in living without those things. God wants us to ask to demonstrate our dependence on Him. He's promised to give us the things that we need to survive and to do His will, but He wants us to request them, nevertheless. When we bring our prayers and supplications to Him, we experience a growth spurt in our faith. He doesn't need the information; we just need the practice. He will give us the courage to step out in faith to do whatever He instructs us to do.
Living with less also occurs when we ask for things outside God's will. Learning the difference between wants and needs is essential if we want to receive the things for which we pray. We have the ability to know God's mind. What He wants to give us are life essentials — food, drink, clothing — and the things that we'll need to accomplish His plan for our lives. All that we have to do is to ask.
Don't settle for chicken when you can enjoy ribs!
Prayer: Father, increase our faith so that we won't settle for less than You want to give us. Amen.
Proverbs 3:27 – Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. (NIV)
Proverbs 31:31 – Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (NIV)
My surroundings needed a little tender loving care to make them more functional. My plan was to switch the use of one room to another purpose. I asked God to lead the way in the things that I had planned to do, and I followed His directions during the planning stages. I had to work with several individuals to complete the work that I needed done, and when it was finished, I obtained the results that I was looking for. They all did an excellent job, and everything fell into place — mission accomplished!
I was then asked to complete an online survey on their behalf so that their bosses and upper management would be aware of their performance. How could I not? When I filled out each survey, my comments were honest and sincere, and my reviews were positive and true.
When credit is due to others, they deserve to receive it. For the people around us who work hard, it is important to reward them with the highest praise appropriate for their work. During my long-term career, I, too, looked forward to sitting down at year-end with my immediate supervisors to discuss my performance during the year and to receive credit by way of a nice bonus.
Ephesians 6:9 – And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. (NIV)
2 Corinthians 8:7 – But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love to us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (NIV)
It is good to be charitable, kind, and generous to the people in the service industry. For the services that they provide us, they deserve to be recognized.
How many people have made a difference in your life recently? Have you told them how grateful you are for their help in making your plans a success?
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, the Maker of heaven and earth, we thank You for the opportunity to share with others what You have given to us so freely. Lord, help us not to withhold our gratitude for jobs that are well done, and gladly to take the time to make a difference in someone else's life, even when we are not asked to do so. It is in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen!
Luke 1:50-51,53 – And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. (ESV)
From years of water leakage, the floor of my upstairs ensuite bathroom was rotten under the shower. I removed the ceiling, walls, and floor, and the room became an empty shell with a toilet. I have now insulated the ceiling, replaced the walls, installed a new water-resistant chipboard floor with linoleum, and put in a bath, sink, radiator, extractor fan, and tiles.
Because of the cost, the only way for this job to be done was to do it myself. By God's leading, I have acquired the tools, gifts, experience, and help to be God's hands in this endeavour as a service to God and my wife.
God wants me doing this because I had this confirmed to me in a sign: an unusually large one-sided rainbow. It provoked a memory of a poster from the 1980s that said, "God keeps His promises" — which He does! He has truly given me the ability and tenacity to do it, now that it is done. Jesus was a carpenter, and I sense that I had a little prompting from Him to guide my hand in how to manage the project and to find all that I needed at the right price!
Given that for me this was a God-given chore, I was not surprised to have some opposition, as when my back complained during the first week. I could hardly move without spasms to the small of my back. As an older man, I should have been more careful about when to stop and rest. After seeking prayer from the Bible study group on that Saturday, I was able to get back to work on Monday. Praise God for His healing mercy and encouragement to keep on with the task!
Later, as I filled a rubbish bag with the old materials, I was aware of His prompt. Just like all the crud that I had just put into those rubbish bags, Jesus has removed and continues to remove all the rotten stuff that is not beneficial for future kingdom life. Life is messy, so we need refurbishment!
As we follow Jesus according to His will in obedience, He in turn will come in, clean, and refit. He wants to provide strength for the day, or provide helping hands at the right time as support. We are not alone in the kingdom.
Like Mary's declaration in today's passage, we have to trust that our help comes from God, even when life's circumstances seem overwhelming.
Prayer: Lord, we give You thanks for Your presence in and through us to perform Your purposes, even through trials and the temptation to give in. You are always alongside us in what we do because You first called us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 23:5 – You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (NIV)
I have always loved coffee, but as my girls have grown to enjoy it too, I have come to love it even more! While growing up, I had a divided home: Dad was a pot-a-day coffee drinker, but my mom loved hot tea in the morning. My sweet grandma, Mary Helen Camp, was the one who whetted my appetite for the delicious brew when I was just a little girl and coffee was a somewhat forbidden adult treat. I remember her having her coffee cup sitting on a saucer so as to catch the overflow as she heaped sugar and cream into it. After she had stirred it just right, with the saucer catching the extra, she would let me drink the sweet concoction right from the saucer, since it had cooled enough for me to drink. It was heavenly, as I remember it! I felt privileged to partake in this treat as we all listened to Arthur Godfrey on the radio. In my childish mind, I determined that when I grew up, I would drink coffee from a cup, and like grandma, a saucer would catch the overflow. With the coming of giant mugs, I don't often drink from a cup with a saucer, but when I do, warm feelings of my sweet grandma come to mind.
As I think of that coffee of my youth, I wonder how much I would have loved my "Joe" if bitterness were the overflow from her cup. My grandma was a divorced woman when divorce was far less accepted than it is now. Because of her divorce, she found herself penniless, unskilled, and uneducated. She had to take jobs that nowadays would be considered menial, but throughout my life growing up, she was always there for my family and me. At best, in the eyes of onlookers, she was a pretty ordinary woman, or at worst, she was known as "that divorcee". She had many reasons to be bitter and to fill her cup with the biting resentment and hatred that betrayal and hurt sometimes bring. But she chose the better, which was love. For me, her cup always overflowed with love. I am so glad that I was there to drink of the overflow, and it was sweet!
Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)
With what does the cup of your life overflow?
Prayer: Lord, help us to keep our overflow as sweet as possible. In Christ, we pray. Amen.
Genesis 22:2 – Take your son, your only son — yes, Isaac, whom you love so much — and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you. (NLT)
Pete was obeying God, so why was his life falling apart?
The events unfolded slowly at first, then more rapidly. Pete had answered God's call to full-time ministry a number of years before. Now, events with enough explosive power to derail all that were taking place — circumstances that weren't his fault and were also beyond his control. Decisions had been made that would affect the rest of his life. He saw a resignation in his future. He saw other churches not wanting to call him as pastor. He didn't understand why God allowed this.
Depression stalked Pete for more than a year after the ground completely disappeared from beneath him. Not until he gave up his right to understand was he able finally to move forward into other areas that God opened for him.
Pete was forced to do what Abraham had to do. God had promised Abraham a son through whom millions of descendants would come. Now, God asked him to sacrifice that same son. How in the world would the descendants come if the son were dead? But he didn't question God.
Hebrews 11:19a – Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. (NLT)
God promises to love us unconditionally, to use us in His service, to gift us with talents and special abilities, and to work all things together for our good, but He never promises that we'll understand all the ways that He'll work to accomplish that. Pete didn't, Abraham didn't, I haven't, and millions of others haven't either.
A crucial element of following and serving God is giving up the right to understand His ways. By faith, we must believe that He works to form us more each day into His Son's image. By faith, we must trust that what comes out on the other side will be spiritually healthier than what's on this side. If we could always understand God, we'd be like God — but we're not.
Following God is a journey of faith that includes rarely understanding what He's doing or why. When we give up this right, it frees Him to do things in and through us that He would have to accomplish in other ways.
Let God be God in your life, whether you understand Him or not.
Prayer: Father, give us the faith to trust You, regardless of how things appear. Amen.
Twenty-four years ago, the area on which our home was built was a farmer's field. Once the subdivision was established, trees were planted along the boulevard in front of or to the side of the homes. As I looked out the kitchen window this morning, I saw that the tree right across from us has flourished and provides a barrier of privacy for us, as well as shade. The tree on the next property is not as full and is noticeably smaller in size. I have no idea why some trees in the neighbourhood have flourished, while others have struggled, or in some cases, died, and all that remains is a cut-off stump. They were all planted around the same time and in soil that would have had similar nutrients. Maybe people watered some more when they were first planted to get them established.
Psalm 92:12-14 – The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green. (NIV)
Both palm trees and cedar trees grow tall and strong and have long lives. Cedar trees can reach a height of 120 feet or more, and they symbolize strength and greatness. In the Middle East, palm trees produce dates, and they are stately and beautiful, symbolizing triumph and victory. They have extensive fibrous roots reaching in all directions, so they can flourish even in the desert.
Unlike the trees, we are not held to one location. In fact, in our Lord's great commission, He instructed us to "go and make disciples of all nations". In order to flourish as we make disciples, like the trees, we need to be well rooted in our relationship with the Lord.
Colossians 2:6-7 – So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (NIV)
These deep roots are vital to our ability to share the Word of God with others, and they allow us the confidence and ability to do the work that Jesus has commissioned us to do.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for Your Word, for the more that we delve into it, the more riches that we discover. Jesus, we thank You that You are alive in us. Help us to continue to flourish and to spread Your love to a lost and hurting world. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
Philippians 4:19 – And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Deuteronomy 31:8 – The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (NIV)
Over four decades ago, when I stood at the altar before the minister who performed the marriage ceremony between me and my husband, I made a promise of faithfulness to him "till death do us part". Quoting Matthew 19:6b (KJV), the minister announced, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." That day, I promised myself that I would adhere to those words. Over forty years later, I am still here, and I kept my promise. I could have broken that promise many times over, but I chose to keep it. Why? Because I took that promise seriously.
Throughout my life, I have made several promises to various people. I have followed through with some, but soon after making others, I have forgotten about them. To this day, I can vividly recall with regret some that I didn't keep — not because I didn't want to or because they were unimportant — I just didn't! But every promise is important. A promise can be a matter of life or death to someone.
When I was a child, I made another promise — it was my first, simple, powerful promise: I promised Jesus that I would love Him — and I do! Every time I hear the hymn, "O Jesus, I have promised", it fills me with joy. John Ernest Bode (1816-1874) wrote the words, and the tune which I know is by Arthur Henry Mann (1850-1929). The words and the music are beautiful.
When I made that promise, I was a child. I am now decades older, and I intend to follow it through to the end. Although all promises are important, such a promise has eternal consequences. When we promise to do something for Jesus, we must follow through with it.
Our promises to Jesus are made in response to God the Father Who has made many promises to us: to strengthen us, to give us rest, to care for our needs, to answer our prayers. And He gave us Jesus, His Son, Who died on the cross to give us forgiveness for our sins.
Isaiah 41:13 – For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (NIV)
God's promises to us are written throughout the Bible. God has made numerous promises to us, and He keeps all of them. He never forgets His promises to you and me — He follows through with every one of them.
Do you believe all of God's promises to you? Do you keep all your promises to Him?
Prayer: Our heavenly Father, thank You for all Your promises to us, and for giving us Jesus. Help us to keep our promises to You. Amen!
My Irish Setter decided that eating bees was a good thing to do. As we had a swarm of them around our porch, she set to her task with a vengeance. An hour later, her hugely swollen face revealed the evidence of her folly.
Benadryl brought down the swelling, but this was not the end of the story. Ruby began to itch where she had been stung. This, in turn set her to scratching and ripping with her nails at an area on her lower jaw. The more that she scratched and tore, the worse that the situation became, until she had two open wounds, almost an inch long and several tissue layers deep. It took over a month of applying antibiotic cream daily, plus wearing a cone on her head to prevent further scratching, before these self-inflicted wounds healed.
This incident brought to mind how I, too, can rip and tear at myself mentally and emotionally when life stings me by my own mistakes. I say something that I wish I hadn't. I inadvertently drop things. I forget an important occasion. A wrong decision leads to unwanted consequences. My temper frays and flares. However, being angry, impatient, humiliated, fed up with myself, and continually ripping and scratching at myself mentally over these issues do not help my situation, but rather exacerbate it, making it much worse. All these things probably happen to all of us on a regular basis, as we are all human and destined to sin and error.
On the other hand, words of wisdom from the Scriptures, when applied not only to others, but also to ourselves, act as soothing, healing balm to the stings of life that our actions inflict upon us from time to time.
Ephesians 4:2 – Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (NIV)
Proverbs 15:1 – A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (NIV)
Colossians 3:12-13 – Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)
Learning to be gentle, forgiving, kind, patient, and compassionate with ourselves is in fact an act of humility, as it reminds us of our own brokenness and imperfection and our need of a Saviour Who loves us and forgives all of our inadvertent or intentional folly if we just ask.
Thus, let us put aside the sting and itch of negative self-talk and mental abuse when we feel that we have failed, and instead, apply today's words of Scripture to ourselves. By so doing, self-anger, loathing, impatience, and the like will be replaced by the healing touch of God's love, patience, kindness, and forgiveness. Pray with me:
Prayer: Lord God, help me to learn to be patient, kind, forgiving, and gentle toward myself when I feel that I have failed or been imperfect. In Christ's name, I ask, Amen.
My great-grandfather, my grandfather, and my father were all carpenters. I grew up with the smell of wood sawdust in the air. I have a brass plaque on my tool box containing the words, "I am the son of a carpenter." It is there because many of the things that I learned from my father have guided me over the years in my spiritual journey.
He always measured, remeasured, and measured again, which appeared to me to be an annoying waste of time. When he asked me to cut an expensive eight-foot piece of lumber into four equal pieces, I did it my way.
Measuring the length, dividing it by four, and making straight pencil marks using my try square, I used my recently sharpened cross-cut saw to cut the lumber into four pieces.
When I placed the pieces on end to check my work, you guessed it! They were all different lengths. I had failed on three counts — only measuring once, not allowing for the width of each saw cut, as well as wanting to do it my way.
Jesus was also a carpenter and the son of a carpenter. When Jesus was teaching His disciples, He remembered Joseph's teaching Him how to shape a wooden yoke, which was carefully fitted on the necks of two animals so that they could pull a plough or cart together equally without injuring their necks.
Matthew 11:28-30 – Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (NKJV)
The spiritual implication in these verses is an invitation to allow Jesus to put His yoke on us and learn from Him, the Master Teacher Himself, by giving Jesus control of our lives and letting Him direct our efforts. When we follow His instructions, the work that He has for us to do will not be as difficult as if we did it alone.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we thank You for Your Word, which guides us through life and directs us in the way that we should go. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our teacher in this darkened world. Help us to harness our hearts and lives to Jesus and learn from Him each day, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light, and in Him, there is rest for our souls. Thank You that we have not been left to bear our problems and the pain of life alone. Use us, we pray, to point others who are distressed and burdened with sin to Jesus. In His name, we pray. Amen!
Exodus 31:18 – And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. (NKJV)
I once taught a faith and science course in which I challenged my students to bring a Christian worldview into their academics. Sessions included guest speakers who harmonized their Christian beliefs with the secular scientific view of the world. One speaker was Dr. Bert Brockhouse who, in 1994, was the co-winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics. The work that he did for this prize had been completed 40 years previously, at the start of his career. He told me that he was probably the most surprised person in the world when he first heard of his accomplishment from a news reporter asking for an interview.
Dr. Brockhouse brought into the classroom not only his Nobel medal, but also an interesting perspective on the authority of Scripture. He had a clear vision of what we should do, as listed in the Ten Commandments, but he said that we should not follow these commandments simply because the Bible tells us to. Instead, they are words of wisdom that are absolute truths needed to ensure a healthy society. He pointed out that experience itself attests to the value of these rules.
Today, the teaching of biblical rules is banned from public schools, but has this been helpful? Are schools better run and students better citizens after removing the Ten Commandments? Is society really happier and more harmonious with all its freedom without these rules? It may not be possible to prove a cause and effect, but the world that I witness is not in a particularly healthy state.
I believe that ignoring the Ten Commandments does more harm than good. They might be considered religious and judgmental, but they bring freedom: to have the next generation respect and honour you; to be able trust your partner without the fear of being betrayed; and not to have to worry about being robbed, attacked, or killed.
Matthew 22:37-39 – Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (NKJV)
These are the greatest commandments, but they are probably the hardest to follow. Maybe that is why God started us with a few smaller ones before He challenged us with the greatest ones of all. As Christians, let us practice the Ten Commandments so that we are better prepared to keep the greater commandments — to love God, and to love our neighbour as ourselves.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for providing us with rules to live in harmony with others, even when we can't love someone as much as ourselves. May we grow to appreciate Your rules, for they bring freedom and give us life more abundantly. Amen.
Over many years of pastoral ministry, I saw some dedicated people who were always present for Sunday worship and church programs. They were totally immersed in the life, work, and ministries of the congregation, and it seemed as though every time we opened the church doors, they were among the first to arrive. The faith community was their family and they simply devoted themselves to serving God in their local church.
Sometimes, however, these lovely servants were too busy and stretched themselves beyond what they could do effectively for God. They did too much, said "yes" too many times, and often wouldn't let others help them. They thought that if they temporarily gave up their work for the Lord or handed it over to someone else, the ministry or mission would suffer. Frequently, the ministry was suffering because they didn't like to share or delegate the responsibility to some other person. However, when COVID-19 came and forced us all to stay away from church, those people reflected on their chosen roles, soon realizing that God was working through the whole church membership, and not just them. After COVID-19, they fully reassessed their own service, and, for the first time in years, they allowed others to work with them.
I like what Jesus tells His disciples:
Mark 6:31 – Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (NIV)
This reveals to us that Jesus did not expect His closest followers to be on duty all the time. By asking them to be alone with Him, Jesus was encouraging them to do nothing for a while. The mission would always be there, and the kingdom of God would continue, but they were only human with weaknesses and limitations. Like the writer of Psalm 23, Jesus was inviting them to find a quiet place in order to restore their souls.
Perhaps you need permission to let go of some of the ministries and missions in your own congregation. Maybe you've overextended yourself and instead of feeling the joy of serving God, it is a heavy burden to you. Let Christ encourage you to find a quiet place, to release you from your responsibilities, to enable you to reflect on how best to serve God, to replenish your weary spirit, and to refresh your tired soul. Go ahead and be busy — doing nothing.
Point to ponder: How do I serve God in my local church? Am I too busy?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know us more fully than we know ourselves. We love You completely and want to serve You faithfully, but sometimes we are tired and need to rest. Help us to find a peaceful, quiet place where we can be refreshed by Your Spirit and restored to Your kingdom. In Your holy name, we humbly pray. Amen.
As I watch the Olympic events, I wish that I could boast of great athletic ability, but the truth is that I have none. I wish that I were different, but I just didn't have it in me. I probably spared many boys and girls from a poor self-image because I was always the last one picked to be on someone's team. Even when I was little, there was a reason that I wasn't chosen, besides my total lack of ability. I usually gave myself away when I wandered off to catch a butterfly or pick flowers, hoping that they all would forget about me. No one else wanted to be left standing, not picked, but I just didn't care, especially if I actually caught the butterfly.
I admire people who can run for twenty-six miles (42.195 kilometres) and force themselves across a line to the applause and adoration of spectators. I can't say that I wouldn't love the moment and that sense of accomplishment, but twenty-six grueling miles of burning lungs, aching legs, and throbbing muscles would be a deal-breaker for me. My daughter, Missy, ran a half marathon, and I was so proud of her and her determination.
There is, however, a race that even I can run and that I want to finish well!
Hebrews 12:1 – 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. (NIV)
I just read a book entitled Nearing Home, written by Billy Graham. I almost didn't buy the book because of the title, which suggests dying, as one might imagine. I read the book in two days and found that, indeed, he talked about death, but mostly he talked about finishing well and leaving a godly heritage. That has been my heart's desire now for quite some time, but I realize that living well and finishing well aren't easy. Sometimes, I need to do things that are hard in order to be a good witness to people around me. Today, the Lord reminded me that I have been disobeying what I know God wants me to do — something that I have been needing to change and haven't. So today, I stubbed my toe while running my race, but with God's help and forgiveness, I will continue on, trying to run the race marked out for me.
Whether we live to be 99 years old as Mr. Graham did, or go to heaven tomorrow, let our prayer be to serve God, to run the race laid out for us, and to finish well.
I want to live as long as the Lord would leave me here, but I have to say that at my age, "nearing home" does have a lovely sound to it! Pray with me:
Prayer: Father God, hold the hand of Your child. Give me courage to endure the race set before me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
How do you feel about a pile of laundry that needs to be done? For me, it is my go-to chore — the one job that I always make time for: filling the washer with my favourite detergent, pre-treating the stains, putting in some heavy work clothing that has been in the garden or from some renovation project. I close the lid and start the cycle. My old washer allows me to open the lid and check on the status of the agitation — and, oh! how I love to see that grungy water! After the rinse cycle, everything smells clean and fresh! Despite its repetitiveness, it's a chore that I enjoy doing.
Recently, a PresbyCan Devotional got me thinking about how a pile of dirty laundry could be an analogy for our sin.
Isaiah 64:6 – All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (NIV)
Sin repeatedly dirties our lives — something that we are uncomfortable acknowledging — we wish it would just go away. We don't want to think about our sin, so we carry it with justification and denial, struggling and pretending that it doesn't need to be dealt with.
Similarly, my husband has what we call "the suit", a workwear coverall that he uses to shingle a roof, crawl under the deck, transplant trees, or dig out a foundation. Instead of getting it washed, he takes the suit off after the job is completed, rolls it into a ball, and stuffs it in the shed. I search for it because I want to wash it. He gives me excuses: "It's just going to get dirty again", or "It's going to wreck the washer." But it's so easy for me to clean, and it brings me joy!
What if Christ wants to deal with our sin that way? He eagerly waits for us to come back to Him, as seen in the parable of the lost son. After all, it was for the very purpose of giving His life for the forgiveness of our sin that He came. And doing that brings Him joy!
Hebrews 12:2b – 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. (NIV)
Friends, let us not deprive our Saviour of the joy of forgiving our sin. Let's not make excuses, remembering that He wants to do this for us and that we can share in the joy of our spiritual laundry day! Pray with me:
Prayer: Lord, may I eagerly come to You with the messiness of my life. Help me to see those areas where I roll my sin into a ball and stuff it somewhere that I don't have to deal with it. Open my ears and my heart so that I can turn and be healed. Amen.
Ephesians 2:8 – God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. (NLT)
"I can't believe that I didn't think of that earlier. I made it so difficult," my wife said.
A friend and I lounged at our favourite fast-food restaurant, shooting the breeze, while our wives walked to a nearby retail store. My friend had lost a lot of weight due to recent health problems and needed a pair of pants that fit him.
Our wives soon returned and plopped down beside us. Mine immediately took out a fingernail file and began working on a pocketbook that belonged to her friend. Fabric had caught in the zipper and had stuck fast.
After efforts with the nail file were unsuccessful, my wife asked for my pocketknife. She cut a few slices, to no avail. After ten minutes of struggling with the stubborn zipper, she inserted the fingernail file between the sides of the zipper, and it immediately separated, freeing up the fabric. With a sigh and a laugh, she realized how difficult that she had made something so simple.
This immediately reminded my friend and me of God's freeing grace. The apostle Paul had experienced it, taught it, and lived it. Before meeting Christ, he had been a legalist to the core. His life had been about following all the rules, even those that God hadn't given. Now, it was all about freedom.
Grace is freeing, just as the fabric and the contents of the pocketbook were freed by the separated zipper. My wife attempted to approach the problem in the usual way — unzipping the zipper — when all that she had to do was to open the pocketbook another way.
Grace is the other way — the only way that works. Any other way makes it more difficult than it needs to be. When we place our faith in Christ, His grace forgives our sins and frees us from their chains. Now, we can do what we didn't want to do before: obey His commands.
Grace, however, isn't a license to live recklessly. We misunderstand God's grace if we think that we don't have to worry about sin anymore because Christ has forgiven all our sins. When we understand what grace cost God — the life of His Son – we will want to please Him by staying as far away from sinful and spiritually harmful situations as possible. Like soldiers in sync, we'll march to the tune of holiness.
If you have experienced the freeing power of God's grace, show your appreciation through obedience. If you have not, now is the time to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and receive that grace.
Prayer: Father, thank You for offering Your grace and for making it easy to run into Your loving arms. Amen.
John 15:17 – This is my command: Love each other. (NIV)
I have the pleasure of spending a great deal of time with my five-year-old grandson. He has a kind and loving nature and models for me quite regularly what it means for us to love each other.
One day, I accidentally damaged the mechanism for raising and lowering the drawbridge of his knight's castle. His response? "That's okay. Friends are more important." With those few words, he let me know that the people in his life are of far greater value to him than his precious knight's castle.
On another occasion, we were playing a bingo type of game for small children called "Zingo". I was hoping that he would win, because, in my experience, boys tend to be naturally competitive and can become upset when they lose. But much to my surprise, after he won the first game, he turned to me and said, "I hope you win the next game." Such generosity of spirit restores one's faith in humanity.
Another recent example was his offering of one of his cookies to me because I was his "sweetie" grandma. His words were sweeter than I'll ever be!
I don't know about you, but I often struggle with knowing what it means to comply with Christ's command to love each other. How can we possibly love everybody? How can we show constant love in our day-to-day lives? What my grandson says seems to me to be a good model because his direct and simple words clearly reflect loving-kindness. Our words can, too: heartfelt words of appreciation to a cashier, server, or delivery person; compassion, consideration, and affirmation in intimate conversations; terms of endearment.
I regularly see signs in stores, restaurants, and other public spaces thanking people for their patience and warning that offensive language and rudeness will not be tolerated. These signs became ubiquitous during the pandemic when everyone was in distress. The fact that these signs have not been taken down makes me think that simple and well-chosen words of loving-kindness in everyday interactions are needed now more than ever.
Let's pay attention to our words and the tone and manner in which we say them. In that way, we can obey Christ's command in small but important ways each and every day.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to find apt words to say to all those with whom we cross paths in our daily lives. You know how hard it is for us to show constant love — particularly in these troublesome times when there is fear, conflict, and a general decline of civility in our society. Guide us to discover new opportunities to show loving-kindness and a deeper understanding of how we can connect with each person we meet in a loving and meaningful way. Amen.
Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (NIV)
As I begin each day, I try to keep this passage at the forefront of my mind. I admit that on some days, I am better at this than on others.
On this particular day, I had made the last payment on my car, and all the paperwork was done. I was elated not to have car payments anymore. However, as my husband and I drove home that day, one of the hottest days of the year, it soon became apparent that the air conditioning was not working. The car soon became warm, and my elated heart began to be deflated as I thought, What is this going to cost? I know that air conditioning diagnosis and repairs can be very costly. As I mulled this over, my husband suddenly said, "It is probably just the cabin air filter," to which my thoughts were still, Yeah, right! That would be too easy a fix. When we got home, he said, "If I am right, we need to wait and let the condenser defrost. It froze from the clogged cabin air filter." I removed the cabin air filter, and, yes, it was dirty, but I still did not have a lot of hope. We had lunch and then I went back out and started the car with the dirty filter lying on the floor of the car. Much to my surprise, the air conditioner began pumping out cold air. A new cabin air filter is installed, and I am good to go.
How is it that one moment we can be so elated and the next feel so deflated? As believers, we should be able to take our thoughts captive. Why is it that at times we can so easily lose sight of this? As I mull it over, I am reminded that even Moses, who walked very closely with the Lord, often felt defeated.
Numbers 11:11 – He asked the Lord, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?" (NIV)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
If we follow this advice in situations such as I faced, our whole outlook will change, and we will be saved a lot of stress and undue worry.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we are sorry for the times when our flesh takes over and we stray from the hope that we have in You. Help us in our times of unbelief and when we feel deflated. Help us to show the world the hope that we have in You and in the things unseen. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
We were shopping in the city when the call came. Seven-year-old Ade had fallen on the school playground and needed to go to the hospital. As we travelled to the school, my daughter, Mary, and I discussed the best thing to do, as our van was loaded with groceries, and it would be several hours of waiting at the emergency room.
We decided to pick up Ade and go immediately to the hospital, where I would drop mom and daughter off, then turn around and drive home with my youngest granddaughter, who was also with us. Together, Lindy and I would unload the vehicle and feed the dogs. My son-in-law, who was out of town, would swing by the hospital on his way home and pick up Mary and Ade once the doctors had finished treatment.
Five hours later, Ade arrived home with her left arm in a splint and sling. The arm had been fractured just above her elbow and would be stabilized by this contraption for the next six to eight weeks, until the bone healed.
As adults, we were relieved that surgery was not required to pin the bone, but Ade was devastated. To her, the summer was ruined. No more baseball. No swimming at her friend's birthday swim party the next week. No swimming —period — until August, for that matter. Her list went on and on as tears poured down her cheeks. Along with the splint and sling, much listening and positive emotional support was required for several days before she was able to calm down, accept what had happened, and start to make the best of the situation until the arm mended.
This incident sparked me to consider the fact that when life fractures the hopes and dreams of those around us, we, as God's people, should be quick to reach out to be a splint and sling of comfort and healing support for them, as they heal. The Scriptures remind us what to do:
Romans 12:14-15 – Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (NIV)
Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (NIV)
1 Peter 3:8b – Be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. (NIV)
Reaching out in support of others often requires the sacrifice of much listening and positive emotional support. Accepting fractured hopes and dreams is not easy for most people. Broken hearts and loss take their toll and must be worked through for health and healing to occur, whether it be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. May we, God's children, be there to stabilize and support our friends, and yes, even our enemies, amidst their times of brokenness, just as Christ did and does for us, each and every day. Pray with me:
Prayer: Lord, make me a splint and sling of support for those whose lives have been fractured. In Christ's name, I ask. Amen.
Luke 13:7-9 – And he said to the vinedresser, "Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?" And he answered him, "Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down." (ESV)
Life in the garden is always on the move, seen and unseen. Animals lie dormant and then wake up, seeds are sown and come to life, and caterpillars change into butterflies and deposit their eggs. Meanwhile, a text message tells me that a member of our church has arrived safely home from the hospital, having given birth to a lovely, healthy girl. Mum and dad have become parents for the first time. Life is always on the move towards its intended outcome.
Earlier this year, I visited the local mart that sells plants, trees, and flowers, and I found a pear tree that was marked down at a third of its original price. It looked totally dead, hence the discount. I love a good bargain, so, along with a healthy-looking apple tree, I thought that I would save it from destruction, as its relatively low cost was worth a risk. Akin to the advice in today's passage, I dug a hole in a well-watered part of the garden and added some plant food pellets as it was planted.
For several days, I visited the pear tree to see if there were any signs of life, to which the answer was none. Consequently, I cut the top of the solitary upward spike. If there were to be any hope of life, the auxins (plant growth hormones), which had failed to promote growth at the apex, would be stimulated and redirected into the numerous brown nodules further down the stem. I decided to call in the Vinedresser in this matter, and I prayed for Jesus to bring life into this small fruit tree.
Now some weeks later in the warmer weather, I can see more than a dozen bundles of green leaves, up to half an inch long, shooting out on the stem. Amazing. Hallelujah!
Sometimes out of our dead and dormant hearts, God calls us to ask Him to bring life. Unseen to the world, Jesus is calling us to pray for ourselves, our children, and those for whom we feel led, as we meet them, because Jesus is in the practice of bringing new life where there seems to be no hope. He takes us on into eternity within His kingdom.
Prayer: Lord, in the midst of all the gloom, despair, poverty, and war, in contrast, may we pray for Your life to show forth for Your kingdom in us and onward through us to those around us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
We live in an interesting age. Some people need a cellphone because it has an app that helps them to find their car keys. Then, they need a landline to call their cellphone to find it!
On the other hand, I know a person who has just reached her hundredth birthday. She doesn't forget anything; she is as sharp as a tack, having instant recall. What a gift!
Trinity College, Dublin, released this interesting idea after extensive research: "We create countless memories as we live our lives but many of them we forget. Why? Counter to general assumption that memories simply decay with time, 'forgetting' might not be a bad thing — that is according to scientists who believe … we learn to forget some memories while retaining others that are important." – ScienceDaily.
This kind of forgetfulness can also lead to a forgetfulness of God. In an evening service, we had sung the opening song and were asked to close our songbooks. Then we were asked the name of the song that we had just sung. Not one person could call it to mind. It was a wake-up call to all of us.
Moses was aware of this tendency in his people. So, he reminds them repeatedly in Deuteronomy:
Deuteronomy 8:11 – Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. (NIV)
Forgetting is a constant theme in the Bible.
Psalm 78:11-13 – They forgot what he had done. the wonders he had shown them. He did miracles in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan. He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand firm like a wall. (NIV)
The apostle Paul writes: "One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13b-14 NIV)
My constant prayer is that I will never forget God's Word, and I hope that that is your prayer, too.
Now, what was I going to input next? Oh, yes! I forgot — the closing prayer!
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, forgive us for allowing the life that You gave us to lead us to forgetting You. We know that spiritual amnesia can set in quickly, covering the eyes of our hearts. We come to You now with gratitude and thanksgiving as we remember all that You have done for us. Help us never to forget Your Word, that we might not sin against You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Mark 6:2 – When the Sabbath came, [Jesus] began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him that he even does miracles!" (NIV)
Over many years of being a pastor, one of the saddest things about ministry that I experienced was the number of people who took their faith for granted and attended church infrequently. No matter how hard that I tried to encourage them to be at worship on Sundays, they often had something else to do with family or friends. They simply believed that God would indulge their lack of dedication to His Son, and just turn a blind eye, allowing them to do what they wanted.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus, Who knows God more personally than we could ever imagine, was always in synagogue on the Sabbath. He wouldn't dishonour God by neglecting to worship and study on the special day set aside for glorifying His Father. He could have been exempt and gone elsewhere. He could have communicated with God wandering in the flowered fields or hiking the hills. He could have enjoyed the company of family and friends, but instead, He chose to worship God in His house with His people.
There are many people who have given up on church attendance, and a new generation of what's called "nones" has arisen. This term comes from those who respond to surveys about religion with "atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular", and are combined into a category called "religiously unaffiliated", widely known as "nones". They believe in their own version of God, a supreme being who watches over them and who will receive them into His kingdom after death. That's the biggest lie the devil has spread, and, sadly, many of the nones will not realize it until it's too late.
If weekly worship in God's house was important for Jesus, then shouldn't it be our priority, too?
Psalm 122:1 – I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." (NIV)
Matthew 18:20 – For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (NIV)
Point to ponder: How often do I attend church on Sundays? What would Jesus do?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, many of us have made up our own image of a god who is an indulgent father or grandfather, who lets us do what we want, and whose infinite compassion will overlook our lack of faith. You never said that. You never taught it. You never lived that way, either. Teach us with Your astounding knowledge, and guide us back into Your Father's house on a weekly basis, so that we may truly be Your followers and God's servants. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Sweet cherries are not grown in Alberta, Canada, so when my husband and I travel to the neighbouring province of British Columbia, we sometimes buy a 20-pound box of them. We can't eat the whole boxful, so I like to bottle them for winter enjoyment. Most of the cherries grown commercially come from the Okanagan, a warm and dry region in the centre of the province. Since we go through this area on our way to visit friends on Vancouver Island, it's easy to pick up a box at one of the many fruit stands along the highway.
When we arrived at our friends' house one July, Terry carried in the box of cherries that we had bought, to keep them cool in the basement. For several days, we were busy, and I didn't really think about our fruit. "Do you want me to process your cherries for you?" asked my friend, Marion. She and I have been friends since we were teenagers; we are kindred spirits. I would sew clothes and make gifts for her children, and she would share her wisdom when I asked a multitude of child-rearing questions. I was overwhelmed by her offer and tried to protest. Bottling cherries seemed like a big job to me, especially for a friend who was hosting us as well. Marion was determined, however.
"I love you, and I want to do this for you," was her reply. Gratefully, I accepted. We ended up with a couple of dozen jars of beautiful cherries to take home.
1 Peter 4:10 – God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. (NLT)
Not only were the already-bottled cherries an unexpected gift in my eyes, but more important was my friend's gift of service to me. Marion certainly served others well, right at the point of their need.
God has built into each one of us a spiritual gift — or sometimes several — a motivating force in our lives. We tend to act according to these gifts. They shape our entire personalities. They are not to be hugged to ourselves, though. Gifts are meant to be given, to benefit others, and for God's glory.
Even though I've highlighted an example of the type of person who loves to serve, it's important to note that we are all encouraged to serve, despite any other motivational gift that we may have. We can't sit back and think, It's not my gift, I'll let someone else do the work. Jesus is our prime example, as He washed the dirty feet of His disciples, a job that only the lowliest of servants was to do. We all need to follow Jesus' example and serve each other.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus' outstanding example of serving others. May we be quick to see needs around us, and step in to meet them. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Genesis 3:7,8b – At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. … So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. (NLT)
Young children can hide in the craziest places.
"Levi, do you want to play hide-and-seek with Pop?"
"Okay."
"You hide, and Pop will find you."
I sat in my recliner. He scampered off for the kitchen.
"Ready or not, here I come," I called as I headed to where I knew he was.
I found him standing in the middle of the kitchen floor with only his hands over his eyes. In his young mind, he thought that that action would keep me from seeing him.
Seems silly, but we adults don't do much of a better job trying to hide from God. God placed Adam and Eve in a pristine environment with everything that they could ever want at their fingertips. But they weren't satisfied. Fruit from the one tree that God said was off-limits lured them. A slithering serpent (Satan) provided the enticement, but they still had the power to say "No."
After they had done the deed, they experienced an emotion that they'd never felt before: shame. They had violated God's express command, and they attempted to cover the guilt by sewing together fig leaves. But they soon discovered that leaves couldn't keep God from seeing them any more than my grandson's hands could keep me from observing him.
Fast forward a few thousand years, and we find religious leaders attempting to cover their guilt, too … but with different things. They tried to hide behind a façade of good works. Jesus told them that they were just white-washed tombs full of dead bones. He could see beneath their outside.
I've sewn a few sets of fig leaves myself. They may have consisted of good works, community organizations, beneficial relationships, or positions in my local church.
Yet, none of these — or anything else — can erase feelings of guilt. There are just not enough fig leaves. True guilt comes when we violate or ignore God's commands — or Him. Christ paid for whatever we've done, and confession — not fig leaves — will alleviate the guilt. We can't work to repay what we couldn't buy in the first place, nor can we ever be good enough to place God under obligation to us. All that He requires is heartfelt sorrow.
Take the only true plan of action for dealing with guilt: "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (1 John 1:9 NLT)
Prayer: Father, I give my guilt to you. I realize that only the blood of Christ can cover it. Amen.
When I was two years old, we emigrated from England to Canada. Over the years, I have made numerous trips back to England both as a child and as an adult. My most recent trip was in May 2024, in which I took the ashes of both my parents back to the Garden of Remembrance in Failsworth, England. Before we emigrated to Canada, my father worked on the making of that garden, which made it even more compelling to take their ashes back.
During the three days that I spent there, I experienced many different emotions. I saw the house in which we lived before we came to Canada. I also went back to the area where my grandparents lived. Standing there, I could see in my mind's eye the memories of the past. I walked the street from their home to the corner shops and noted that everything seemed much closer than I remembered. I even bought two roses from a florist there.
I can now look back and see the hand of God in the people that I came across, from the flight attendant who assisted me in a difficult time, to the hotel staff who helped me when the airline lost my luggage, to the bus drivers and numerous people who directed me to the right buses, right down to the lady in the flower shop with whom I shared my heart. It was as if God were loving me through them.
I felt such a strong emotional pull towards my old home and people whom I did not even know, and I cannot explain it even now. Often, as my heart was experiencing the love of these wonderful people, the hardest emotion that I had to work through was grief. I could not shake the feeling, "What if we hadn't left?" I asked myself, "Why did we leave?" though I knew why, as my parents often spoke of the sacrifice that they had made for me and my brother in leaving their home and family in their native land to give us a better chance in life.
As I have processed my thoughts, I have felt the love of Jesus through these days. Out of love for us and to give us a better life, He was willing to leave His home in glory to come to earth and offer His life as a sacrifice for the sins of humankind. Although I may think of my earthly home being in England, I find comfort knowing that my real spiritual home is in Jesus.
Philippians 3:20 – But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)
Let us rejoice and thank Him for that!
Prayer: Dear Jesus, oh, what a day it will be when we are reunited with You in our heavenly home! Until then, help us to show people Who You are and lead them to the rich treasure that awaits them in heaven. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (NIV)
There are a number of renovation television shows which I really enjoy. I find it both fascinating and awesome to see how a good contractor can transform a poorly functioning home into something totally different so that it works for the family living within. The contractors are able to look at the existing building and see the possibilities and potential therein, then to use their skills to bring about the reality of positive change. As long as the foundational structure of a home is solid, they can do just about anything in regard to redesigning the original space. In fact, by the time the renovation is completed, the transformation is so amazing that it's hard to believe that it's even the same structure.
Likewise, when we come to Christ, the solid foundation, He sees and knows our potential — all that is possible within us. As we yield to the power of His Spirit's leading, we, too, become transformed creations. The acts of our sinful nature, which reigns before our commitment to Christ, are described in Scripture this way: quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, envy, selfish ambition, dissension, division, hostility, impurity, lustful pleasures, sexual immorality, idolatry, sorcery, drunkenness, wild parties, and other like sins. Committing ourselves to Christ as Lord and Saviour and seeking daily to lay our decisions, thoughts, speech, and actions before Him, however, changes everything within in us as His Holy Spirit quietly works to renew our hearts and minds, gradually bringing about our reconstruction as God's holy people.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — the fruit of the Spirit — gradually transform us from the inside out. In fact, by the time Christ is finished with some people, it may be hard to believe that they are the same persons. They may physically look the same, but both inwardly and outwardly, a totally amazing transformation has occurred.
Renovating a house is very expensive, and may be completed in a relatively short period. Jesus offers the grace of His love and forgiveness freely to anyone who chooses to believe — God's gift to mankind that when accepted has the power to begin a lifetime of quiet inner renovations that mold and shape us into all that God intends us to be.
How's life going for you these days? Are you perhaps in need of that inner renovation of the heart and mind that only Christ, the master contractor, can provide? If so, I urge you to take a moment and pray this prayer.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I need You and believe in You. Come into my life and forgive my sins, for which I am truly sorry. Help me daily to turn my life over to You, that I may reach my full potential and be all that you intend for me to be. In Your name, I pray. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 – I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (ESV)
It was a typical Sunday morning with a full house ready for worship. The singing and music were uplifting, the prayers were heartfelt, and God was obviously moving by His Spirit. What wasn't typical was the fact that I had had an unusually long, stressful week, and the sermon didn't go as well as I had hoped, both in preparation and delivery. By God's grace, I made it through the service and walked to the main entrance to greet the congregation as we shook hands and encouraged each other at the beginning of a new week.
As the final few people were leaving, a prominent member of our congregation looked me straight in the eye and said, "Well, that's the worst sermon I have ever heard you preach." He was right, of course, but I don't remember my response, if there was a response. I do remember feeling emotionally exhausted and humbled as my mind raced in all directions to come to grips with what I had just heard. By the following Sunday, I had come to the conclusion that rather than being a failure for me, this was a wake-up call. I didn't quit the ministry, but rather chose to be back in the pulpit to preach the Word because I had received a charge from God to do so.
In today's verses, Paul was encouraging Timothy to preach the Word even when the truth is awkward, difficult, or resisted. Timothy was to focus his ministry on communicating God's revealed truth as the Holy Spirit guarded his heart and mind while he maintained complete patience and teaching to reach their hearts.
Paul was reminding both you and me that serving as a pastor, ministry leader, musician, singer, usher, children's worker, or whatever we do in Christian ministry, we are to do it as a child of God enjoying a healthy relationship with Him, which becomes the foundation for everything which flows from our ministry.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name as we gather in prayer to express our heartfelt gratitude for pastors and all those who tirelessly serve Your people. We ask for Your grace to renew their sense of purpose each day. May their steps be guided by Your divine wisdom, and may they find strength in Your Word through the Holy Spirit. We thank You for all those who are involved in and support Christian ministry and for the profound impact that they have on our lives as they navigate the challenges of ministry. Grant them a clear vision of the lives they touch and the life-changing role that they play. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen!
Mark 4:38 – Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" (NIV)
Sometimes, I get frustrated with God, especially when my prayers of concern take a while to be answered. I'm usually a patient person, but when I get anxious, I can't help feeling that God is either ignoring me or doesn't understand the situation. I can remember years ago, when a church staff member created an almighty conflict in the congregation that I served, how vexed I was because I was being falsely blamed for their misconduct. I repeatedly prayed to God to deal with the situation and make others understand the truth. I even spelled out to God how to do it and wondered if He really cared about what I was unjustly enduring. Eventually, it was positively resolved, but I still carry some pain from that unsettling time.
In today's highlighted verse, I hear the same anxiety and frustration in the voices of the disciples who are caught in a terrifying storm as they try to cross Lake Galilee. While the waves are violently crashing against the boat and the wind is fiercely howling, they are terrified about losing their lives. Meanwhile, Jesus is sleeping soundly at the boat's stern, resting on top of a cushion. The disciples can't believe that He is so totally unaware of their predicament, and so they anxiously shout at Him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
Christ awakes from His deep sleep and responds to their pleas by stilling the storm. The wind and waves become calm; the situation is dealt with; they can now resume crossing over to the other side. Jesus probably went back to sleep again, leaving His disciples no longer anxious, but completely bewildered. They now ask among themselves, "Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey Him!" (Mark 4:41b NIV)
Perhaps you're presently anxious about something beyond your control. Maybe you're also waiting for God to answer your prayers of concern. It may take time to be accomplished, but please know this: God hears your prayers and knows what needs to be done.
Jeremiah 29:12 – Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. (NIV)
Point to ponder: What currently concerns me? How am I asking God for help?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know everything about our lives, especially the situations and worries that we presently endure. Help us to remain faithful to You as we hand over all our anxious concerns and deepest issues. Calm the storms in our lives and enable us to continue our journey with You. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Almost a year ago, I was in between two options concerning a major decision in my life, and I was really expecting a definite answer from God. During those two weeks, I wasn't settled, and I didn't do a lot of my normal, necessary activities. I was so disorganized, drained, and troubled; it was a terrible time.
Isaiah 40:31 – But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (KJV)
In this verse, God assures us that the results of waiting upon Him are not just renewal, but a dramatic elevation in both strength and energy. He says that we will be neither weary nor fainting. So, the question is: why did my situation seem like the exact opposite of God's promises? It was because I didn't understand that in God's waiting room, I was in His presence, and "in [His] presence is fulness of joy". (Psalm 16:11b KJV) King Solomon gives us a perfect example of what to do in God's waiting room:
Ecclesiastes 9:7 – Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. (KJV)
This Scripture does not mean living carelessly or becoming drunk while trying to forget yourself. It simply means that you shouldn't look like you're having problems; don't allow your problems to define you; never be afraid to take time off to take care of yourself. Your physical and mental health, and the whole of your being, are important to God.
Are you one who has been going through difficult times, perhaps waiting for God's intervention for years whilst standing on His promises? I want to encourage you not to let yourself go. Don't stop eating, laughing, interacting with others, using your talents, touching lives, impacting your world, and telling others that God loves them and that He answers prayers. It might be hard, but once you are in God's waiting room, the best thing to do is to relax and trust in Him.
Are you in God's waiting room? Do you feel like this Scripture is talking about you? Are you the individual who, against hope, believes in God? Please take Ecclesiastes 9:7 as something that you can do while being profitable to God and man, and Isaiah 40:31 will be fulfilled in your life.
Prayer: Dear Lord, give us strength in Your waiting room, anoint us with the oil of gladness, and answer our prayers. Amen.
James 3:10 – Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. (NIV)
A few weeks ago, I was standing in line at my local drugstore when I overheard an interaction between a customer and the pharmacy assistant.
"Mrs. X, how are you doing today?" I looked back to see who Mrs. X was because of the kindness of the assistant's voice.
Mrs. X answered, "Do you really want me to tell you how I am feeling today?"
Everyone within earshot turned to listen to the exchange between Mrs. X and the assistant, and we chuckled upon hearing her reply. She was leaning on her cane, and she looked frail.
But I was astonished as she continued, "I would like to give you an honest answer, but I cannot lie out of the mouth that I pray with." What a profound statement!
I thought, "Wow! This lady is a godly woman." She certainly had great respect for the Bible.
Since that day, I have thought about her often. Mrs. X knew something that most people wouldn't want to admit to: lying is easy, and whether it is a small lie or a big one, it is still a lie. It also taught me a lesson: going forward, before I open my mouth to tell even an "innocent" lie, I will remember Mrs. X's response. I also hope that the group of people who overheard her response to the pharmacy assistant also learned something from Mrs. X's words about lying that day.
As I pondered her statement, I realized that I must acknowledge and take responsibility for every one of my previous little lies. Since then, I have prayed about them and have asked God for His forgiveness. I am now very conscious of every word that comes out of my mouth because I fear God's wrath. Revelation 21:8b warns all unforgiven liars that "their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (NIV) Ouch!
God doesn't like lying lips. Proverbs 6:16-17 tells us that "a lying tongue" is among the seven things that are detestable to the Lord, and Proverbs 19:9 states that "A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish." (NIV) Then in Colossians 3:9a, Paul commands, "Do not lie to each other". (NIV)
How do you feel about all those little white lies now? Pray with me:
Prayer: Dear God, before I speak, You know the words that I am about to utter from my lips. I am approaching Your throne today with a heavy heart. Forgive me for all the small or large lies that I have uttered from my lips. Lord God, help me to be conscious of every word that I speak from my mouth from this day forward. For this I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
After four years, the time has come once again for the Olympic games! The wall-to-wall excitement this summer has already started with each nation's team selections in June and continues on with the opening ceremony along the Seine River in Paris on Friday, July 26, followed by the Olympics and the Paralympics. We all cheer for our own country's competitors and rejoice when they win a medal. But the moment passes quickly, and it's on to the next event. The competitor who just missed receiving a medal is quickly forgotten even though they were behind by only a fraction of a second or a whisker of an inch.
Simply making the national team can be as rigorous as the actual Olympic competition. Here's an example. I watched the swimming trials for the American Olympic team and learned that there were over 1,000 swimmers who qualified to try out for about 50 spots on the swimming team. The pool of competitors was quickly narrowed down to eight finalists in each event. I was rooting for one swimmer in the women's 100-meter breaststroke final. She was a local girl, and I had watched her in local high school swim meets. Only the top two finishers were placed on the team, however, and she missed a spot on the Olympic team by only a fraction of a second. I'm sure that her oh-so-close finish time will be forever etched on her heart. Heartbreak!
Proverbs 15:13 – A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit. (NLT)
Yes, the winner is elated, but the runner-up is quickly forgotten. One of my own runner-up moments — though mild in comparison to missing a spot on the Olympic team! — was a misspelled word in our county spelling contest. I have never misspelled "rhythm" since that day, however!
All of us can remember times of disappointment when something didn't turn out as we had hoped. Maybe it was a job that we had hoped for but did not get, or a car or a house dream that did not work out. There might have been disappointments in love, or grief due to a wrong decision.
We frequently hear the platitude that our struggles make us stronger. How so? On the most basic level, we learn that we can survive heartbreak and that life does go on. Our experience may help us through another disappointment that later on comes our way. Occasionally we realize in retrospect that our wish would not have turned out well. If nothing else, we can recognize that there is a rhythm (See? I got it right!) to life with joy and heartache taking turns along the way.
When we are overwhelmed with grief or disappointment, let's turn to God for comfort and compassion, for "He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds." (Psalm 147:3 NLT)
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, we know that You guide each step that we take, and You know well our sorrows and disappointments. May we trust You to carry us through these disheartening times while we also remember good times. Amen.
Isaiah 6:5b – My eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty. (NIV)
Psalm 47:6b-7a – Sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth. (NIV)
In 1956, when I was eight years old, I had a little girlfriend I played with. We played dolls, school, and jump rope, but there are two things that I most remember about her. One was that we watched Elvis Presley on the Ed Sullivan Show at her house. Squealing, our little eight-year-old hearts stopped as we danced to the beautiful voice of the handsome idol.
The second memory was going to Bible School with her one humid summer night. I climbed up into the car and my friend and I giggled all the way, as little girls are prone to do, even in the dreadfully hot car. They led us to a stuffy room with other second graders who all sat on tiny coloured chairs with just the right-sized table for little kids. A pleasant lady, who patted my shoulder as she passed, handed me a piece of red construction paper and another piece of gray paper. They put the glue in the centre of the table, along with crayons, to copy what she wrote on the blackboard. These words would become the most important words that I had heard in my young life. For the first time, I learned that I could pray to God. The friendly teacher read from the Bible that Jesus' friends asked Him to teach them how to pray. I wondered why these men would ask Jesus this. Did they notice a difference in Jesus after He had talked to the God of heaven? "Teach Us to Pray" she had written on the board in perfect cursive, as the story unfolded from the worn Bible of the one who held it. "You and I, too, can talk to God," she said with such love in her voice. I glued the sheets together and cut lopsided lips to finish my masterpiece. I left that little room knowing that I could talk to God. The hot evening ended with a singing of "Jesus loves me", which also rang out as a testimony about this new friend I had found.
As soon as I could, I tried out this promise that they had given me that evening. Most of my prayers started like a letter. "Dear God," I would begin.
I guess that my faded piece of paper with "Teach Us to Pray" must by now be more than 65 years old — a genuine antique in anyone's book. The brittle, faded paper takes me back to the most important lesson that I ever learned.
It is funny in a way that my young heart was stopped by the King of Rock and Roll who sang "Love Me Tender" but my heart was blessed eternally by the King of kings Who loved me tenderly and taught me to pray.
What story can you tell about meeting the King of kings?
Prayer: Praise You, our dear God, for giving us that most wonderful gift of being able to talk to You. Amen.
One late evening a couple of years ago, I was playing a word game on my phone as I usually do. In those days, I would put my phone on airplane mode so that I wouldn't get ads while playing the game. I rarely got phone calls at that time of day, and, so far, it hadn't been a problem. But on this occasion, I was startled to hear my daughter pounding on my door at 10 p.m. "Mom! Mom!" she frantically yelled. "You had your phone turned off, and I couldn't call you! I think I'm having a heart attack! Open the door!"
My daughter and her husband had recently bought a home in my recreational vehicle park, but he was away in Ohio. She had managed to get into the golf cart and drive the short distance between our houses.
She flopped down on the couch, clutching her chest. "Mom, it really hurts. I think this is real." And it was! She had no history of heart issues, but a trip to emergency turned into a hospital admission, and the next day, she had a stent put in due to a blocked artery.
Since this episode, I use my tablet to play my game!
John 15:4a,5 – Remain in me, and I will remain in you. … Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (NLT)
For a short time each evening, I had disconnected myself from contact with friends and family. I didn't think that it was a big deal, but that evening, it was. Sometimes, we disconnect ourselves from God — and that is a big deal. How do we know if that has happened?
- Our desire to spend time with God dwindles.
- Daily devotions feel like a burden; we read mechanically to check it off our list, or we don't do them anymore.
- We're easily distracted from connecting with God by the news, social media, or life's daily interruptions.
- It becomes easier to stay home and watch the church service on television instead of going to church to fellowship with other Christians — or not participating in worship at all on Sunday morning.
Staying connected to God requires focus and self-discipline. It means that we start our day with Him and give Him priority in our lives. It means that we might need to pray, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." (Psalm 139:23-24 NLT) Rapper Macklemore states: "My relationship with God is as strong as the time and energy I put into connecting with God."
How much time and energy are we willing to invest?
Prayer: Father, help us to be aware when we've allowed ourselves to be disconnected from You. We want to remain in Christ and produce much fruit. Amen.
Luke 7:40a – Then Jesus answered his thoughts. "Simon," he said to the Pharisee, "I have something to say to you." (NLT)
"You're in a 'spazzy' mood today. I'm sure you'll break something." The mind reader had struck again.
Let me clarify. I've never visited a mind reader, but I live with one. My wife and I have an uncanny ability to read each other's minds, and she was doing it again. She claims that it's because we're soulmates. Maybe she's right. I suppose that it comes from living together, spending quality time with each other, having similar likes and dislikes, and reaching for the same goals. When significant decisions approach, I know her answer, and she knows mine — even though we discuss the matter to make sure. Sometimes, it's freaky to think that someone else knows what I'm thinking.
I suppose that Simon the Pharisee felt the same. He had invited Jesus to his religious party. But Simon didn't invite the sinful woman who showed up, too. Why he didn't ask her to leave is a mystery.
As Simon watched the woman cry over Jesus' feet and anoint them with perfume, he assumed that the long-awaited Messiah would never allow a sinful woman like this to touch Him, so he concluded that Jesus couldn't be the expected One. Simon didn't know it, but Jesus read his thoughts — and then answered them with a story of two debtors who had their debts forgiven.
Knowing that Jesus can read our thoughts is comforting — yet disturbing. Comforting, because sometimes our situations are such that we can't adequately express what we want to say. The grief slices too deeply. The pain is almost unbearable. We can't put into words what we want to say. God assures us that we don't have to. Paul wrote, "But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words." (Romans 8:26b NLT)
Disturbing, because there are those times when I shudder to realize that Jesus knows what I'm thinking, times when my mind has wandered into areas it has no business travelling, times when I'm not thinking about things that are true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8) Jesus can help to reorient the direction of our minds as well — onto healthier turf.
Don't be afraid to let Jesus read your mind. Only good can come from it.
Prayer: Father, guide me to think on those things that honour Your name and build me up spiritually. Amen.
Ephesians 4:26-27 – "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (NIV)
In 2023, wildfires burned out of control in many parts of Canada. One such fire near the town of Fort Nelson in northern British Columbia destroyed thousands of forested acres. As winter arrived, the fires disappeared from view; they went underground. With the reappearance of spring and frost-free ground, however, the blazes surged to the surface and once again burned out of control.
This event reminds me of the fires which can burn deep within our hearts: fires of anger, hatred, pain, jealousy, and envy; fires kindled in our lives by various events or people; fires that we buried, for whatever reason, letting the sun go down upon them, instead of dousing them through the power of God's wisdom, love, and forgiveness.
The problem with burying such fires, however, is that we never know when they will make a resurgence within our lives, and when they do, the secondary blaze is often worse than the original one, for it has had time to fester and grow within our hearts. We have, in fact, given the devil time to stoke those fires, as we have secretly mulled them over in our minds, allowing ourselves to become more and more indignant, bitter, and even set upon getting revenge.
These inner blazes are very dangerous, for they damage us spiritually and emotionally. Left unconfronted, they become sin, and sin separates us from God. Even for Christians who are forgiven for their sin — past, present, and future — buried sin still blocks believers' full relationship with our heavenly Father. Sin blocks the Holy Spirit from moving freely within our lives, and the abundant life that Christ wants us to experience is diminished bit by bit as our underground fire continues to smolder and burn.
King David was well aware of the dangers and pitfalls of buried sin when he penned these words:
Psalm 32:3-5 – When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" — and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (NIV)
Do you have wrongful fires burning within your heart today, things you have sought to bury rather than confessing them for the sin that they are? If so, take heed from the psalmist. Confess them to the Lord and allow Him to help you to douse them with His love and forgiveness, once and for all. Pray with me:
Prayer: Lord God, search me and know me. If there be any sinful fire buried within my heart, draw it forth that I might deal with it forever, together. In Christ's name, I pray. Amen.
Genesis 28:12-13 – And [Jacob] dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder [or a flight of steps] set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, "I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac." (ESV)
Recently, I was in town to visit a shop to get a repair done in the arcade [shopping centre], but I was a bit early, so to pass the time, I went elsewhere in the mall to find a well-known discount store to see if there was anything of interest.
This was at the end of the arcade on the upper level, serviced by an escalator. However, the escalator, too, was closed, and it had a band across the bottom saying something like "Out of service". Fortunately, there were other escalators further up the concourse which I found to be working.
Having walked around to the discount store, I stood and waited outside and looked down from above the escalator. As I was looking, I wondered what was wrong with it.
As the store lifted up the shutters to the main entrance, someone came down to the escalator and switched it on. It appears that it was not broken at all! The barrier was there only to dissuade anyone from using it until such a time as the store was opened.
All this made me reflect upon Jacob's staircase or ladder, which God's messengers and agents (angels) apparently used to go about God's purposes. As I considered the earlier "Out of service" notice stretched across the escalator, I wondered what barriers we put across God's access into our lives. How different Jacob's life would have been but for the persistence, encouragement, and guidance of God into his experience!
I ask the question of us today: Is there anything in us that we may be holding onto which has become a barrier, preventing us from hearing God's Word and seeing God's action in our lives? In effect, are we saying to God, "We are out of service"? If only we could regain our focus on Jesus for a while, taking down the "Out of service" notice to God, then maybe, we would be able to see movement for the opportunities and messages that God sends first to us and then through us as His agents and messengers (angels) to others.
Prayer: Lord, we love You, knowing, like Jacob, that You first loved us. Forgive us for anything that has been a barrier to hearing and seeing You move in our lives today. We give You permission to break down the lies, issues, and excuses that we have used to put up an "Out of service" sign. Lord, have mercy on us and take away the fears and apprehensions we may have about the future and our walk with You, wherever it leads. This we pray in and through Jesus' name. Amen.
Mark 4:31 – God's kingdom is like a mustard seed, which is smaller than any other seed on earth that you can plant. (ERV)
Recently, I was travelling back from a church committee meeting with two other pastors. As we drove home, we talked about how a word preached at the right time to the right person can have a profound effect on their life. A short phrase, sentence, or illustration can impact someone in the pew and change their life forever. The Word of God, no matter how insignificant to other folks, never returns to Him empty.
I remember many years ago preaching in the Scottish country church that I served. I thought that my sermon was mediocre, a wee bit long-winded, and perhaps even boring. In the congregation that day was a visitor from Northern Ireland whom I had never met. Something that I said clicked with him, and when he went home, he gave up his successful job and business because he decided that his talents would better be used to help people in places where war and famine occurred. Within a couple of months, he used his skills to prepare, organize, and build 250,000 temporary shelters for refugees in Africa. Almost a million people were physically saved through his work, and all because some wee word of hope and challenge had been given in an unexceptional sermon. A mustard seed of faith had been planted in his heart, and it blossomed into an amazing work of deliverance given by God.
God doesn't just speak through sermons! Whenever we sincerely share God's Word, even in conversation, with words of comfort or challenge, the potential to change things for the better is always present. Perhaps, something that you share today — an exchange of ideas, a social media post, a phone conversation, or even a text — will have a profound effect on someone else's life. A mustard seed of faith may be included in your message, and God knows that it will not return to Him empty.
Isaiah 55:11 – So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)
Point to ponder: With whom can I share God's Word today?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your words of life have won our hearts and changed our lives. You have implanted seeds of faith within each of us. May we now sow those same seeds in the lives of others who need them, too. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
A stone tower, 32 metres (104 feet) high, stands on Svatobor, a hill near the town of Sušice in Czechia. Reconstructed in 1935, it serves as an observation point, allowing hikers and tourists a stunning view of Sušice and of the surrounding low mountain ranges. Our family was on holiday there, my mother's birthplace, the summer I was thirteen.
A gentle walk from the town brought us to a quaint stone chalet with this attached tower. My brother and I were eager to tackle the winding staircase inside it to reach the top. Around and around, we hurried as we climbed the stairs in a tight coil. Panting with the effort, our steps soon slowed. We had been counting the stairs, all 182 of them. "Boy, were we tired when we got up," reads my childhood diary. Although the view was wonderful, the exertion, probably combined with prolonged travel, jetlag, and a previous cold, really did me in. By the next evening, I had a fever, soon leading to pneumonia.
John 1:51 – Then [Jesus] said, "I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth." (NLT)
Just as narrow stairs were the only way to the top of the tower, Jesus is the only stairway to heaven — not a stairway that must be climbed, but more like a bridge that allows us access to God the Father.
Near the end of His earthly life, Jesus tried to prepare His disciples for His departure in the near future:
John 14:4-6 – "You know the way to where I am going." "No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (NLT)
Climbing the Sušice tower required exertion. Unlike other religions, Christians do not have to work to reach the promise of heaven.
John 6:63a – The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. (NLT)
Jesus accomplished our salvation by His sacrifice on the cross. Yet how often we fall into the trap of thinking that we are responsible to better ourselves, or to live a life good enough to win God's favour. How much better it is to rest in the work that Jesus has done on our behalf!
Unlike the physical effects of my overexertion, heaven will be worth it, far beyond the grasp of our minds presently limited by concepts of time and space.
Let us realize that as we grow in Christ here on earth, we are preparing ourselves for service in heaven. Let us rejoice in Jesus, our stairway to that wonderful place!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for providing a stairway, Jesus, so that we can be with You forever. Praise Your holy name! Amen.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (NIV)
I am amazed at what a simple smile can do for someone upon making eye contact with them. We cultivate the Father's garden, and the Holy Spirit takes it from there, producing the fruit of the Spirit in us. Even a genuine, non-verbal gesture like a smile is a reflection of our Lord Jesus Christ's light shining brightly into the darkness of someone else's life.
Every time when I venture out, whether walking on a trail in the park, shopping, or travelling on a bus or train, I find that I am able to give someone a brief exchange, a smile, or a compliment.
Recently, I was told about a brilliant and gifted boy about eleven years old who was engrossed in his iPad. I mentioned to his parents that I would say hello to him later. They said, "Good luck with that!" Apparently, he didn't speak to anyone except family members. I told them, "He will speak to me!" Hours later, I approached him with a big smile on my face and said, "Hello! I have been told that your name is Nathaniel. That was my dad's name." He answered, "Cool!" I went on to tell him something about my father, and eventually, I asked him what he was working on. He sat down, and I sat next to him, and he showed me the webpage and told me what he was working on. I shared my storytelling and writing skills with him, and we carried on a conversation. His parents couldn't believe it.
Every day, ordinary Christians share the fruit of the Spirit with others without realizing that they are being used by God. When we practice the using and sharing of the fruit, the Holy Spirit, Who is at work within us, sends us nourishment. God purposefully placed each of us here on earth to make a difference in the lives of others. Working for Jesus Christ has given me a sense of purpose and a new perspective on the world and the people in it.
Our Lord Jesus Christ expects us to use the fruit of the Spirit daily. With humility and wisdom, we can share this precious fruit with others to honour God every day.
Are you cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in your daily life? Are you looking after your Father's garden so that it can bear more fruit?
Prayer: Our gracious God, thank You for those fleeting moments when Your Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, especially when we interact with others. Lord Jesus, bless us with Your grace as we share Your love with others through a simple smile. Use us and mould us to be more like You in everything that we do in Your name. Amen!
I love doing jigsaw puzzles, so I was delighted to discover the puzzle table when I moved into our retirement community. This table, located in a central area of our building, is open to anyone who wants to help work on the puzzle. There are around a dozen of us who stop by from time to time to fit in a few pieces.
I've discovered that everyone has their own preferred method and style of working on a jigsaw puzzle — and they each think that theirs is the best way, of course! When I'm working on a puzzle by myself, I like to add an extra challenge by first separating out all of the border pieces, setting them aside, and then adding the border after I've completed the rest of the puzzle. None of my other puzzler friends here would stand for that sort of nonsense, however, so I have to cede many of my rights and preferences for completing a puzzle. Some like to sort pieces by colour, shape, or design, and must be frustrated when others mess up their organizing system. Some like to sit down for an hour or two, monopolizing the time and space. The worst problem, however, is when someone innocently inserts a piece — which seems to fit — in the wrong place, leaving the error for someone else to discover and correct.
Because we tend to work on our community puzzle individually, we don't really know who else is working on it. We have no laws or governing procedures for working on our puzzles, but there are a lot of unspoken understandings. Someone mysteriously gets to choose and spread out the new puzzle, but we should all be willing to turn the pieces right side up and be sure that none have dropped on the floor. No one can give up in disgust and put the puzzle away before it is completed. Caching the last piece so as to be the one to finish the puzzle is not allowed!
Working a puzzle in this way is similar to ways that we work together in Christian community. We each have talents, skills, and preferences that differ from everyone else's, and we must learn how to use them cooperatively for everyone's benefit. My way is not necessarily the only one or the best, and we all need to practice tolerance and extend grace to others. We need to recognize and allow for individual styles and strengths, focusing on working together harmoniously despite our differences in opinion and preference.
Philippians 2:3-4 – Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (NLT)
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, may we show grace and tolerance in our everyday dealings with others, especially those in Your family with whom we need to work in harmony and unity. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:12-13 – We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. (MSG)
One spring, I determined that I would be outside every morning as the sun came up. So, every evening before I went to bed, I would check on the very minute that the sun was due to come up. If it said 6:23 a.m., I was out there, not at 6:22 or 6:24 but at 6:23!
The first morning, I went out and positioned my chair in the right place so that I could see it peek over the horizon. The morning was perfect, crisp enough that I threw a blanket around my shoulders. The birds were singing, and I found myself rejoicing in the beauty all around me. The problem was that I couldn't see the sun until later because of the trees, houses, and barns that were in the way. On other days, I found that sometimes there were clouds that blocked the sun altogether. What's a girl to do now?
So, was I to believe that because I didn't see the sun in the place that I was looking, it wasn't there? Because I didn't see it until later, did it not rise on time? Could it be that on those days when I didn't see it at all, it was gone forever?
Many times, I look for God in much the same way. I position myself for just how God is going to react — or how I have instructed Him to act — only to find that in His wisdom, He did something different, perhaps even something that I didn't completely understand. Or maybe, though I thought myself to be in the right place spiritually, I wasn't. Was there unforgiveness that stood in the way?
Clouds! I know about clouds that block me from seeing God. Maybe, like me, you have depression that seems to cloud your view at times, or maybe things have been bad in your life for so long that a thick black cloud envelopes you until hope is just a memory. Sometimes, my view is blocked by very practical things like lack of sleep, being too busy to pray, or illness.
Did you ever think that God had forgotten all about what you prayed for, only later to find that He was there all the time, and the results came right on time?
In the meantime, that's where trust comes in. We have a sovereign God Who, in His love for us, does what He knows is best for us. It's up to us to learn how to believe in His love and trust in Him!
Prayer: Lord, help us to learn to trust You! Amen.
Psalm 139:14a – I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (KJV)
I love studying living things, and I was privileged to have a career in biological research. I used microscopes and microsurgery to examine the structure and function of organs in tiny critters, like insects and wood lice, and I was always amazed at how intricate the mechanics of living things can be. I also taught human physiology courses for students entering into the health sciences, and like King David, I would marvel at how the human body is wonderfully and intricately made. Some people admire the Mona Lisa and what the gifted artist, Leonardo da Vinci, needed to do to create this masterpiece. I marvel at the biological machines whose functions attest to our Creator Who brought life into existence.
Being a Christian in the biological sciences, I am also aware of popular atheists who use their faith in science to deny the existence of God, whereas science has inspired me to worship the One Who made us in His image. I recently wrote about Stephen Hawking and his denial that God existed. Another such atheist was Carl Sagan, who became a celebrity astronomer with his popular science program in the 1980s, Cosmos, and his novel, Contact, which was made into a major motion picture after his death. Rather than believe that the universe was created for us, he said, "For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring." He viewed the cosmos as a masterpiece, as is the Mona Lisa, but rather than acknowledge the master Creator, he gave the universe the ability to create itself. He worshipped the creation, not the Creator. As he said, "We are the representatives of the cosmos; we are an example of what hydrogen atoms can do, given 15 billion years of cosmic evolution."
Carl Sagan died in 1996, just 62 years old. He left at least one legacy based on his atheism: the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). These studies use vast resources listening to electromagnetic radiation and looking for other life forms in our massive universe. According to faith in evolution, since life arose by chance, it must have evolved in other worlds.
As Christians, we know that there is an Extraterrestrial Intelligence, but we don't need any technology to discover this truth. He has revealed Himself in His Word, the Bible, and in His works in nature. Let us listen carefully for His still small voice (1 Kings 19:12), and rejoice in His presence.
Prayer: Dear Lord, may Your peace rule our hearts, and may Your words richly dwell within us. You are our Creator, Saviour, and friend, and will be there at our end, when we will be with You in glory. Amen.
Psalm 100:4 – Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. (NLT)
On any given day, disappointments can be overwhelming, and conquering through praise doesn't come easily.
Enter the life of a middle school Language Arts teacher. For the first three weeks of school, the program that we use for grades, homework, lesson plans, lunch, announcements, and payment was up and down because our Internet was up and down.
On one particular day — as the students attempted to work through an online grammar exercise — the Internet dropped us at least fifteen times within forty minutes. Frustrating! Making lesson plans was challenging due to the intermittent connection. What normally took an hour took an entire day. Student lunch orders didn't process. One fellow teacher threatened to throw her computer out the window. I thought about it myself. Of course, all of this had nothing to do with our computers.
Since our lives as teachers are so dependent on the Internet, several weeks of issues tax us and make finding anything positive difficult. Of course, we have to toss in staff meetings, parent meetings, and other student-related matters.
Yet, many reasons to praise exist. We work in a smaller atmosphere where peer and student-teacher relationships are closer. Fights among students are almost non-existent. So is backbiting and jealousy among teachers and staff. We also get to bathe everything that we do in a Christian worldview. I can talk about Christ and biblical principles as often as I choose. In fact, I'm instructed to.
I've encountered some disappointing times during my lifetime. When I'm under a heavy load of whatever, it's challenging to discover the light — but there is one — and it is there for everyone if they want it to be.
Knowing Christ as Saviour gives us reason to praise Him. Realizing that all our sins — past, present, and future — were forgiven at the cross is worth shouting about. God is also omnipotent. He controls everything. The reason for the disappointment is immaterial. He has authority over the situation. Looking for the positive in all situations helps, too. We can see glasses of water as half full or half empty. The choice is ours.
Let us allow God to teach us how to use praise so that we can conquer disappointing times.
Prayer: Father, teach us to praise You even when it appears that we have no reason to do so. Amen.
I have been dealing with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) since being diagnosed back in 2023. In my life before AS, I was actively involved in daily exercise, which included walking and weight lifting. The absence of that lifetime activity has taken its toll on me both physically and mentally since I have lost most of my muscle mass.
I have wanted to regain my ability to walk, but to no avail. Good friends have loaned me their walkers to assist me in walking. These were fine as long as I stayed inside and walked the hallways. But I longed to get outside again, to feel the breeze and breathe in fresh air.
I tried taking a walker outside and walking in the park, but the rough terrain was beyond its capability. I began to wonder if there were a four-wheeled, stable walker that could be used to walk outside. Using Google, I found one for seniors with a seat and ten-inch, air-filled rubber wheels. It arrived at my door six days later, and I couldn't wait to use it outside, as my wife and I prepared to walk in our favourite park. It was perfect!
A few days later, I was demonstrating my new walker to my grandchildren and telling them that I had found a way to motorize it. As they listened, they were anxious to know about this motor. I played along with them and finally revealed that I was the motor. Their response gladdened my heart when they said, "Way to go, Grandpa!"
With renewed hope, I am now able to walk every other day in the fresh air, and it is exciting to feel the strength coming back into my body. Now, I can't wait to do a single set of a few repetitions with weights that would comfortably fatigue my wasted muscles.
Fortunately, our physical infirmities do not necessarily interfere with our spiritual freedom in Christ.
Isaiah 40:31 – But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (ESV)
And regardless of what we have to endure here on earth, there is always the hope of eternal joy in heaven, when God will remove all our infirmities.
Revelation 21:4 – He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (ESV)
We Christians can all rejoice in looking forward to walking and leaping and praising the Lord eternally!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the wise counsel found in Your Word. Help us pay attention to gaining wisdom and understanding, knowing that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Thank You that in Christ dwell all the treasures of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. In His name, we pray. Amen.
Matthew 5:14 – You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. (NIV)
I suppose that we have all had dreams concerning what we wanted to do when we grew up. Years ago, I was in a meeting when amidst our time of discussion, one person asked the group, "What did you want to be when you grew up?"
As we each shared, to everyone's surprise, none of us was doing what we had hoped or thought that we would be doing. Life had taken us in its own direction, or perhaps God's direction, for all of us were Christians, and none of us was disappointed with our life's work.
There was one job, however, that I still thought would have suited me well: a lighthouse keeper. The solitude of such a job, as well as its importance in keeping people safe from the dangers of the sea, greatly appealed to me. Alas, no such opportunity ever arose.
Not long ago, however, I was again thinking of the keepers of the light and how much I might have enjoyed that job, when the Spirit spoke to me, reminding me that all of God's children are, in fact, lighthouse keepers. We are keepers of the light of the world, Jesus, Who dwells within all those who proclaim Him as their Lord and Saviour. Each one of us has made the solitary choice to dwell spiritually away from this world. Though we still remain in the world, we are no longer of it. Each one of us, as we let our light shine before men, that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven, is in fact helping to guide the spiritually lost, those endangered by the perils of the sea of sin, to the safe harbour of Christ's love and forgiveness.
How about you? What did you want to be when you grew up? Did your dreams come true, or did life lead you in other directions? Whatever the case may be, if you know Christ as Lord and Saviour, no matter what else you may do, you, too, are a lighthouse, a keeper of the light of the world within you. So, let your light shine brightly and bravely each day, whether the weather of life be bright and sunny or wild and stormy, for people are watching and taking note. People are longing for a safe harbour, a place to lay their weary burdens down and rest, and you and I know exactly where such a harbour can be found.
Psalm 62:7-8 – My help and glory are in God — granite-strength and safe-harbour-God — So trust Him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for him. God is a safe place to be. (MSG)
Prayer: Father God, thank You that in Christ, we are lighthouses, keepers of the light of the world, Who is a safe and trusted harbour for all those who seek Him. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
I sigh with pleasure as I slip into bed between crisp sheets and pull up the covers — at least two of them plus a bedspread. I like to sleep with weight on top of me, summer or winter. I feel more secure when cuddled under several blankets. Thankfully, by living in the desert in the winter and the high mountains in the summer, the temperatures are just right for me to do this.
Unfortunately, some nights I slip into bed and pull up another set of weights — the burdens that I'm carrying that day — and that weight definitely does not contribute to a good night's sleep. Since I broke my patella, I've spent more than a few useless moments worrying about my future physical abilities. When will I be able to walk normally? Will I be able to travel again? The future is what it will be; my job is to continue to exercise as I was told and to do my part in the recovery.
Worry is a useless pattern of thought that doesn't solve anything and can lead not only to loss of sleep, but to mental, physical, and emotional issues. It's full of what-ifs, speculation, and worst-case scenarios. Corrie Ten Boom said, "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength." (Clippings from My Notebook).
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus hones in on worry and its uselessness.
Matthew 6:25a,27,34 – That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life — whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. … Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? … So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. (NLT)
Verses about worry, anxiety, and fear occur over 400 times in the Bible. God knew that we would need them!
John 14:27 – I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. (NLT)
Philippians 4:6-7 – Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (NLT)
Can we stop worrying? Probably not, because we're human. We can develop strategies to combat the worry: sing praise songs and hymns, praise God for His blessings, and thank Him that He has our situation completely under control. Best of all, we can follow the psalmist's example: "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you." (Psalm 56:3 NLT) Pray with me:
Prayer: Lord, help me not to worry or to fear the future. I know that You are my God Who will strengthen me and help me and uphold me with Your righteous right hand. Amen.
My wife and I once set up a kids' club for over 40 inner-city children each Monday night. They ran about screaming and shouting, thankful for a large hall to play in, especially during wet and cold winter nights. Beneath the hall, a small group of a dozen men, who had met in the basement for years, started to complain about the noise and wanted the kids to play elsewhere. We tried to explain about the church being a safe sanctuary for the children, but they didn't like the disturbance. Eventually, due to pressure from the elders, the club was ended. Instead of welcoming the kids, the congregational leaders stubbornly stuck to their traditional programs. A couple of years later, the church closed because it had no future generation of children in its midst.
Mark 3:1-2,5 – Another time [Jesus] went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. … He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. (NIV)
This was a similar situation in which Jesus was ticked off. In a sacred place where the community worshipped God, compassion was meant to be available to everyone, and the religious folks' lack of compassion made Jesus angry. The regular attenders closed their hearts and minds to what was needed because they only wanted their religious rules to be strictly heeded.
Nevertheless, Jesus broke the Pharisees' rules and customs of what was right, rather than pander to what was so obviously wrong to Him. Later, in the temple, Jesus became angry at dishonest moneychangers, but here, we have Jesus becoming angry because good people — good religious people — were doing nothing to help, and they justified their lack of action by hiding behind their sacred rules.
I often wonder what Jesus thinks about some of us in the church today. How many issues and problems could be solved in our communities, as well as all over this planet, if church people — Christ's followers — were to help those in need instead of hindering the outcast, the alien, the different, the poor, the hungry, the war-trapped, and the unloved? Sometimes, church people — even me — get angry when faced with other people's problems because it offends the moral or religious codes that we keep inside of ourselves. But instead of our getting angry, we should ask ourselves this honest question: Is Christ angry with us because we say or do nothing?
Point to ponder: Who needs my help today? What would Jesus do?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, following You leads us into difficult situations and causes us a great deal of discomfort. Challenge our indifferent ways and change us so that we may help those in need whom we encounter. In Your holy name, we humbly pray. Amen.
In May 2023, I was a middle school teacher in Savannah, Georgia, USA. I had decided to move back home to Jackson, Tennessee, after the school year ended because I didn't want to teach secondary education anymore after ten years.
I am learning French, but I am a new beginner! I really wanted to plan a trip to Paris, France, that July to practice my French, but there were two problems. My cousin's wedding in Florida was June 9th, and God had been wrestling with me about paying off my student loans and car payment more quickly.
I had not yet interviewed for a new position in Jackson, and I had only about $2,000 to my name. I had a choice to make; go deeper in debt and go on vacations to Florida and Paris, or attend to the debt and not go anywhere. I chose the debt.
In December 2023 at my new job teaching adults, I had another opportunity to decide between Paris or debt. As I was scrolling the flights, Jesus gave me another idea. Maybe I could go to another country that spoke French but was less expensive than France, which would allow me to pay my debt.
On a Google search, I found Quebec, Canada, at a fraction of the price. The accommodations, flight, bus pass, and cellphone plan were cheaper than even a one-way ticket to Paris. God had a better plan! I thanked Him for this suggestion, even though it was not my original choice and a part of me still longs for Paris.
To soothe and reassure me, God gave me signs confirming the trip. When I was out of town, the license plate of the car beside which I parked was from Quebec, and it was the only parking spot left! When my colleagues and I had to move for an office renovation, there was a sticker with a red maple leaf and a "Made in Canada" note behind the books that I had never seen all the months that I had I worked there! And the maple syrup that I bought was "Amber Grade", and my name is Amber.
Despite my reservations, Quebec surprised me and exceeded all my expectations. France is still culturally iconic, but now when I think of French, I think of Quebec. God knew that it would suit me just fine. I am thankful that God has given me reassurance, not just by these tailor-made signs, but by His Word.
Proverbs 16:9 – People may make plans in their minds, but the Lord decides what they will do. (NCV)
In obedience to Jesus, what plans are you struggling to change because you aren't yet sure that He has something better? He had better plans for me, and the plans that He has for you are better than even you can think of!
Prayer: God, thank You for making better plans. Help us to follow them willingly and obediently because You know what is better for us. Amen.
This is my second day home from South Carolina, USA, where my daughter lives, and I have done nothing but rest. Keeping up with a young family takes a toll on an old woman like me. We stayed up one night until 2:00 a.m. watching a movie. I haven't seen that time of night in years, unless it's when the old-lady alarm clock in my head goes off and says that it's time to get up.
We were there to help because the house that they moved into needed some sprucing up. We also went to watch after our granddaughter, Jenna, and give our pregnant daughter, Missy, some much-needed rest. Did I write "rest" and "Jenna" in the same sentence? Oh, my mistake! This little girl, at three years old, is a live wire! She is in constant motion and asks nonstop "Why?" But for my husband Larry and me, she was nonstop DELIGHT!
One thing that we loved was that when she entered a room, we never knew what she would be wearing. Usually, a tutu was a part of her outfit, with a hat. She normally avoided wearing a top, but considered something around her neck just as good. The problem came when Jenna had to get dressed in something more suitable for going out. On those occasions, I will have to admit, she was … shall I say … less than cooperative! In fact, the word "carnal" comes to mind. With this delightfully independent child, my daughter has wisely learned to pick her battles. She often said, "Jenna, if you choose to disobey, there will be consequences!" At that, my beautiful little granddaughter would cross her little arms over her chest and state, "I don't want no consequences!" She wasn't saying that she was ready to obey; she was saying that she wanted to disobey with no consequences.
Somehow, I see myself many times taking this childish stance with my heavenly Father. I can recall those times when I knew what was right, but I chose my own way. I folded my arms and said, "I want my own way," forgetting the possible adverse consequences.
Have you been there? Did you ever get your tutu in a bunch and refuse to mind God?
John 14:23-24a – Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching." (NIV)
Larry and I are still talking about our Jenna, not only about her bouts with carnality, but about her sweetness, her charming smile that lit up a room, and her love for her grandma and grandpa that gave us so much joy!
Prayer: Majestic Creator, Mighty God, and Redeemer, may we refrain from taking childish positions, as You only do good for us. Make us like Jesus. Amen.
How many times have I done weekly laundry in my 60 years of married life? I've lost count. And yet the need still arises for me to continue. It is not hard with the modern convenience of washers and dryers, but the repetitive nature of this activity still is with me. I sort, wash, dry, and fold. I feel satisfaction when all the items are folded and put away in the linen closet, and once again, I am finished. That satisfaction lasts only until the next load of dirty clothes needs to be washed again. Perhaps we all have similar things that will always be ours to do as long as we can. Some seem to be endless tasks.
When I think of endless tasks, I am reminded of Moses' brother Aaron, who made endless, repetitive burnt sacrifices, day after day, year after year.
Leviticus 6:9b-12a – The burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it. And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen undergarment on his body, and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar. Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. (ESV)
Note that leaving his linen clothes after the sacrifice was part of the requirement.
Later, Scripture contrasts the priestly repetition with Christ's finished task.
Hebrews 10:11-12,14 – And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take aways sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (ESV)
After Jesus was raised from the dead, Peter and John ran to confirm what the women had reported about the empty tomb.
John 20:6-7 – Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. (ESV)
Friends, did you catch the little surprise in this record? The tomb was empty of the body, but there was something left behind: The linen cloths were there, the sign of a finished sacrifice. It is finished, once and for all!
Let us always be grateful that we no longer have to make repetitious sacrifices or obey detailed legalistic requirements. Jesus paid it all!
Prayer: Father in heaven, we thank You for Your Son Jesus, the finisher of our faith. Help us always to serve You out of our love for You and not because of duty or fear. Amen.
At the beginning of December 2021, I was unexpectedly informed by the Central Office that I would be retiring on December 31st. However, I had already petitioned the Texas Retirement System for my retirement to begin on the following June 1st. I was informed that my tenure as a teacher had finished, my final paycheck would be at the end of the month, and my health insurance would end on December 31st. I panicked. I wouldn't have money to pay any bills because my pension was not set to begin for six months. I am diabetic, and I worried about being able to purchase my insulin. Was I discouraged? Yes, and I was restless, too.
Psalm 42:5 – Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God. (GW)
David speaks to his soul, to himself, and asks why he is feeling discouraged, why is he so restless. In effect, he's asking, "Why are you doubting the Lord? Why are you feeling as though God cannot save and rescue you? You know that God is greater than any situation. You know that God has rescued you every time that you have needed Him to. So why is this situation different? Why are you feeling downcast, gloomy, and disheartened? Why are you trying to produce an answer and a defense? Are you listening to others who imply that God has forgotten you?"
Was I still able to praise and hope in the Lord? Yes, with His help, my retirement was finalized much later, and I received two extra paychecks, which carried me through April 1st. I was also able to get a Medicare Advantage plan effective February 1st at no cost. Once again, God showed me that He is my God and my Saviour. Why did I ever doubt?
There are times when we need to talk to our souls, our inner beings, and remind ourselves that the Lord is our Redeemer and Saviour. We need to remind our souls that the Lord showed us that we could hope in Him because Jesus rescued us by giving His life for us. We need to remind ourselves that we are no longer slaves to our old natures that did not have peace or contentment. We need to remind our souls that we can rest in the Lord because He takes all our cares and burdens and gives us beauty for ashes and the oil of gladness instead of mourning.
Prayer: Lord, help us to praise You in all circumstances. Help our souls to praise You, no matter how confusing, impossible, or gloomy the path may seem. Instead of looking at what is surrounding us, help us remember that we are safe in Your loving hands, and that Your love will protect us from anything that may make us feel that we are alone, defeated, or abandoned. Help us never to forget that we can praise You in all circumstances, because You will never leave us or forsake us. Amen.
1 Corinthians 16:13 – Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. (CSB)
These were our senior pastor's final words to us at our last elders meeting, encouraging us to persevere in our Christian faith and life.
Due to their retirement on June 30th and July 14th, we have just said goodbye to our two ministers: our senior pastor, Rev. Duncan Cameron, after twenty-seven years, and our associate pastor, Rev. Monica McClure, after nine years.
Our senior pastor ministered with his strong leadership skills as he guided us through our spiritual journey with his passionate sermons and bi-weekly Bible studies. He was an exceptionally inspirational spiritual leader and teacher. He taught us with wisdom according to the Word of God as explicitly written in the Bible. Sermons, biblical teachings, solid guidance, and caring for others were Scripture-based, allowing the congregation to develop a strong understanding and a belief in the Word of God.
Pastor Monica McClure's pastoral care ministry was filled with compassion, kindness, and love for all of God's people. Our two retiring pastors were our "Dream Team". We will miss them!
Saying goodbye to them was not easy. The good news is that we have faith that God will provide pastors for us again. Our congregation celebrated its 206th anniversary in June. When the cornerstone was laid in June 1849, the inscription that was engraved above the door reads, "JEHOVAH-JIREH 1849", meaning, "The Lord provides". The Lord provided, and the people have welcomed sixteen pastors since 1818.
The apostle Paul encouraged Timothy, "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." (2 Timothy 2:2 NIV)
He also wrote to the Galatians, "If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned." (Galatians 1:9b NIV) Paul wanted to be sure that the congregation, whom he referred to as "my dear children", would not to be easily swayed or distracted by false doctrine. Over the years, our two retiring pastors have echoed Paul's teachings, and have inspired and prepared our congregation to live Spirit-filled lives — lives pleasing to God — and to be conscious at all times of how we live our lives.
Hearing God's Word read, hearing it trustworthily preached, and reading the Bible for ourselves helps us to grow, to develop our spiritual knowledge and faith, and to live godly lives that are pleasing to the Lord. Let us faithfully support our Bible-believing pastors, and thank God continually for providing them.
Prayer: Our heavenly Father, thank You for the precious gift of guidance and leadership from pastors. We pray that their spiritual guidance will be pleasing to You, dear God. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Luke 15:28 – The older brother was angry and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him. (NLT)
Michael was angry at grace and God. But he hadn't always been. He once loved going to church — not that he had a choice. His parents made sure that he was there every time the doors opened. At a young age, he accepted Christ as his Saviour.
Somewhere along the line, however, Michael became an angry teenager. His walk away from Christ began with tobacco and led into alcohol abuse. Vandalism followed. He lashed out against churches, cracked open vehicles, and went on a string of destructive ventures. He was never apprehended by the police — just too sly, I suppose.
By the time Michael turned twenty-two, he'd calmed down a bit. All that remained of his prodigal childhood was the smoking. For some unknown reason, the convicting voice of God's Spirit finally penetrated his hard shell. He listened, gave up his one final bad habit, and recommitted his life to God.
God has used Michael's testimony ever since. God saved him twice: once from sin, and once from his sinful practices.
Some might get angry at God for forgiving and using Michael. He does, after all, have a sordid past and a bunch of baggage. The older brother in Jesus' story probably would be one who'd object to God's grace. He didn't appreciate the fact that his father forgave his straying brother and welcomed him back home as if nothing had happened. Had he forgotten that his son had requested his inheritance early and then blown it on wicked living? When his father asked him to join the "welcome home" party, he said, "No thanks!"
I'll admit that there have been times when I've thought that God's grace was unfair. Actually, it's unfair all the time, if we think about it. Were He fair, we'd all get what we deserved: unforgiveness and an eternity in a hot place. But He's willing to forgive and forget all our sins if we only ask.
And who am I to question His grace? After all, He's God, He makes the rules, and He can love and forgive if He wants to. My job is to be more — rather than less — like Him.
Don't let God's grace disturb you. Repentance unlocks the door to forgiveness, regardless of what a person has done — things much worse than the prodigal and Michael ever thought about.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your grace that covers all our sins. Amen.
Psalm 113:7 – He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. (NLT)
I have always loved scissors. A friend was getting rid of an old, heavy pair, but I couldn't bear the thought of the vintage scissors going into the garbage, so I brought them home. They were dull, but I reasoned that they would at least be handy to cut plastic and heavy cardboard. The scissors remained in our drawer, being semi-useful, until one day my husband lost his patience, and threw them out. Again, I rescued them. Some years later, a volunteer at The Lending Cupboard, where Terry volunteers, offered to sharpen anyone's scissors. We jumped at the chance. Now, with brand-new sharp edges on their blades, our made-in-Italy scissors are as good as new. They cut wonderfully, even fabric. I was thrilled to have their original usefulness restored.
Psalm 40:1-2 – I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. (NLT)
Our spiritual life goes one step further than the story of the scissors. The scissors couldn't call out, but God heard our cry of despair and rescued us from the garbage dump of spiritual death. Although the scissors were sharpened and restored to optimum function, they weren't made totally new. However, when we first came to Jesus, He brought us new life. We were born again, and in the spiritual realm, all things were made new. Unlike the brief process of sharpening scissors, though, God's restoring process after we are born again takes place gradually over a lifetime.
Jeremiah 1:5a – I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. (NLT)
God wants to restores us to our true selves, the original state that He planned for us, for our optimum function. God knew us even before we were conceived. He knows what we can become.
God not only restores us, but He also renews us through His indwelling Holy Spirit, giving us a fresh start. He teaches us continually, bringing to mind Jesus' words. Let's cooperate with this process by diligently studying God's Word, even memorizing it. Let's use this foundation to keep on a steady, forward path.
God's rescue and restoration doesn't apply only to the first time when we drew near to Him. We can approach Him anytime, and ask for His intervention in unmanageable situations. As we cooperate with Him, God rescues us from travelling down paths that are contrary to our best interests, and He guides and directs us along right paths, bringing honour to His name.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for rescuing us, restoring us, and renewing our lives. Help us to cooperate with Your renewing and restoring process. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Isaiah 55:8 – "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. (NIV)
My granddaughters were off school, which meant that they were in my care. As I had much to do, I asked them to find something to do quietly while I finished my chores.
As I went about cleaning and vacuuming, I was pleased to see that they were working together at the kitchen table. It wasn't until I wandered back into the kitchen, however, that I realized what they had been doing. They had gone downstairs to their craft room and come back up with the box that housed their glue and glitter. Glitter was now everywhere. Glitter drives me to distraction, since it hangs around for days and weeks. Every time when I think that I have finally vacuumed up the last of it, a beam of light reveals more sparkling glitter.
The girls have been told numerous times that they are not to use the glitter when they are unsupervised. Four- and six-year-old girls, especially, have this penchant for disregarding this instruction when it comes to glitter. I was therefore feeling quite cross with them, even though I didn't want to be cross with them. At the time, all I could see was glitter, glitter, everywhere, and the clean-up that would be required. Both girls were sent to their rooms to consider their behaviour.
In the meantime, as I went about trying to clean up the mess, I also went about praying and asking God how best to deal with things. As I was working around and praying, God gave me a new perspective on the situation. He reminded me that though the glitter would definitely be displaying itself here, there, and everywhere for quite some time to come, if every time I saw it twinkling away, I thought about all the glittering fun and joy that the girls have brought into my life, I could view this predicament in a positive, rather than a negative light. Of course, He was right. I just needed to stop looking at the situation through my flawed human sight and begin seeing it through the perfection of His.
This story of the girls and the glitter is just an extremely small blip in regard to many of the things that can go awry in our lives. The lesson of learning to see things through God's eyes rather than through our own, however, is one that is able to serve us well in whatever situation that we may be experiencing. The perfection and glitter of God's perspective, instead of our own, has the power to change a negative into a positive.
Prayer: Father, thank You that You see things perfectly, and that when we are open to Your Spirit, You are able to give us a glimpse of that perfection as well. In Christ's name, we thank You. Amen.
I caught my breath just a little as I pulled out of my mailbox an envelope with a Portland Bureau of Transportation return address. Opening the letter, I was chagrined to find a citation for speeding. Over my many years of driving, I have received a couple of warnings and a couple of tickets for minor driving infractions, but this was my first speeding ticket. Enclosed with the citation was an undeniable photo of me at the wheel. I was caught red-handed — or heavy-footed, you might say.
Though I was without excuse, I was not without recourse. I could plead my innocence before the judge (though I wasn't innocent!), or I could simply pay the fine, or I could take a driving safety class and have my fine reduced. I chose the latter option, and I learned a lot of beneficial information in the process. Driving laws are intended to make our roads safer for everyone. My ticket resulted in the goal of being a more careful driver.
I also learned some lessons from this experience that I can apply to my spiritual life:
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Just as I need to study the driver's manual to be a safe driver, I also need to read and study the Bible to learn how to live a godly life. "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11 NLT)
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I couldn't hide from the radar camera. It gave indisputable proof of my guilt in speeding. Also, I cannot deny or minimize my sin. God sees into the depths of my heart, and I can't hide from Him. "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me." (Psalm 139:1 NLT)
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I had to admit that I was guilty as charged and face up to my deserved penalty. Likewise, I can confess my sin and repent of my wrongdoing, knowing that God will lovingly forgive me. "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (1 John 1:9 NLT)
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I owed a fine, and I had to pay it, like it or not. Also, when I sin against God or others, I must acknowledge it and accept the consequences of my actions. "For the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23a NLT)
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I was able to lessen my penalty by taking a driving safety class. By being willing to learn from my mistake, I was able to learn better driving habits. I can also learn from my sinful actions and determine not to repeat that sin. "But the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23b NLT)
Let us be quick to acknowledge and confess our sin, keeping our accounts with God straight.
Prayer: Dear Father, You know our hearts, and You always know when we have sinned against You. May we be quick to confess our sin and make things right with You and others. Amen.
Psalm 90:9-10,12 – All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years — or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (NIV)
A short time ago, I celebrated my eightieth year on this planet. Right now, it is the best age to be. In fact, I am so excited about being eighty years old that from now on, I will refer to myself as eighty years young. I know that I will need all the help that I can get if I am to maintain this attitude!
All my family, all fourteen of them — daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren — travelled — some a very long distance — to have a surprise birthday party for me. And what a party it was! The love and energy that were generated reached such a degree that I was truly overwhelmed by it all. I was blessed over and over again as they prayed for me and congratulated me. I am very grateful to have a loving God, a loving wife, and a loving family.
So, now that I am eighty, I am reminded that Moses was eighty years old when he spoke to Pharaoh to begin the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt. I find inspiration in the fact that Moses did not begin his life's work until he was eighty years old. He was spiritually mature and physically ready for this important task.
Just as Moses persevered through many challenging situations before leading the Israelites to freedom, we, too, must be willing to push through difficulties and setbacks, including illness, in order to grow and be transformed spiritually.
With new eyes and fresh understanding now, I read Psalm 90, which was written by Moses. In today's passage, he stresses how short life is for people in comparison with God's eternal nature. I immediately sensed a flood of renewed energy and strength come over me that I have not experienced in a long time. As I continued to read, I felt a strong desire to continue to gain a heart of wisdom.
Sometimes, we just have to allow the Holy Spirit to do His good work in us so that we can more effectively know Christ and make Him known as we allow Him to "teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we thank You for the life that You have given us. Each day is precious, so help us not to take it for granted. Help us to make wiser choices in what truly matters as we focus on eternal values and the impact that we can make during our brief existence here on this earth for Your honour and glory. May Your favour rest upon us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
John 3:1-2 – Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." (NIV)
The older I get, the more that I want to learn about Jesus and read about God. As a pastor for almost forty years, I thought that I knew a lot, but now, I realize that there's infinitely more to learn about Christ and more to experience about God than I could ever dream or imagine. This doesn't daunt me or make me feel foolish; instead, God intrigues me and Christ excites more than I could ever have believed. Being old is a beautiful time to reflect on the gospels, as well as to share them, which is what motivated two other old men: the apostle John and Nicodemus.
When John was an old man, he could look back on his decades as a disciple of Christ and remember some of the encounters that Jesus had with other people. Christ's personal touch was important to John. Many of the folks who had first-hand experiences with the Lord were passing on to the next world, and he knew that he would also soon be joining them, so he wanted the new generations of Christians to experience what Jesus was like by recording several individual conversations that Christ had with exceptional people.
In the gospel story from John 3:1-17, a rabbi called Nicodemus came to ask Jesus some important questions. He arrived at night, perhaps tired after a long day of working for God, or maybe secretly because of the other Pharisees' negative opinion of Jesus.
During the conversation, Jesus answers several questions lovingly and truthfully. There appears to be a lot of mutual respect taking place. Later on, Jesus may have told His disciples about the conversation, or Nicodemus may have told them after he became a follower of Jesus. Either way, John had a first-hand account of what was discussed, and he never forgot what he had been told. It was a life-changing moment for the old teacher; it was where his personal discipleship with Christ began. It is good that John recorded the conversation in his gospel, because John 3:16 is where many people's relationship with God has also begun.
Point to ponder: How much time do I set aside to ponder God and think about Christ?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, there is so much about You that we have yet to experience, as well as so much that we can glean from the personal conversations that You had with people long ago. In the quietness of our nights, after our work is done, speak plainly and gently to our souls. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
1 John 1:5,7 – This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)
Back in the days when my daddy was still alive, he ordered from Amazon an 18-pack of super-bright LED flashlights featuring a compact design, constructed of high impact ABS casing in an assortment of colours. Each flashlight had a comfortable, durable, rubber-coated handle, and was equipped with nine LED bulbs, providing 30 lumens of light output. Included and pre-installed were 54 AAA heavy-duty batteries.
Daddy had ordered the flashlights so that each of us would have at least two of them and have extra ones around the house if the power ever went out or if we needed a little extra light on something.
Daddy gave me three. I put one in my purse, one in my car, and one on my nightstand. Mom got the same number, and Daddy had his.
One night when Daddy had to walk out to the shop, his flashlight put out enough light to give him vision in the darkness of the southern evening to turn out lights that he had left on, and the flashlight got him back inside. He didn't trip on anything or step on any slithering creatures. (We live in the country, so one never knows!)
One night, we were without power, so to entertain myself, even at age 50-plus, I got out a flashlight to read a book under the covers. My little light was bright enough to get me engrossed in my novel of choice.
As today's Scripture states, God is light, and in Him is no darkness.
In our journey of life, God is far more than a flashlight — His beams have a wider range, illuminating our path as we seek to become closer to Him. To keep walking in the light, we need to be reading His Word, listening to Him, waiting on Him, praising Him, worshipping Him. The "battery" that powers His light, the Holy Spirit, beats the Energizer Bunny™ by leaps and bounds!
And then, the Scripture today goes a step further. If we continue walking in the light, as God is in the light, we can fellowship one with another, and because we choose to believe the gospel — as John 3:16 tells it — Jesus cleanses us from our sins, saves us, and brings us into God's family, where we have eternal life with the light: God the Father, and His Son Jesus.
I don't know about you, but I'd rather have God as my light than a flashlight that may not last more than three weeks before the battery needs changing. What do you think?
Choose Jesus as your light.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You. We love You. We want You to be our guiding light as we journey through life's hills and valleys. Amen.
Isaiah 43:25 – I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. (KJV)
A few years back, I had an interesting, embarrassing, and annoying experience. I was coming from a church meeting one night with several ladies, and we happened to be standing by the side of the road. I was too close to the road, I must confess, pressing my phone. One of the ladies tapped me and told me to put my phone somewhere till we were off the road. I had yet to comply when the passenger of a passing bicycle slapped me right across the face. The strength of that slap, supplemented by the speed of the bicycle, brought instantaneous tears to my eyes.
I wasn't crying, but my stinging eyes were dripping with tears. At that moment, I was angry, infuriated, and embarrassed that the ladies had to see me at that moment of helplessness. I wanted to hit and curse the culprit, or just do something to repair my tattered dignity (so I thought), but I discovered that I didn't have anywhere to direct my anger because I didn't have a mental picture of the person who had slapped me. The whiteboard of my mind was blank.
How does this relate to you? In today's verse, God tells us that He would not remember our sins, not because of old age, amnesia, or tiredness, but because of His mercy. So, God tells us that once we repent, all our sins of the past are totally forgotten. If God can choose not to remember our sins, no matter how terrible, how much more should you and I forgive those who wrong us! He chooses intentionally to forget, so why can't we? We have held on to the erroneous belief that forgiveness doesn't go along with forgetting, but God has shown us how important it is to choose to forget. Just like cleaning a whiteboard, everything formerly written on it is totally cleared off. That is true forgiveness.
God also said something important in our key text: "I … am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake". This shows us that forgiving and forgetting is not just for the other party, but for our own sake. At times, the other party may not feel remorseful or repentant, but for your own mental and spiritual sake, forgive. Holding onto anger and hate will torment you, gradually destroy you, and alienate you from God.
Are you angry? Do you feel justified in your anger? Make your mind like a whiteboard, wipe off your resentment from the whiteboard, and be free from your anger and shame.
Prayer: Spirit of the living God, help me to forgive and forget. Amen.
Revelation 22:12-13 – Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (NIV)
Matthew 24:44 – So you also must be ready; because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (NIV)
On two separate occasions recently, I was asked to help a friend and a family member prepare for their driver's licence renewal for individuals aged eighty and over. Due to the inevitable changes in our bodies as we age — our vision, hearing, reaction time, medical issues, reduced flexibility, cognitive decline, and medication that adversely affects our once healthy, strong bodies — this is a requirement of the Ministry of Transportation in Ontario, Canada, for individuals over eighty. All need to prove that they are still capable and fit to hold a licence to drive on the road. So, they both studied. When the day of the Senior Driver Group Education session finally arrived, they both had to sit and wait in a room with several others until they were called to go through the training and testing process. On each occasion, I noticed the different dispositions of the two groups. Although both groups prepared for their examinations, my friend's group all sat in the waiting room looking downcast and anxious, expecting to fail. My family member's group, a few months later, came in confident and hopeful, with brave countenances and full of hope. At the end of the day, both groups exited the classrooms with a renewed sense of accomplishment and vigour.
Preparing for the day when we meet our Saviour is a must, because when we stand before Him on the day of judgement, we will want to stand confidently, knowing that we served Him obediently so that we will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" What a joyful and wonderful day it will be for us. Why? Because we prepared well for the day of His coming.
Mark 13:35-37 – Watch therefore — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning — lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch. (RSV)
How are you preparing for that day? Will you be ready? Why not start preparing for His coming today?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we want to be ready for Your return. What a wonderful day it will be for those who believe in You on the day when You return, to hear, "Well done!" Thank You for the time that You give each of us here on earth to work for the coming of Your kingdom. Help us to keep our faith in You strong and our hearts open to receive our reward on that day. In Your name, we pray. Amen!
Proverbs 13:22a – Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren. (NLT)
Leaving an inheritance has meant very little in my family — at least where it concerns money.
My maternal grandparents were the only ones in my family who accumulated a tidy sum of money. But even what they had wouldn't be considered much by today's standards. Yet, in the eyes of a fifteen-year-old, it was. When my grandfather died, we discovered that he had a nice chunk in savings and in his chequing account. However, I doubt that my grandmother ever knew. He didn't allow her to touch the money, pay the bills, or make financial decisions.
Though quite thrifty in life, my grandfather was a little more generous in death. In his will, he delegated a nice little sum to each of his grandchildren. It wouldn't seem like much now, but it was a gold mine to this teenager. I forget what I did with mine, but I do remember that my spendthrift parents made sure that I used it wisely.
But money wasn't all that my grandfather left me. He also left me many good memories of a simple life around the farm. I don't remember his showing me affection or telling me that he loved me. Nor do I remember his speaking words of encouragement or sharing wisdom for the future. But I did have his unspoken example.
On the other hand, my paternal grandparents left me something different — although it did not come as a monetary inheritance. From them, I received bunches of hugs, hundreds of I-love-yous, time together, financial help when I struggled, and many words of wisdom for the future. What they left served me better than a sum of money.
At the moment — and as far as I know, no change is in the cards — I won't leave my grandchildren money either. As my paternal grandparents did for me, I will leave my grandboys the example of a meagre financial lifestyle.
But that's okay. My grandparents taught me that money can't buy everything and that some things are more important than money, such as my spending time with my grandchildren around the table eating a meal, sitting in my recliner reading Bible stories to them, sitting at a table doing handiwork that teaches how God created the world, or taking them to church.
I'm not "spending my grandchildren's inheritance". Instead, I'm leaving my spiritual heritage intact for them. Hopefully, they'll pass it on to theirs.
What are you leaving for your posterity?
Prayer: Father, may we leave for posterity what can never be spent. Amen.
Matthew 2:13-15 – Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called My Son." (NASB 1995)
Refugees — the same today,
all yearning for new life,
leaving countries so war-torn,
escaping from the strife.
Refugees — we welcome them
as they begin anew.
We show hospitality
and love in what we do.
– John Wesley Oldham World Refugee Day, declared by the United Nations to be marked on June 20, is a call for communities around the world to work toward peace and security for all, remembering especially the millions of people who are displaced or forcibly uprooted from their homes. This year, in particular, we remember those in Gaza and throughout Palestine, the very land from which Jesus had to flee. Jesus Himself began life as a refugee Who escaped with His family from the violence of King Herod to the unfamiliar landscape of Egypt. We sometimes forget that no one is a refugee by choice, and as the church of Jesus Christ, it is part of our mandate to reach out to refugees, to pray for their welfare, and to seek solutions to the conditions that create the refugee crisis in the first place. So many of our churches have made the support of refugees a prime ministry and mission. I still celebrate those efforts by my former church in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and the work that my wife was able to do with churches in nearby Dartmouth. We give thanks for their commitment and dedication! We are grateful for the open doors that our country makes possible for people who are experiencing war, the effects of climate change, and the turmoil that is found throughout the world.
"Migrants and refugees, despite the pains and losses that come with our displacement, can rejoice. We, the displaced, are not alone. God is with us everywhere — in both the old country and the new, in both lamentation and praise, in both rootedness and displacement." – Hannah Keziah Agustin, What does it mean to follow God in our displacement? Prayer: God, be with the refugee, the displaced, the migrant, seeking a place in a world that makes little room for them. May we be agents of Your love to all such people as given opportunity. Amen.
Recently, I watched a documentary about the world heritage narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway in northern India. Shimla is in the cool Himalayan foothills and once was the summer capital of British India as government and army staff escaped the brutal heat of southern India. An engineering feat in hostile terrain over 96 kilometres, the railway has 102 tunnels and 850 bridges, initially made of multi-arched gallery stonework, yet it was built in only three years. It began service in 1903 and still continues today.
One of the people featured in the documentary was a thin woman in her 40s who supported herself and her four sons by working as a porter at the Shimla railway station. She sits at the station every day, waiting to carry luggage for arriving passengers. The amazing thing is that she carries it strapped to her back — sometimes two or three suitcases stacked one on the other, held together by straps that are then looped around her head. She walks up and down the steep streets of the city, stooped over, looking at the ground, glancing up now and then to see where she's going.
This gave me a mental image of how we often carry our own burdens. They are piled high, too heavy, and we're walking up the steep roads of life bent over, barely able to see where we're going. We moan and groan to ourselves and our friends about all the problems in our life, stooping lower and lower as we focus only on what's wrong in our life.
Psalm 55:22 – Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. (ESV)
1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (ESV)
If we have surrendered our lives to Christ and are trusting in Him, by trying to carry our own burdens, we are missing out on what He has for us. When we release our worries and fears into the care of the Lord, He takes on the weight, and we are no longer like that porter, struggling up the steep paths of life under the weight of our burdens.
We need to be specific. We need to tell the Lord what we are so worried about, then surrender it to Him, have faith that He will sustain us as He has promised, and don't try to snatch it back on ourselves! God is not a distant, uncaring God. He actively protects and upholds us if we seek to align our lives with His will for us.
Prayer: Lord, we know that You don't want us to be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to let our requests be made known to You. Then we can let Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)
1 Peter 4:7-9 – The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (NIV)
My dog, Sophie, has always been a grumbler. She was born that way. She grumbles with low rumbling sounds if she feels that the other dogs are infringing on her territory or are having a good time playing in the yard while she is lying on the porch. Sometimes, she just walks around grumbling to herself. In light of this, the other dogs avoid her space and often tiptoe around her quietly. Her grumbling repels the others rather than drawing them to her.
Some people seem to be born grumblers, too. It just seems to be part of their nature. Others are not so much. They may have moments of grumbling, but for the most part, their natures are of a sunnier variety. Whatever the case, grumbling is something which we need to allow the Holy Spirit to address within our lives, especially during these trying times in our world.
Grumbling is self-centred. Grumbling takes our eyes off Jesus. Our own emotions and feelings are at the forefront of our thoughts, clouding our minds and impairing our self-control. This, in turn, affects our ability to pray as the Spirit leads.
We do not need, though, to be grumblers. Experience has taught me that, for the asking, the Holy Spirit is able not only to help me to recognize when I am in a grumbling mood, but also to transform my attitude from grumbling to glorifying God.
The Holy Spirit is to be our teacher and guide, reminding us of the truths that we have learned and are learning about Jesus, Who never grumbled. Jesus was always clear-minded and self-controlled. He freely offered Himself and the hospitality of His loving presence to everyone who needed Him, just as He offered Himself totally to God, His Father, on a daily basis.
Therefore, let us strive to do likewise. Each and every day, let us remember to offer who we are, faults and all, including our tendency to grumble, back to our heavenly Father and the guidance of His Holy Spirit. By so doing, any grumbling will soon be turned into glorifying the King in our hearts, souls, and minds, so that we might draw others to Jesus, rather than have them avoid us and tiptoe around us, causing us to lose our chance to shine for Him.
Prayer: Father God, help us to be diligent in offering ourselves up daily to You and to the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, so that we may be known as a glorifying people rather as a grumbling one. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
While my brother and I were growing up, birthday parties were a big event, a highlight of our childhood. When I was turning seven and my brother was turning four, since his birthday was in May and mine was in June, we had a combined birthday party with family friends and neighbourhood children.
The next year, my brother decided that he wanted a separate birthday party with friends his own age. During the party, remembering how we had shared our birthday celebration the year before, I became jealous of the attention focused on him. It was unthinkable not to be in the same spotlight. In a desperate bid for attention, I started sassing my mother, mocking her reprimand to me. One thing that my parents did not tolerate was a lack of respect. In a flash, my mother informed me that I would NOT be having a party when my birthday came around in June. I was horrified. I had always had a party! My pleas for mercy or reconsideration of her stand did not change her decision, no matter how hard I begged her for the whole next month. I had time to think soberly about the consequences of my disrespectful and attention-getting behaviour.
What a miserable punishment in my eyes! Since June 17 was on a Sunday that year, my mother conceded to making a cake and inviting family friends for tea, but it wasn't a real birthday party!
Proverbs 15:10 – Whoever abandons the right path will be severely disciplined; whoever hates correction will die. (NLT)
Proverbs 3:11-12 – My child, don't reject the Lord's discipline, and don't be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. (NLT)
My mother's disciplinary action had certainly captured my attention as a young child. Of course, my mother loved me, and she disciplined me so that I would remember the proper way to act towards my parents. However, I didn't regard my mother's pronouncement as a correction or an opportunity to develop my character, nor did I see that her discipline might benefit me for life.
Just as I misinterpreted the original intent of my mother's correction, we sometimes miss the fact that God has our best interests in mind. Because God loves us, He also disciplines us for our own good. We may run into troubles because of our disobedience or our own foolishness. We may have to suffer the natural consequences of our actions. Hardships may come into our lives, or we may even develop physical ailments.
As children of God, let us not be dismayed over troubles and hard times, but actually embrace them. Let us understand that God's corrective action in our lives is for our greater good, to become more like Jesus.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the moments when You correct us. Thank You that in them, we have the opportunity to grow in Your ways and to become more like You. Amen.
Luke 9:62 – Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (NIV)
The year was 1965. I was trying to decide what I should do with my life, and I wanted to be sure that I was making the right decision. I finally decided to fulfill the call to fulltime ministry that came to me when I gave my heart to Jesus on September 15, 1957.
I confirmed my decision as I knelt by my bed in prayer. I would be applying to be trained as a pastor at The Salvation Army College for Officer Training in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Each new group of candidates who enter the College for Officers receive a name given to them by the General of The Salvation Army. My group was called "The Witnesses to the Faith".
I told my father first and then the rest of my family. My father didn't say a word for several minutes. Then he cleared his throat and said, "Don't do it unless you are fully committed." That was it! I had his blessing, and I knew exactly what he meant.
I had done my share of plowing the fields at home, making them ready for planting potatoes each spring. I well remember the times when I was so physically tired that I wanted to leave the plow in the middle of the field, unhitch the horse, and go home. But I needed to finish the job that I had started.
My father was right! There have been times in my ministry over the past 57 years since my ordination on June 16, 1967, when I have been mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. But I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!
Being involved in full-time ministry is a huge commitment. To take up one's cross and follow Jesus is not a holiday nor a part-time job — it is a calling! It takes nothing less than the all-encompassing grace of God through the Holy Spirit to stay the course.
1 Kings 8:61 – But your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time. (NIV)
How about you? Has God called you to serve Him in some specific way? Don't do it unless you are fully committed to the Lord: heart, mind, soul, and spirit.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for saving us, calling us, and equipping us. We pray that we will continue to get to know You personally, that our hearts and lives will be fully committed to You, that we will live by Your standards, and that we may remain true to You by Your grace, which is sufficient. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen!
John 17:9 – I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. (NIV)
I see a lot of memes on Facebook that appear to condemn the church for not being the church that the world expects. The memes usually attack the church for being hypocritical and not compassionate enough. There is some truth to what is posted, but these barbs often do not offer a solution. It's very easy to poke the church in the eye for being so blind, but the negativity of those posts doesn't act as an encouraging remedy; instead, they discourage folks from changing because no guidance to do so is being presented.
When Jesus established the church, He didn't go looking for perfect people — He wouldn't have found them anyway. What He did do was to take a bunch of sinners and set them on the right path toward God. Despite their weaknesses and faults, sinfulness and selfish ways, He managed to put together a band of devoted people who would try to live their lives according to His teachings. He never expected that they would achieve perfection, which is why, in today's highlighted verse, we have something that Jesus constantly did: He prayed for the ones given to Him by God; He prayed for His church.
Today's church has many problems and issues, but that's what happens when sinful people are called by God. Despite the setbacks that the pandemic brought upon the church worldwide, the world still needs Christ's Spirit of compassion, healing, and love to fix our broken planet. This is why Christ is still praying for His church, and this is what we should be doing for our local congregations, national denominations, and international situations. The church is Christ's bride and will always exist, even beyond time itself.
Point to ponder: What should I be praying for in my local congregation?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, the church exists because You brought it into being. Its purpose is to spread the good news of the gospel through word and deed. Despite our sinful and fallen ways, You still pray for Your church and for us. Help us to align our prayers with Your will for the whole church. In Your holy name, we humbly pray. Amen.
Matthew 5:44 – But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. (NKJV)
During the occupation of the Netherlands from 1940 to 1945, about 25,000 people were imprisoned for interrogation and prosecution in a jail near The Hague. Most were members of the resistance, and others were Jews and Jehovah's Witnesses. Some were tried and set free, others were sent on to concentration camps in the Netherlands and in Germany, and some were executed.
On May 5, 2024, it was 79 years since the occupation of the Netherlands was finally over. On that day, Greta and I watched a song service from a church in the Netherlands that commemorated the event. The leader told how his father had been imprisoned in that jail and how the family had prayed for him every day. After some months, he was released.
Some time before the service, he had visited the jail, now a museum, with his grandson. He showed some pictures of notes written by some of the prisoners, like "Stay strong" and "Keep the faith". There were faith statements and Bible texts, like this one:
Psalm 18:1-2 – I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (NKJV)
It was obvious that some of these men had faith in God, and that it gave them strength to cope. The leader of the service told us how his father had suffered during his time in prison, but also about the friends he had made and how they comforted each other while they saw others being taken to their execution. Records show that over 250 people were shot in the dunes not too far from the prison.
On March 13, 1941, eighteen men were taken to the dunes for their execution, and on the way, they sang verse four of Psalm 43, which I translated in part from my mother's Dutch Psalter Hymnal:
Then I will go to God's altar high above
To God, my God, the fount of joy and love
Then I will sing with harp and voice
And in His home, I will rejoice
When after a short time in pain and war
He will comfort me in peace forever more
One thing became abundantly clear: some of the people kept their faith, they comforted each other, and they were assured through the words of Scripture that God was their refuge and strength, indeed a very present help in times of trouble.
It is really a challenge to question whether we would have the faith, strength, and fortitude to stand strong like that in similar circumstances today.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we pray for all people who are at this time being persecuted, and we pray that they, too, may keep the faith. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
A while ago, my dad was very ill; he couldn't even walk, and I saw him wet himself while trying to reach the restroom. I had never seen him in such a vulnerable circumstance before, and I felt weakness just descend on me. It was so sudden, just like having cold water poured on me. As a means of strengthening myself the next morning as I was going to work, I chose to sing and praise God.
Nehemiah 8:10b – For the joy of the Lord is your strength. (KJV)
This verse introduces the concept that the joy of the Lord is our strength. This means that the sorrow of the world is our weakness.
Have you had times when you seem to be in the valley of the shadow of death or you feel like you are in the wilderness? You have tried all earthly means to solve your problem, but it seems like things are at a dead end, out of your control, with no way to turn but up. There is a myriad of ways to strengthen yourself in the joy of the Lord. Have you tried singing to God? Have you tried immersing yourself in the Word of God, the biblical stories of victories? Have you listened to testimony? Have you lost yourself in worship and praise? All these are the joy of the Lord. Johnson Oatman, Jr., wrote Count your blessings:
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
And it will surprise you
What the Lord has done.
This is the best way to experience the joy of God: by looking at all that He has done, and praising Him. David often did this; he would start a verse of the Psalms with a little complaint, then he moved on to remind himself of the strength of God, and finally, he spoke against his problems with confidence. You can do this, too.
Do you feel like you are drowning when you look at your problems? Do you feel helpless? If so, don't allow the sorrow and pain of this world to weaken you; instead find the joy of the Lord through worship. Even if you are crying as you are singing, just continue singing. God sees your tears, and He will take care of you.
I will leave this song, His eye is on the sparrow, by Civilla D. Martin with us:
Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for heav'n and home?
When Jesus is my portion
My constant Friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.
Prayer: Lord, I need Your joy, and I need Your strength. Amen.
1 Samuel 3:10 – Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears." (NKJV)
Recently, as my husband and I drove by a local cancer and blood centre, I glanced at it, and the Holy Spirit softly whispered, "I want you to go there once a week, sit quietly, and pray for the patients."
I silently asked the Holy Spirit, "Would You confirm this to me?"
Our destination that morning was the bank. From past visits, we knew the bank officer. He loves the Lord, is married, and has two young girls. Seated in his office, I blurted out the first question that came to mind: "How is your son doing?"
He was shocked and asked, "How did you know that my wife and I are having another baby?"
I said, "I didn't know." He went on to explain that his wife was eighteen weeks pregnant, and an ultrasound had shown that the baby was a boy!
We all realized that the Holy Spirit had given me that information. The three of us rejoiced and thanked God for the new bundle of joy soon to be expected. I was prompted to share with him what I believed that God had spoken to me about the cancer centre.
The officer pointed to a picture in his office of a dear friend of his, an army veteran who lived nearby and was waiting to hear the results from his cancer tests. He added, "If the results are positive, he just might be one of the patients at the centre for whom you would be praying."
Right then and there, Marcelo, the bank officer, and I brought that young man before the Lord in prayer, and I realized that I had received from God the confirmation that I had asked for.
The word "cancer" has the ability to strike fear into our hearts and minds like nothing else can. But God is concerned not only with cancer; He is concerned with every type of circumstance and situation that we might be going through.
Philippians 4:6-7 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
Perhaps you have felt a tug from the Holy Spirit that God wants you to step out to fulfill a desire that He has in His heart for you to undertake. God has His ways of confirming it so that you can have peace, knowing that you have heard from Him.
God desires to use His children as He wills. Wherever He leads us, He provides and enables us to be extensions of His loving care.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to discern Your leading and to delight in doing Your will. "Speak, for Your servant hears." Amen.
In my last devotional, It Only Takes A Spark on April 18, 2024, I told how a farmer lost his barn in a fire due to a spark from his tractor. This time, I want to tell how John was involved in the building of the new barn.
John and the hired man were working in our shop making ductwork for our heating business. As I was baking cookies, the kitchen door opened abruptly, and John rushed in saying, "Jim's new barn is blowing down. I have to go and see if I can help save it."
When he arrived on the scene, a strong wind was indeed slowly blowing down the unfinished barn frame. The men were standing and watching the wind catch their work, but they could do nothing. John had taken his extension ladder and a long rope used around our farm. He quickly climbed the ladder to the peak of the end wall and tied the rope around the frame. While he was up on the ladder, each gust of wind lowered the wall, and the top of the ladder slid down the side of the barn by two feet with each gust. Fortunately, John was also the telephone lineman at that time, so he was accustomed to heights, and movement in high places did not cause him any distress. The men pulled on the rope and managed to get the frame vertical again. The barn was saved, and John was the hero.
Jesus spoke of the wind in regard to the work of the Holy Spirit:
John 3:7b-8 – You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (NIV)
Jesus was saying that we cannot see the wind itself, but we can see the destruction of a hurricane, or see leaves falling, or see pollination of plant life, or feel a gentle breeze. So it is with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in a believer. We do not see the Spirit, but we do see the life lived by the believer.
Jesus continued to talk about God's love:
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)
Once we are born again, the Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in believers, who have a blessed living hope in Jesus.
The barn is still standing and is still in use. Likewise, salvation through Jesus is still available to all people.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love that sent Your Son to die for our sins on Calvary. Be with our government and our loved ones, friends, and neighbours. Help us to live so that others can see Your love in us. Amen.
Matthew 6:16 – And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. (NLT)
I once fasted, but not from food.
I suddenly found myself saddled with two car payments. Knowing that I couldn't afford both, I had a decision to make. One of the vehicles would have to go. One was a new Chevrolet Tracker that I had just purchased. The other was a used Chevrolet S-10 pickup. The solution came not in selling one but in withdrawing my retirement savings so that I could pay off one of them. I chose the Tracker, and then I gave it to my daughter, who was about to leave for college.
The decision to give up the Tracker was difficult. I had planned to use it on my monthly hiking escapades in the mountains. Love, however, led me to give it up for a higher purpose.
Fasting requires letting go. Often, food is in question — as it was when Jesus addressed the religious hypocrites who thought that they did such an excellent job at it. Like most of what they did, they did this with ulterior motives. They wanted others to notice them.
Abstaining from food or certain foods for a time has never been my forte, but God has shown me a few other things that I need to take a break from. Sin is one. Instead of seeing how close that I can come to sin without sinning, I need to stay as far away from it as possible. God has given us a new nature, and we must avoid the "old person" with a passion. When we give our lives to Christ, our old self is crucified with Him, and we die to the old way of living, walking instead in obedience to Christ's commands.
When I choose to go on a fast for God, it should also be because I want to draw closer to Him. Good and not-so-good attractions that attempt to distract us from God pepper this world. Giving up whatever prevents us from clinging close to His side is always a good fast.
Fasting for God is an individual choice. God won't force us to fast for Him. We must voluntarily let go of those things that keep us from a closer walk with Him. What can you let go of that will move you closer to God?
Prayer: Father, take away those things that prevent me from being all that You want me to be. Amen.
Over twenty years ago, my husband and I rented out the house that we have up north to a young family. Their lease was for one year, and we received the first and the last month's rent before they moved in during the late fall. After occupying the house for five months, they called to tell us that they would be moving out. They owed us money — three months' back rent. They assured us that the back rent would be paid in full before they moved out. We weren't happy because we would have to find new tenants again.
The following weekend, several weeks before our usual annual first trip up north, we called to tell them when we would be arriving. When we arrived, the house and front yard looked deserted. No car in the driveway or curtains on the windows. They were gone! We were stunned! The front door was closed but opened at the turn of the doorknob, and the keys were left on the kitchen counter. No note, no forwarding address, and no money. I was shocked — we needed those funds to pay our own bills.
I walked into each empty room in disbelief. Then, I walked into the master bedroom and saw a box of books in the corner. When I looked through the box, I saw some romance novels and one other book, a Bible. When I saw the Bible, I thought, Oh, no! She forgot to take her Bible with her. I couldn't call, nor could I send it on to her. So, I took the Bible home that weekend, and it became my Bible, the one that I have been using over the past twenty years: the New International Version Women's Devotional Bible. No matter where I have roamed, whether on a long or short journey, this Bible has always been within arm's reach.
Over the years, I have never forgotten her, not because of the money that she owed us, but because of her unintentional gift to me — her Bible! And I pray today that she is alive, happy, healthy, and well.
Matthew 6:12 – Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (NIV)
I was able to forgive her because Jesus has forgiven me. It is essential for all of us to forgive others, if only for our own sake and health, but also, importantly, because Jesus went on to explain what will happen if we don't.
Matthew 6:14-15 – For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV)
Prayer: Dear Jesus, please open our hearts to forgive others when they do us wrong. Please forgive them for their actions and fill them with Your peace. We thank You, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray continually. (NIV)
Agnes is very old for a goat. Yet, she has done a wonderful job acting as foster mom to our five adopted goat kids. I have very much enjoyed watching her mothering skills and how the kids have responded by trusting her and obeying. As of late, however, I have noticed that she has a new mentoring tactic. In the morning, the little ones now run out of the barn ahead of her, instead of behind her. At first, they would enter the yard, but when Agnes did not follow, they would begin calling to her and become agitated when she did not come. Agnes, however, was unperturbed and remained lying inside the barn door where she could call out encouragement to them and they could be reassured by seeing her. Thus, over the weeks, the kids have become more independent and are calling to Agnes less and less. Agnes, however, remains vigilant in her watch over them from her spot at the door.
Agnes' latest behaviour reminds me that I, too, am aging. With age, the knowledge that I am coming ever closer to my departure from this earth becomes much more of a reality in my day-to-day thinking. As a parent, grandparent, and friend who has sought to impart the old, old story of Jesus and His love to others, I question myself: What is my responsibility in their lives now?
The picture of Agnes lying quietly at the barn door, ever vigilant, has, I believe, given me my answer, which is likely to be applicable in your life also, whatever your age. I am still to be available, as much as possible, when those around me really need me. Like Agnes, my responsibility is now to be an encourager — to impart godly wisdom when I am asked for my advice, and to keep my mouth shut until I am asked, for this is an encouragement in itself as it reveals that I have confidence in their ability to work things out for themselves with God. My responsibility is also to be vigilant in my watch over them, especially vigilant in prayer: prayer to uplift them when they are struggling; prayer for healing when the world has harmed them; prayer for guidance as they seek God's will in their lives; and prayer "that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen [them] with power through his Spirit in [their] inner being, so that Christ may dwell in [their] hearts through faith. And … that [they], being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that [they] may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV)
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the responsibility, opportunity, and privilege, no matter what our age may be, to wait quietly and ever vigilantly at the door of prayer for others. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
I still white-knuckle it when I recall fishing in Alaska with my friends. It was one of those picture-perfect days, and the guide found great spots for us to flyfish from the shore. When it got slow, we would move on to other spots, making our way down the churning white water. To balance the weight, one of my friends sat in the back of the boat with the guide, and since I was lighter, I was positioned sitting up front.
We caught some strong currents and swirling water, and the boat bounced around rocks, dipping up and down with the rapids. Suddenly, the boat lurched, the bow dropped, and then, with weight in the back, I sprang up and was thrown out of the boat into the icy water.
What I remember of shooting down the rapids was not only the fear of being helpless but the greater fear of my head being squashed by a rock as my clumsy fishing waders filled with water and pulled me down. After what seemed like an eternity, in a minute, I was lifted by my wader belt by a friend in the front boat who had witnessed the accident and who came to my rescue.
Not knowing about hypothermia, I was shivering and in shock as they pulled me to shore, put me in dry clothes, and quickly built a fire. Following the fear, I experienced peace.
Recall Jesus' first words to His fearful disciples on the evening of His resurrection:
John 20:19 – When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." (NRSV)
Take a moment and pause with the word fear. Identify a time when the spirit of fear held you locked behind closed doors. "Peace be with you." Peace is a beautiful word. Add to it the peace of God. In Philippians 4:7, Paul reminds us that the peace of God "surpasses all understanding". This is so because it requires faith. Faith in the risen Lord surpasses understanding and informs our knowledge to discern the spirits, bringing light into darkness, life into death.
Prior to unlocking the door and leaving the upper room, Jesus "breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'" (John 20:22b NRSV)
We are in the season following Pentecost, and it is the Holy Spirit who "will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13b NRSV) by discerning the spirits. Fear stops us. Fear is strong but it is destructive. Faith is stronger and productive. Let us receive the Holy Spirit, and He will produce our life in Christ — now and forevermore.
Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, come. Help us, we pray, in our weakness. There are times when we are caught by the spirit of fear and know not how to pray. Yet, we know that You will intercede, especially when our sighs are too deep for words. Help us to discern all things working together for good as we ask You to come, Holy Spirit. Come! Amen.
On April 14, 27-year-old Scottie Scheffler won the 2024 Masters Tournament — one of golf's major championships — and did it in style, by being four strokes better than his closest rival. It was his second Masters win in two years!
But if you think that golf is the most important thing in Scheffler's life, you'd be wrong. First, before the tournament started, he made it clear that if his wife — pregnant with their first child — went into labour, he would immediately drop out of the competition — even if he were winning. Wouldn't that have been amazing to see Scheffler on one of the last holes of the Masters and suddenly turn his back on $1.3 million, walk to the parking lot, and drive off to the hospital!
Secondly, before the tournament, an interviewer asked him, "You're the number one player in the world. A lot of people think that you are going to win it outright. How has golf formed your identity? How has golf formed who you are?"
(The interviewer erroneously assumed that because Scheffler is the number one golfer in the world, he must get his identity from golf.)
Scheffler — long pause — I loved his answer — "To be honest, it's a great privilege to play golf. I love it. I always want to do my best. But I don't find any identity in it. My identity comes from my faith, the One I follow, and that's Jesus. My identity isn't in my golf score. Win or lose, my identity is secure. The reason why I play golf is because I try to glorify God for all He has done in my life."
WOW!
I wonder what advice the world's greatest golfer might give us today? Would it be how to chip out of sand traps, how to drive or putt? I think not. I think that this young man might tell us to get our spiritual life together, and the other trappings in life will sort themselves out.
Psalm 146:3-5 – Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. (NLT)
Prayer: Loving God, there are a lot of influencers out there, begging for us to subscribe to their way of thinking. Help us always to put You first in our lives, knowing that Your way will never lead us astray and all other aspects of our living will follow in a manner pleasing to You and edifying to our own being. Amen.
Luke 8:38-39 – The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. (NIV)
The conclusion of the gospel story about Jesus healing the demon-possessed man has always intrigued me, because what happened after he was delivered is so similar to my own story. The cured man wanted to follow Jesus, probably because he was so thankful for having regained his senses. After years of being excluded from his own community, he knew that he could trust Jesus, so he wanted to become a disciple or a servant to help Christ with His ministry.
In my own life, I felt that same thankfulness when Jesus rescued me from alcoholism. I was enslaved to my addiction, and even though I knew that I was harming myself physically, as well as mentally, I could not liberate myself from the chains of compulsion. It took a life-changing moment of trusting Jesus completely before I was released from my obsession. I couldn't have escaped my drinking problem without Christ's grace and peace. When I understood what Jesus had done for me, I just wanted to serve Him like the demoniac.
Although the healed man wanted to serve in the presence of his Saviour, Christ had other plans for him to serve Him. Jesus told him to go back and share his amazing experience with his own community. The people there were fearful of Jesus because of His almighty power, so Christ gave the man a personal mission and an individual calling to return home to his people as a witness to God's mercy and grace. Instead of being afraid of Jesus, the cured man could convince them of God's compassion and love.
This is a challenge for all of us — to be effective witnesses of Christ's love to our own people, our own families, our own friends. Whatever goodness that God has wrought in each of us through Christ, we are meant to share it with others and not just to keep it to ourselves. We live in a broken world where madness is creating a lot of fear in our communities. Christ can heal this, too, but only if we are willing to share faith, hope, and love in compassionate ways to repair the damage around us.
Point to ponder: How do I share my faith with my own community?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You came into our lives to heal our brokenness and restore us to God's love. Encourage us to become personal witnesses of the healing and hope that You bring to the world. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Having had a career in biology, I know that scientific discoveries provide compelling reasons to worship God. For example, the structure of DNA defies chance assembly. Yet until one of the world's most renowned scientists, Stephen Hawking, died in 2018, he was an outspoken atheist. He apparently died devoid of any religious sentiment, but he had a strong belief in science. In his book, The Theory of Everything, he wrote, "If you believe in science, like I do, you believe that there are certain laws that are always obeyed. If you like, you can say the laws are the work of God, but that is more a definition of God than a proof of his existence." He also wrote, "We are each free to believe what we want, and it's my view that the simplest explanation is that there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. This leads me to a profound realisation: there is probably no heaven and afterlife either."
My faith journey has been different than that of Stephen Hawking. Whereas he believed only in science and natural causes, I believe in the Word through which all things were made. Stephen Hawking believed that science could not prove that God exists, whereas I believe that each of us is born with the ability to call on God and to know that He is there.
If Stephen held onto his convictions to the end, then he died an atheist. By denying God, Stephen Hawking's life unfolded as predicted by the apostle Paul:
Romans 1:20-22 – For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. (NIV)
Christians, too, will die, but we will leave this world knowing that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV) My career in science greatly fortified my trust in Scripture, and on many occasions, I was prompted to worship the almighty — but very personal — God. A scientist like Stephen Hawking cannot see God in the evidence, and will foolishly conclude that "there is probably no heaven and afterlife either."
As Christians, we know the good news. Let us continue to proclaim this good news to a world full of intelligent people making foolish decisions.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the wonders that You have created and for giving us the scientific ability to explore how they work. May the wisdom of Your works and the truth of Your Word grow within us, until all questions are answered when we meet You face to face. Amen.
Daniel 3:12 – There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (KJV)
On the day of our final exam in the university, it is a tradition that we each wear a spotless, shining, white vest, called a "white", and carry a permanent marker to sign on each other's white. Once we begin our journey to our hostels, anyone who sees us may choose to ask for our marker to sign on our white — strangers and friends alike. Afterwards, we have those white vests filled with signatures as mementoes of the day that we dropped our pens. This seems to be a nice tradition and fun way of rounding up years of reading, sleepless nights, and travails, but the story doesn't end there.
I had my own opinion about this tradition: it didn't resonate well with me. So, on that last day of exams, I chose not to wear a white vest. Instead, I wore a purple vest. I felt that it was hypocritical to carry a marker around for people I never knew to sign. Also, because I am an introvert, I felt that it was too stressful. So, there I was in my purple in a sea of white. Various people were asking for my white vest. Even one of the invigilators asked me, "Where is your white?" At that moment, I understood how hard it is to stand against what everyone else is standing for; it was hard.
Listening to a sermon about the three Hebrew men who didn't bow down to the idol made me remember this event. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remained standing when hundreds of thousands — if not millions — were bowing. Everyone could see them literally standing for their conviction. Today, this would be true Christianity. In essence, they said, "If we die, we die, but we will not worship an image." I just feel pumped thinking about that — such courage!
These days, most people think that it's best just to conform to what others are doing in other to avoid insults and discrimination. But the Bible shows us how we should behave: we should stand for the truth. Is it at home? In school? At the workplace? At a reunion event? Or even at church? Maybe your spiritual leader is going against what the Scripture says. Please build up courage and stand like these Hebrew men.
Stand and speak like they spoke to Nebuchadnezzar, with conviction and courage. God will give you the wisdom that you need. Standing against everyone and for the truth will not be easy, but the truth will set you free.
Prayer: Father, give me the courage to stand for the truth at all times. Amen.
Psalm 121:1-2 – I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (NIV 2011)
A year ago, I was diagnosed with a ten-inch hernia that could not be operated on until I lost 100 pounds. So far, I have lost 40 pounds, but because of the hernia, I cannot exercise or even walk very far. Last Christmas Day, the hernia aggravated some veins on my abdomen, and I had to go to the emergency room where I bled non-stop for seven hours. I have a mountain to climb!
When people look at mountains, there may be three types of reactions. Some may see the beauty and majesty of God as they look at the firmness and magnificence of a mountain. Others may see the beauty, but they feel that the mountain is something that they need to conquer, and they think of the great feeling that they will have when they reach the crest. Still others may look at the mountain, shake their heads, and think, "Not another mountain. I just don't have the strength to climb again. What can I do?"
No matter which of the three reactions that we may have, God is the same. God is the One Who is our firm foundation, the Creator of all things and the One Who reigns supreme. He is also the God Who makes us more than conquerors, because there is nothing too difficult for Him. He gives us feet like those of a deer so that we can climb the mountain and be triumphant:
Habakkuk 3:19 – The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. (NIV 2011)
He is also the God of the mountains, the One Who never sleeps, the One Who keeps us safe under His shadow, the One Who gives us new strength and mercy every day, the One Who is with us always, and the One Who gives us victory after victory and takes us from glory to glory. We don't climb those mountains alone. He asks only that we trust Him every step of the way. We need to walk in His footsteps.
Isaiah 40:30-31 – Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV 2011)
Prayer: Lord, remind us that no matter what type of reaction we may have when we encounter a mountain that needs to be climbed, we can put our faith in You. Lord, You are not only the God of the mountains, but You are also the God of the earth and the heavens. Help us to look to You for our strength, victory, and mercy. We will climb that mountain with Your strength, and we will know that You are greater than any mountain. Amen.
1 John 5:19 – We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. (NLT)
When people say that they are hostage to something, it means that they are being involuntarily controlled by some outside influence. Sometimes, I feel like I'm being held hostage by forces over which I have no control.
The recreational vehicle park in which I live was bought by a large corporation in 2021. Since then, we've had five managers, three activity directors, constant upheaval with remodelling, and conflict between administration and residents, as this company tries to figure out how to do business in a situation for which they have no previous experience. What used to be a pleasant place to live is not anymore, and there is nothing that I can do about it, except move. I like my house, and my family lives here, so I remain.
On top of all this, inflation is rampant. Gas prices are constantly rising without warning or apparent cause. A bag of groceries is now triple the price of a year or two ago. But I still need gas and groceries, so I, like the rest of the world, pay, despite my worry about finances.
Government leaders pass laws that are completely contrary to biblical principles or that waste millions of dollars on programs and purposes that benefit only their own selfish ambitions. Christians in government positions are constantly stymied in their efforts to make the right decisions. I pray for our leaders, but otherwise, I am held hostage by their actions.
2 Corinthians 4:4a – Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. (NLT)
We shouldn't be surprised at any of this, as throughout history, mankind has rejected God and been deceived by Satan. It started in the Garden of Eden and continues unabated. Satan actively participates in blinding the eyes of those who don't believe in Jesus and thus have no desire to come to Him or do what is right in His eyes. But there is hope!
1 John 5:4-5 – For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. (NLT)
This verse tells us that we can win this battle by putting our faith in Him, trusting our lives to Him, and letting the Holy Spirit lead us. We may not see resolution in our time, but we will have the ultimate victory when we reign with Jesus in heaven. He said:
John 16:33 – I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. (NLT)
Because Jesus is victorious, so will we be! Hallelujah!
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You are in control. Help us to look to You as we deal with life's difficulties. Amen.
One morning at the YWAM (Youth with a Mission) base near Tijuana, Mexico, the staff and students were taught self-protection moves. That area has a reputation for being rough, and tighter security measures, like a nightly patrol, had been implemented at the base. The base security team refreshes their defense training yearly.
Terry and I practised together. The manoeuvres seemed complicated to me. All that I can really remember for practical purposes is that, if someone attacked me, I should put up both hands, fingers extended and call out, "No violence!" I wasn't convinced that I would ever need the other complicated information.
On the other hand, in the spiritual realm, we definitely need defense measures against attacks. However, such attacks are a good sign that we belong to God's army and that we are being effective in our fight against evil.
1 Peter 5:8 – Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (NLT)
Ephesians 6:12 – We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (NLT)
Our great enemy looks for ways to attack, not necessarily physically, but in every other way. We don't have to be afraid of the devil's attacks, however, because God has provided us with His armour and His power against evil forces.
Terry and I just pretended to face the enemy in our practice session, but spiritually, we need to follow Paul's instructions for real: take a stance and put on our spiritual armour.
Ephesians 6:14-17 – Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (NLT)
At every opportunity, the enemy sends fiery arrows our way. He causes discouraging and condemning thoughts and doubts to come into our minds. We can raise up our shield of faith and imagine those arrows deflecting off it — ting! ting! — as they fall powerless to the ground. As well, quoting Scripture is our greatest offensive weapon. Say God's Word aloud — it is powerful!
Ephesians 6:18 – Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (NLT)
Above all, let us not forget to pray!
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for Your wonderful provisions against the evil one. Help us to use them. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Exodus 9:16 – But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. (NIV)
After waking up yesterday morning and finding that I couldn't go back to sleep, I went to my bookshelf to find a book to read. I pulled one out and realized that I hadn't read it in a long time, so I flipped it open. It was written by Timothy Keller: The Reason For God. I also decided to read my daily devotional from PresbyCan: The Sure Foundation, written by Shirley Moulton. She wrote about her carefree early childhood experiences. After reading it, I sent her my words of encouragement:
Your early childhood experiences sound like a dream to me. Why is this? My childhood was the total opposite: fear; anxiety; worry about things that were not my responsibility; self-consciousness; and the lack of love and compassion. I could go on, but I will stop here. The good news is that my lifeline was Jesus. I had unlimited access to our family Bible, and I loved the stories in it. Those early Bible stories shaped my whole life, and here I am today witnessing for Jesus. I still have a far way to go, but one thing I know for sure is that Jesus Christ is my guide, and I am holding on to Him until the end of my journey here on earth. Thank you for sharing your childhood experiences with me today. After opening the book, The Reason For God, what jumped out at me was the following: "Growth in character and change in behavior occur in a gradual process after a person becomes a Christian." And then, "It is often the case that people whose lives have been harder and who are 'lower on the character scale' are more likely to recognize their need for God and turn to Christianity." What a morning!
2 Timothy 1:9 – [God] has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. (NIV)
Often, it is when we are weak and we need something more that we seek out God. "Knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7b NIV) I knocked and walked in because God is my reason.
Psalm 57:2 – I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. (NIV)
How about you? Are you ready to explore why you, too, need God in your life?
Prayer: Gracious God, we thank You for being the reason why we are here. Heavenly Father, thank You for standing at the door, ready to help us when we reach out to You. We give You the praise and the glory. Amen!
Growing up, I was fairly oblivious to the concerns that my parents were then experiencing: money, household, job security, school schedules, and so on. Global and political crises of our country seemed peripheral. My main concerns were playing outside with my friends, reading, and having fun. Looking back, what made our upbringing possible was the steady and deep love that our parents had for us, and the sacrifices and decisions that they made to allow us that kind of unaware, peaceful, and adventurous childhood. That was our assurance.
The way that we have that same kind of assurance in our spiritual lives, as growing Christians, is through the Holy Spirit, the abiding presence of Jesus within us.
1 John 4:13-16 – By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (NKJV)
God should be the steady undercurrent in our lives, changing us from the inside out, educating us, and showing us how to acknowledge Jesus for Who He really is. God's amazing power within us allows us to live the life of love, for He is the source. We can say with confidence that love is not about ourselves, our friends' opinions, or what the latest philosophy says. With Him as our centre, we love unselfishly. Loving in our own power is exhausting!
Here are the central truths about God and how He saves us. Jesus is the promised Saviour, Whom we can know and in Whom we can abide. By recognizing and confessing Him as God's Son, He abides in us, and we are in fellowship with Him. Believing in Him and loving others is the evidence that God has taken hold of us.
My childhood was one of complete trust in the loving environment that my parents provided. Perhaps that was not your experience, but you can reach out now and take the love and grace that God is offering; you can believe and experience it. In this new existence, you have the stable foundation that will not shake with the onslaught of troubles and anxiety over the world's upheavals. Reach out and take the indescribable gift.
Prayer: God our Father, thank You that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, for we are more than conquerors through Him Who loves us. Endow us with that peace that comes from Your firm foundation of love and grace. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 – Don't eavesdrop on the conversation of others. What if the gossip's about you and you'd rather not hear it? You've done that a few times, haven't you — said things behind someone's back you wouldn't say to his face? (MSG)
Years ago, I was on a summer placement in the backwoods of Nova Scotia, Canada. Believe it or not, the phones were the old crank style and, more amazing, connected everyone in the community so that any and all could listen. No conversation could be considered private. While there, I received a call informing me of my uncle's death. For the next week, I was offered condolences from almost every member of my small community, even though I had not shared that information with anyone!
Party line! Listening in was quite a pastime for many. People tend to speak more guardedly when they know that their conversation is being overheard. This event actually saved me many embarrassing moments for the rest of the summer, as I was aware that every word spoken would be heard throughout the community.
Now, fast forward twenty years to the decade that I spent being a "party liner" as a reporter for the CBC Radio show Information Morning in Nova Scotia. I shared news and information about our community to any and all who were listening, knowing that my words would be repeated over and over by early morning listeners to those who had missed it. I was often "the talk of the town", and that was exactly what I wanted.
People listened in on Jesus as He shared the message of God's love. Sometimes, He was simply talking to His disciples privately — or maybe not so privately — and He would make things plain to them.
Mark 4:33-34 – With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots. (MSG)
Jesus used stories as the vehicle to spread His message.
Mark 5:19b-20 – "Go home to your own people. Tell them your story — what the Master did, how he had mercy on you." The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town. (MSG)
There are times when gossip can be embarrassing, as when I received that call many years ago. There are other times, as when I was a "party liner", that the story is meant to be shared far and wide.
We have a story to tell, and we hope that others will be listening in! "I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love." (Katherine Hankey)
Prayer: God, help us to be sensitive to the need for privacy, but also help us to realize that the gospel is always personal, but never private. Help us to share the good news wherever we go. Amen.
Mark 5:2,8-9,18-19 – And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. … [Jesus] was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many." … As [Jesus] was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (ESV)
In my early years, errors of judgement and traumas of life evoked strong emotional responses in me. Oppressive forces latched onto and hid behind the sin, guilt, and shame. These were external entities that were seeking to damage and destroy my life through demon oppression, obsession, and depression.
Over forty years ago, in the hospital, I had an encounter with the Holy Spirit, Who called me to leave my work, go to Bible college, and serve Him. Over a period of time, the oppressive forces were dealt with supernaturally by prayer, Scripture, and Holy Spirit ministry, sometimes with instantaneous results, and other times over a day or two. It was truly a remarkable thing — even bizarre — to have clear insight after being instantly set free and given one's right mind back!
The man with Legion is significant for me because the influence of Legion made him anti-social and a danger, so he was ostracized by the community. When Jesus healed the man, He brought reconciliation, acceptance, forgiveness, re-entry into the local community, and a future with Jesus within His kingdom. Undoubtedly like the man with Legion, I was crying out in desperation, in recognition that something was wrong, asking for help to deter evil, to gain control over the situation, and to be delivered from external forces seeking to stop or nullify what I was doing and would do for God's kingdom. Praise the Lord that Jesus met me at my point of need, and my life was changed.
However, life and the devil have continued to plague my inner faith, hope, and love which are stored in Jesus. Sometimes, it comes through arguing, or pleading with, or questioning and doubting Jesus. Sometimes, it comes in the form of temptations such as pleasures of the flesh, television, mammon, fear of getting older, or fear of getting dementia. Sometimes, evil is physical, confrontational, and unpleasant.
I seek to be available to Jesus, and to put my trust in my journey with Him and the Word of God. As a consequence, I dare not go far from the Word and prayer because the lies of the evil one are relentlessly waiting to catch me out if I stray spiritually.
I believe that Jesus welcomes all those who earnestly seek Him, no matter what the circumstance. Even Legion had to obey the name of Jesus, so no one is beyond Jesus' desire to set free and comfort. Ask Him today.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for being there. Even when we feel alone and are isolated, You will come and find us. We welcome You into our midst today. Amen.
Titus 2:7 – And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. (NLT)
All my male friends seemed to enjoy it, but somehow, I didn't share their enthusiasm.
When I was a pre-teen, putting together model cars was the in thing. Most of my male friends did it and seemed to love it. I looked at the shelves lined with model cars of various styles, shapes, models, and prices, and wondered how someone could get so excited about them. I suppose that most young men wanted to know how to work on cars. Assembling a model car would give them a chance to learn the various parts of the motor.
Not wanting to be the odd boy out, I bought one and quickly discovered that this wasn't for me. While the finished product was stylish, getting to that point was difficult. Model car glue and super glue were surely related. Parts had to be placed in the correct spot quickly and with no glue on my fingers. After one shabby attempt, I decided that I'd get the snap-together type from then on.
Model cars were impressive when assembled correctly. Paul reminds Titus that he was a model to those God had called him to teach. He may have been young, but his good works, teaching, and integrity were to model Christ well.
We, too, are to model Christ. I'm not sure that my one cemented-together model car was a good representation of the real thing. My life, however, should display a more accurate depiction of Christ.
Jesus modelled the Father. He said that looking at Himself was the same as gazing upon the heavenly Father. He was kind, compassionate, empathetic, service-minded, conscientious of others' needs, and firmly grounded in the Word. When tempted, He was armoured to resist the fiery darts of Satan. In times of persecution — even death — for His beliefs, He stood firm.
Constant attention to what kind of models we are is essential. An unfocused mind is a wandering mind — into places, actions, and words that don't represent Christ well. Distractions will take us where we don't need to go and, in the process, distort the model that others see.
Remember how the Christ Who put you together appears. Don't let someone or something glue pieces where they don't belong.
Prayer: Father, give us strength to model Your attributes well before others. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-6 – To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; … a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; … a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away. (NKJV)
There is an appointed time for everything!
The word "time" appears 28 times in the book of Ecclesiastes and over 600 times in the Bible as a whole.
I have always been fascinated by all kinds of old manual pendulum wall clocks, which have been around since 1675. When I was younger, I enjoyed repairing and adjusting these clocks. Now, for me, even moving the bob up and down on the pendulum rod takes painful patience and dexterity to adjust the time to the exact second.
What makes a clock "tick" and "tock"? Most pendulum clocks have a time regulator that uses an escapement. The escapement makes the particular "tick-tock" noises, with the "tick" as the pendulum swings to one side, and then the "tock" as it releases on the other side of the swing. If one listens carefully, there is a definite difference in the sounds of the tick and the tock. The tick is sharp and quick, while the tock is dull and a little hesitant.
Why do I say all this? Because in reality the only time that we have to get ready for eternity is between the tick and the tock, which is one second.
2 Corinthians 6:2 – For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (NKJV)
The word "now" is used twice in this verse for a reason: the day of salvation should be now, today. It cannot be put off for tomorrow because tomorrow may be too late. The time to be saved is now.
You may be listening to your pendulum clock ticking away the seconds right now. It may be a reminder that the time has come to ask for forgiveness and accept the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart. May God bless you as you pray this prayer!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, for too long I've have wanted to be saved. I know that I am a sinner and I need You now more than ever. I hear my clock ticking away the seconds all too quickly. By faith, I am now ready to trust You as my Lord and Saviour, and I receive Your gift of salvation. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank You for forgiving me and for the gift of eternal life. Thank You for coming into my heart, Lord Jesus, as I trust You to be my Saviour. Amen.
2 Timothy 2:15 – Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (NIV)
Ruby is an Irish Setter. Setters are tall dogs with long legs. At five months of age, some days, Ruby's long legs cause her a great deal of trouble. She careens around corners, ending up on her side with four lanky legs flying out in every direction. She leaps from the bed, landing in a tangle of legs. She races across the field tumbling head over heels into the grass. Yet, she keeps running and leaping and forging ahead.
Regarding the handling of God's Word, like many of us, I often feel like Ruby. Whether through writing or speaking, handling the Word of God can make us feel clumsy and inadequate. Its truths are unfathomable, and seeking to explain the depths of them to others can be a formidable task. Understanding the Word and passing it on correctly to others, however, is not something that we are called to do on our own. Jesus told us:
John 16:13 – But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (NIV)
The Holy Spirit enables and equips God's people. He reminds us of the truths that we already have learned, "the word planted in you, which can save you." (James 1:21b NIV) As we continue to study God's Word, He is also able to open our hearts and minds to new depths of truth that we have yet to learn. He also strengthens us, for as Paul wrote, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13 NIV)
Therefore, much like Ruby, we must continue to forge ahead when it comes to passing along the Word of truth to others. We may be clumsy as we seek to do so, but as we continue to do our best to present ourselves to God "as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth", through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us, that is exactly what and who we will become.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Word and for giving it to us, not only for our own growth and salvation but also to pass on to others so that they, too, may come to know You and live the abundant life. May each of us seek to forge ahead, even amidst our clumsiness, knowing and trusting that as we do so, our attempts will be used by Your Holy Spirit to grow and mature both us and those with whom we share the Word. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Oh, what a difference one tiny little letter made! My high school classmate, Annette, had just sent me an email telling about her upcoming surgery for shin cancer. Shin cancer? I'd never heard of such a thing, but knowing that Annette had spent her career as a high school physical education teacher and had played recreational soccer for most of her adult years, it sounded feasible. Shin guards are obviously worn for a reason in soccer, so I wondered if there was some kind of connection between Annette's soccer playing and her shin cancer.
Sympathetically, I asked if her shin cancer was connected to her many years of playing soccer. "No," she responded, "It's skin cancer, due to years of sun exposure." Many in our generation are now reaping the consequences of basting ourselves with baby oil to help develop a suntan rather than using sunblock as a preventative! To add just one more layer to this comical exchange, Annette added, "But it's right either way because I have skin cancer on my shin!"
All too often, I've found myself in the same kind of downward spiral of miscommunication. Just as an "h" rather than a "k" changed not only a word but also the meaning of my email exchange with my classmater, typos can slip into my own messages so easily. In addition, my computer and iPhone think that they can read my mind, autocorrecting at will. I've found that it's essential to review an email or text message carefully before clicking "Send"!
How many other miscommunications and misunderstandings in our lives are also due to very small things! We may misinterpret a facial expression or an ordinary gesture. We may blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, immediately wishing that we could take our words back. A seemingly small comment can set off a chain reaction of misunderstanding and hurt.
James 3:8-10 – No one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! (NLT)
Though a very small thing can cause great damage, in contrast a single word, small gesture, or thoughtful action can bring great blessing. Life is always a balancing act, and we don't always get things right, but it warrants intentional thought and focus to speak and act kindly rather than to inflict hurt carelessly and needlessly.
We can ask for godly help and wisdom every day in our interactions with others. It is only through God's power that we can tame our tongues and live and act in ways that honour and please Him. Let's go to the source of love as we determine to pass it on.
Prayer: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Amen. (Psalm 19:14 NLT)
Being American, I am aware that for the most part, mine is a coffee-drinking country. In a 2021 report from urbanbeancoffee.com, statistics of coffee consumption in the United States of America were given.
- Sixty-four percent of American adults consume coffee every day, an average of 3.1 cups per day, for a total of 400 million cups per day and 146 billion cups per year.
- Seventy-nine percent of Americans prepare coffee at home.
- Thirty-five percent of coffee drinkers usually consume classic black coffee.
There are many different varieties of coffee beans, roasting techniques, coffee flavours, decaf versions, and methods of preparing coffee, including espressos, lattes, and cappuccinos — and let's not forget regular drip coffee. Coffee producers and sellers work very hard at enticing consumers into choosing their products over the rest.
My dad believed that black coffee was the real deal. I can't tell you how many times that he would affectionately make fun of me because I just couldn't down a cup of coffee without some sort of sweetener. He would snub his nose at anyone who drank flavoured coffee or decaf coffee, because in his mind, those weren't real coffee.
Matthew 7:15-16a – Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. (ESV)
In today's verse, Jesus is telling us that there are fake prophets and those trying to sell themselves or their product as the real form of religion. Out there in the world, with all the different versions of what people claim to be the real God, we can be confused about what is right to believe.
But at the end of John 10:10, we see Jesus' perfect description of a Christian life: "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (ESV) Jesus came to give His life so that our sins can be forgiven and we can have a full and eternal life. All we have to do is choose to accept Him and His way.
Jesus is the real deal. He came to obey and fulfill God's Word perfectly. No one else can make that claim. Let us trust Jesus implicitly and believe steadfastly in His truth and authority.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son so that we can accept Him as the real deal toward a life with You in charge. Keep us always on the right path and away from the fakes. We love You! Protect us from harm, and keep us from harming others. Help us to be the people that we need to be as we exhibit Your qualities, and do our best to be authentic. Amen.
Psalm 42:1 – As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. (NIV)
She never told us why, but Psalm 42 was my mother's favourite psalm. For such a seemingly happy and faithful woman, I found that to be a strange choice. It was written by someone who was searching for a relationship with God, someone who was desperate to find Him.
However, one day not long ago, I heard a sermon on YouTube. The minister said that he had gone through a period in his life when he was really struggling, and when he thought about Psalm 42, it gave him comfort. I think that the same may have happened to my mother.
Some years ago, a cousin told me that my mother had been in love with a cousin. They were young, and they wanted to get married, but my mother was raised in a very strict Christian family, and back then, one hundred years ago, cousins did not marry. So, they broke up, and she quit her job and went home to stay with her parents. She was 26 years old and very distraught.
While staying there, she met a man who had been married and had a seven-year-old daughter, but again, marrying a divorced man was out of the question. Her parents were against it, and she may have had some anguish over it herself, but nevertheless, they were married in 1931.
I'm sure that she had a lot of personal struggles when her life changed so suddenly. She had been living in a big city; now, she was in her husband's house in a semi-rural area with an instant family. Those were also the depression years, and things were tough. She may not have adjusted to her new life quickly. In retrospect, it may have been a very great personal struggle for her.
But she knew her Bible well, and she must have received a lot of comfort from this psalm. She could relate to the writer, and thus, it became her favourite.
Psalm 42:11 – Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. (NIV)
Those words would have given her a new outlook on life, along with contentment and peace.
There may also be some of us who are struggling with a personal situation. There may be times when we, too, wonder what makes us so unhappy. At such times, it is good to remember to put our hope in God.
Isaiah 41:13 – For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, "Fear not, I will help you." (NKJV)
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we know that during the difficult times in our lives, You are with us, and we thank You, in Jesus' name. Amen.
When my husband retired at age 55, we moved to a mountain community in central California, USA. Soon, he began to lead Sunday services at the nearby home for disabled adults. Struggling to find ways to help them understand God's message, he discovered object lessons: using visual aids to introduce and enhance the Scripture. For instance, baby food can be used to develop a lesson on how we need to grow up spiritually and study the Bible.
As he expanded his repertoire, he discovered gospel illusions: using tricks or illusions to present the good news through visual parables. He developed a program that included a variety of "hand magic" — no elaborate props, just simple illusions that mystified the audience.
When we travelled, we looked for opportunities to share. We presented our program in campgrounds and churches as we travelled around the United States, including two churches while on a cruise in Alaska.
1 Peter 4:10 – God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. (NLT)
My husband was not by nature a public speaker, but he persisted in using this late-in-life gift that God gave him. In his late 70s, this gift blossomed into being a substitute preacher in the recreational vehicle park chapels that we served with in our summer home. Anyone who knew him in his 40s would never have believed that that could happen.
Each of us has at least one God-given gift that we can use to spread the gospel and to serve others. Some gifts are more obvious: preaching, teaching, leading music, or singing solos. But others are not. I remember a gracious lady in our church in California who declared that she had no gift. I gently corrected her, "You are the most hospitable person I've ever met. You welcome people at church and into your home. You bless those around you with your sweet attitude, making everyone feel welcome." She was looking for something more visible and didn't realize the impact that she had on others.
Philippians 2:3-4 – Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (NLT)
In addition to discovering our gifts, we need to use them to bless and build up others. We need to make sure that others are encouraged, honoured, built up, strengthened, and equipped through our actions.
Do you know what your gift is? Are you using it to honour God and serve others? It's never too late to find out, as my husband discovered.
Prayer: Father, help us to discover and to use our gifts in Your service. We want to be a blessing and encouragement to others. Amen.
A few years ago, our family was finishing up a meal at a restaurant. My husband and I were visiting our eldest son who had just started a new job at Adult and Teen Challenge, which rehabilitates those struggling with drug or alcohol dependency. Chris was in charge of a group of men who were putting their lives back in order. They cooked meals, chopped and delivered wood, and studied the Bible together. As Chris described his responsibilities as a leader, we sensed that he was struggling with his job. As he talked, he began to sound more and more overwhelmed. The atmosphere in the quiet restaurant began to feel gloomy and oppressive as we listened to the frustration in his voice. I could feel the insurmountable negativity that my son could not shake off.
We should pray, I thought, but I didn't know how to pray.
I knew that it was God's will that our son do his job with faith and confidence. He had all the resources of heaven at his disposal. Somehow, momentarily, he had taken his eyes off God, and was bogged down in inevitable challenges. But how to put this into words?
Romans 8:26 – And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. (NLT)
I began to pray quietly under my breath, using the words of the prayer language that Jesus had given to me when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit:
Romans 8:27 – And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. (NLT)
Although I didn't understand my words, God did, and as I prayed, the atmosphere in the room began to change and lighten. Our son stopped his negative talk. There was a definite turning point in his demeanour.
Acts 1:8a – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere. (NLT)
The day of Pentecost was a turning point for the early followers of Jesus. As the believers met together, "everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages." (Acts 2:4 NLT) From that day on, the disciples went forward in power and boldness. A turning point in my life came when I was filled the Holy Spirit.
As believers, Jesus already lives in us through the Holy Spirit. Ask the Lord to fill you, to baptize you with His Spirit for power and boldness to witness for Him. Ask Him to give you a prayer language for those situations when you don't know how to pray.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that through Him we can have power and boldness in our Christian lives. Fill us to overflowing we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Isaiah 43:1 – But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. (NRSV)
Have you ever heard of the Tree of Heaven? What a beautiful name! The scientific name is Ailanthus altissima. Native to China, it is now found worldwide, often appearing as an invasive species. It is said to symbolize perseverance and hope amidst hardship. That sounds good until you realize that this tree often causes hardship for native plants, choking out flora and fauna with thick growth and rapid reproduction. National Geographic actually calls the Tree of Heaven "a hellish invasive species". So, how did it get its name? The name appears to come from the tree's ability to reach up to the sky very quickly, so that makes some sense and maybe explains why many folks in British Columbia, Canada, cultivated it, at least for a while. It has also been called the Paradise Tree. Where it has shown its deadlier side it gets names like varnish tree, copal tree and stinking sumac — names not so complimentary!
What's in a name? That's a good question. I am writing this the day before the birthday of our firstborn, a son. We had waited more than seven years for him. We wanted to spend time in thought and prayer before we gave him a name that would be part of his identification for the rest of his life. The hospital had other ideas. We were politely told that we could not take home our new bundle of joy until he was properly named. So much for deep thought and prayer!
We had a couple of days before my wife would be released and this gave us a little time to try to get this right. After all, we had never done this before. Newborn son, as the prophet of old said, we "called you by name; you are mine"!
As we signed out of the hospital, we proudly spoke his name for the first time to others: Jonathan David Kenneth Stright. His name embodied a biblical promise and a heritage from both sides of his family, and the hospital was satisfied enough to let us go.
That baby has grown into a wonderful man who brings honour to the four names that identify him! God has given us such a blessing in him, and he remains beloved of God and beloved by his parents, sisters, wife and all who know him. He is a comely man!
We are invited to remember that we are beloved of God and that we have been called by name. The names of those who answer His call are written in the Book of Life. Thanks be to God Who makes all this possible through Jesus Christ Who calls us His friends!
Prayer: You have called me by my name even in my mother's womb, and You have walked with me all the days of my life. I am grateful, Lord God, that You know me and love me and call me by name. Amen.
During this past January, we spent time in Florida, USA, with our two sons. They had brought their boat down from Canada in November. We decided that the weather looked good enough to take the boat to the Atlantic side of Florida near Cocoa Beach.
We carefully picked a launch site in the Intracoastal Waterway, making sure that it was at low tide. If we had launched at high tide, when we returned at low tide, there might not have been enough water in the channel for us to get back. Following the channel markers, we made our way out towards the Atlantic Ocean, but with no plans to go out into the open ocean.
At Cape Canaveral, we boated past all the cruise ships that were anchored in the waterway and were getting ready to leave later that afternoon. As we approached the Atlantic Ocean, we were surprised at how calm it was, and we made the decision to go out past the channel markers and wait for the rocket launch that was scheduled around supper time.
As we anchored there, we watched the cruise ships leave, and then we saw the rocket launch, which was spectacular! As we made our way back toward the place where our truck and boat trailer were parked, it began to get dark. At first, we were not too concerned about this, as the boat had lights, we knew there were channel markers all the way, and we had a GPS.
What we hadn't anticipated was that the channel markers were not lit and did not have any reflective markers on them. We knew the dangers of not being between these channel markers due to shoals and protected areas. For just over an hour in the pitch black, we slowly made our way back toward the launch spot. One son and I were at the front of the boat spotting channel markers and calling out, "Channel marker on the left" or "Channel marker on the right" to our other son who was driving, to ensure that he remained between them.
I have reflected on the life lessons of this day since we came back home. We always need to be aware of our surroundings, and even when we plan for all the details, things can go differently.
Proverbs 16:1 – We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God's hands. (TLB)
Like boat lights picking up channel markers, how reassuring is the Word of God to point the way when we face challenges and surprises in our day. Nothing is a surprise for Jesus.
Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (NIV)
Let's endeavour to stay between the markers that God provides!
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for the light that Your Word provides for us. Help us to remain between the channel markers that You have set out for our lives. Thank You for Your hand of protection in all areas of our lives. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
Luke 7:48,50b – Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven. … Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (NLT)
Fundamentalist was the term that Dad used to describe himself. Mom's take on things, I was unsure about. Occasionally, I would pick up vibes that she disagreed with some of Dad's philosophy. I knew that he believed that faith was the way to God, but the constant emphasis on rules seemed to interfere with what he attempted to teach me about God. What seeped through was the "thou shalt nots". When I finally began meditating on God's Word rather than just reading it, I discovered that God wanted more in our relationship than my obeying a list.
I doubt that the sinful woman who approached Jesus attended the synagogue. She was considered a "sinner" and probably wouldn't have been welcome. She wasn't invited to this party either, but for some reason, Simon, the host, didn't throw her out. Apparently, her actions toward Jesus greatly astonished Simon and the guests. Perhaps they let her carry out her actions so that they could get more proof that Jesus wasn't the Messiah. Either way, she stayed and cried on Jesus' feet, wiped off her tears with her hair, and anointed His feet with perfume.
Jesus rewarded her actions with praise. He didn't give her a list of things to do when she left if she wanted to be His disciple. He merely recognized her faith and told her to go in peace. She had discovered what the religious leaders thought they had — but hadn't. Their service to God was like mine when I was young — obeying a list of commands. Jesus went deeper with the woman.
The philosophy of the religious elite of Jesus' day was plain. They connected to God through obeying numerous rituals and hundreds of commands. The result was failure and turmoil. By allowing the sinful woman to perform her ritual, Jesus tried to demonstrate their error. His philosophy has to do with repentance and faith. Her actions portrayed her faith, and her faith – not rote obedience to rules — saved her. She received what the religious snobs tried so hard but failed to obtain — a relationship.
What philosophy of religion are you following? If it doesn't include repentance and faith, it will fail you.
Prayer: Father, remind us that the way to You is through faith and repentance. Amen.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (NRSV)
Every day, I pray for my family who live in the United States, as well as those in Scotland and around the world. I ask God to bless and protect them, to guide and support them, to love and cherish them. It's a ritual that I go through each morning, and whether or not I'll see or hear from them that day, they're in my prayers, on my mind, and in my heart. No matter what they're going through or how they are feeling, I am comforted, knowing that God will be with them and that they will not be alone.
But the most important part of my daily prayer is that they would know that they are not alone and that God is with them. I ask God to give them opportunities to draw closer to Him, and especially to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour if they have not already done so. I want them to know the love of God and the price that He decided to pay so that all of them could be favoured and forgiven, renewed and brought into God's kingdom. I pray this, not just because I want them to personally know that they are not alone, but because it's what God wants for them, too. This is why He sent His Son to earth long ago to reach out to humanity and gather us safely from the chaos, confusion, and commotion that we all experience in our lives. God didn't create any of us to be fearful or lonely; He made us to be thankful and loved.
You can also ask these prayers for your families, loved ones, and friends. Jesus gave everything so that we can gain everlasting life with God. Our lives on earth may be finite and the years may go by too quickly, but God cherishes us so much that He wants our lives and love to continue beyond our time on this planet. God doesn't want any one of us to perish at all, but to gain everlasting life.
Point to ponder: Do I know what God wants me to do?
Prayer: Lord God, thank You for creating us to be loved and not to be alone. Help us to reach out to You today and receive the blessings of Your acceptance and eternal love. Enable us to overcome our doubts and fears so that we may cherish the gift of Christ and receive His peace in our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls. In His name, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 119:9-11 – How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (NIV)
When we moved last spring, one of our priorities was the construction of a hay barn on our new property: a place where feed for our livestock could be kept dry while also allowing fresh air to circulate. Hay that is not protected and does not have good air circulation becomes mouldy and inedible, which can lead to hunger or even starvation for the livestock if feed cannot be replaced throughout the winter.
As I was thinking on these things while I was out feeding the animals, these thoughts occurred to me: how do I protect the spiritual nourishment of God's Word within my heart? How do I store it in this earthly temple or barn of mine, so that its wisdom is readily available day by day within my heart and mind in order to feed me in the righteous ways of the Lord?
Today's Scripture reading begins to give us some answers to these pertinent questions. The psalmist first states that he puts God's Word into action within his life. He doesn't just read it; he practices it by living it continually and diligently. Practice teaches us that God's Word never fails, and that it is always right and true and for our good. Such experiences and repetition have the power to write its truth upon our minds with the indelible ink of God's faithfulness, so that His word is forever there within us to draw upon as needed.
The psalmist also hides Scripture within his heart. In other words, he reads it, writes it, or speaks it aloud, often enough that he remembers it. Once again, the habit of practice is being applied. The Word thus becomes a part of him. It is storing itself up for future nourishment, especially amidst the spiritual winter seasons that we all experience from time to time.
These verses also reveal something else vitally important: the psalmist puts his relationship with God first in his life. God is number One. It's about what God wants, not about what he wants. This, in turn, grants the Holy Spirit the freedom and power not only to motivate him to know God better by studying the Scriptures, but also to circulate throughout his heart and mind the wisdom and truth of those words, which then overflow into all his decisions, as well as to all those around him. Those words can do the same for us, as we, too, practice the protection of God's Word within us.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Word. May we, like the psalmist, practice good habits that empower us to protect and store Your Word within our hearts and minds, that we, too, might not sin against You. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
My sister, Tracey, was six years older than I was, but we were always together. When we were younger, we were referred to as "Becky and Tracey" or "Tracey and Becky". Mom would make or buy us clothes that were similar for special days like Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving. Tracey's friends always had younger siblings who became my friends.
She taught me how to drive and how to put on makeup, she helped me with my homework, and even showed me on a pillow how to plant a kiss on a boy's cheek. (I was too young to learn anything else that she told me!) Together, we went shopping, we went to the movies, and we went out to eat. Before she married, I was always at her house. My maternal grandmother called us "two peas in a pod".
We were always together — that is, until she became older, was married, and started having children. I didn't marry; I chose a career to be my "husband", and the newspaper articles that I wrote were my "children". So, we were both busy doing different things and had different lifestyles. Tracey went through a dark time, and we went our separate ways because of it. A few years before she died of cancer, we met and shared a hug. We both knew the truth that no matter what happened between us, sisters we would always be.
Matthew 28:20b – Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (NLT)
This verse is a reminder that we are together with Jesus always, even when we don't feel His presence. He is with us in our joys and sorrows, in our triumphs and failures, in our doubts and fears. He is with us in every moment of our lives, guiding us, comforting us, and strengthening us.
When we face challenges and difficulties, it's easy to feel alone and abandoned. But Jesus promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
He is always there, walking with us, holding our hand, and leading us through the storm. So let us take comfort in His promise for today and remember that we are never alone. Jesus is with us always, even to the end of the age.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for always being with us, and for never giving up on us. Amen.
Three weeks after my knee surgery (see Blessings From Pain) I returned to the doctor, ready to be rid of the rigid leg brace. Its three metal bars dug into my leg and I was sure that my skin must be shrivelled and dry underneath. I sat in the examination room, happily thinking of my soon-to-come freedom.
Unfortunately, it was not to be. I didn't know that I had also torn the tendon that goes over the patella (kneecap). It needs longer to heal, so I was to have three more weeks of that repulsive brace. But that wasn't all. After that, I'll wear a hinged brace for three more weeks. Counting the days that I wore a brace before surgery, that's more than ten weeks of limited movement and depending on others. Depressing! As one of my friends said after I told him, "I understand. You've got places to go, people to see, and things to do, right?"
James 1:2-4 – Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (NLT)
Ironically, when I opened my journal the next morning, I saw that my prayer on the day of the appointment was, "Lord, help me consider troubles an opportunity for joy so my endurance will grow"!
Notice that James said when troubles come, not if they come. Sometimes, we create them, and sometimes, they come our way unsolicited, but they will come. They may be small, as when my car began to leak oil after I'd just had it changed, or more life-changing, like my knee surgery. So, what do we do?
First, James says, "consider it an opportunity for great joy" — evaluate the way that we look at trials. We can choose to respond with "poor me" or we can choose to see what God has in it for us to grow. This is a daily struggle for me, but I'm getting better every day.
James 1:5a – If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. (NLT)
We can all grow in wisdom. Searching the Scriptures will reveal His will to us. He may also reveal it in other ways, through sermons, books by trusted authors, or wise words from friends.
Psalm 34:1 – I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. (NLT)
I have a screenshot on my phone that states, "You can rewire your brain to be happy by simply recalling three things you're grateful for every day for 21 days." How much more so if we praise the Lord at all times and constantly!
Prayer: Lord, sometimes, we'd much rather sit and wallow in our pain or problems. Help us, instead, to look at them as a way to grow, to ask You for wisdom, and to praise You, even if we don't feel like it. Amen.
1 John 1:7-9 – But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)
Recently, I experienced a problem with my computer and a tech person was helping me. After some searching, he discovered the problem. He looked at me and said, "You have PEBKAC." My first thought was that my computer had a virus, because I had just come through both COVID-19 and the flu at the same time, and it was bad. I was somewhat humbled when he explained that PEBKAC is an acronym for Problem Exists Between Keyboard and Chair, which is a polite term for user error.
Humiliation changed to conviction as a new acronym, PEBOUS, formed in my mind: Problem Exists Because Of Unconfessed Sin.
Bible verses were flooding my mind, like:
Deuteronomy 30:19 – I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live. (NKJV)
I began humming the tune:
Search me, O God, and know my heart today,
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free. – J. Edwin Orr
Judges 21:25 – In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (NKJV)
It appears these days that very few people — even Christians — know what sin is anymore. To expect God to forgive us without our taking sin seriously cheapens His grace and lacks trust in the atonement that Christ provided for us. We need to repent.
Sin separates us from God. Unconfessed sin is a problem of believers, not unbelievers. Believers are already forgiven in Christ, but still sometimes commit sin and need to ask God for forgiveness and cleansing. Repentance comes only through the power of the Holy Spirit and dependence on the Lord. It is a wonderful gift that God has given us.
Remember PEBOUS, and by God's grace, follow through. You may want to pray this prayer:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your lovingkindness that leads us to repentance. You have convicted me of my sin. Help me to be quick to acknowledge that sin before You and even quicker to turn from my sinful ways. May my repentance be sincere, genuine, and guided by the Holy Spirit as I come with a willing mind, a contrite heart, and true godly sorrow. Thank You for Your forgiveness as You cleanse me from every sin. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
John 1:5,9 – The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (NRSV)
Of late, I have become somewhat obsessed with the dawn, the morning clothed in ever-changing radiance, which I have captured scores of times with my camera — and still, I cannot do it justice. One of my favourite shots is of the first sliver that heralds the dawn, that moment when the world is still in total darkness, yet, without a doubt, the end of the night is guaranteed by that barely discernible glow. That glow changes everything.
There is a story from the Hasidic tradition about a rabbi who was asked one day by a student, "How can one tell when the new day has come?"
The rabbi reversed the question and asked his student, "You tell me how you can know."
The student guessed, "Is it when the rooster crows to signal a new dawn?"
"No," the rabbi answered.
"Is it then perhaps when one can discern the silhouette of a tree against the sky?"
"No," he was told.
"The surest way to know when the night is over and when a new day has come is when you can look into the face of a stranger, one who is so different from you, and recognize him as your brother. See her as your sister. Until that day comes, it will always be night."
The dawn broke for us when the glimmer of light first came in the Word made flesh. All the powers of the night were futile with the dawning of the age of the Son of God.
With this dawning day, we are invited, once again, to see the face of Christ in everyone we meet, and to pray that everyone we meet may see even a glimmer of the Christ in us.
Prayer: Let the rain come and wash away the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds held and nurtured over generations. Let the rain wash away the memory of the hurt, the neglect. Then let the sun come out and fill the sky with rainbows. Let the warmth of the sun heal us wherever we are broken. Let it burn away the fog so that we can see each other clearly, so that we can see beyond labels, beyond accents, gender or skin colour. Let the warmth and brightness of the sun melt our selfishness, so that we can share the joys and feel the sorrows of our neighbours. And let the light of the sun be so strong that we will see all people as our neighbours. Let the earth, nourished by rain, bring forth flowers to surround us with beauty. And let the mountains teach our hearts to reach upward to heaven. Amen. – Rabbi Harold S. Kushner
Psalm 90:10 – The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (KJV)
The Lord willing, in July of this year, the days of my years will be fourscore years and ten. Early one morning recently, that made me think of the many things that have changed in my life, personally as well as in society. I have lost all my ex-colleagues, some of whom I was in touch with up to a year or so ago. I have also lost some really good local friends. I talked with one of them on almost a weekly basis about his hockey career, personal things, our faith, and church life. Most of the people I knew at church have either passed away or moved, either into a nursing home or to be with or near one of their children. During the past year or so, Greta, my wife of 68 years, has been struggling with dementia.
I recall the struggles that we had when we first got married, but also the good times. I remember how we mourned the death of our first child and the joy that we had with three more healthy children, eight grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren. There are so many places that we have lived and trips that we have made with our children or by ourselves, up until just a few years ago.
Now, for both of us, many days are somewhat of a struggle. Quite often we have trouble discussing important things in our daily lives: children and grandchildren, family members, current events, as well as the things that we need to do every day. Even the church has become less important to us, with new people and new ideas. Changes!
During my years doing pastoral care at the local long-term care facility, I had many discussions with some of the residents who were struggling, and I always cited three helpful Bible passages, which we then quite often discussed.
Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (NKJV)
Psalm 121:2 – My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (NKJV)
Matthew 11:28 – Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (NKJV)
Indeed, we do carry our burdens in prayer to God in Jesus' name, and we do receive strength from the Lord.
If you are going through a similar situation, some of the words of one my favourite hymns may speak to your heart: What a Friend we have in Jesus, by Joseph Scriven (1820-1886).
Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered by a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge:
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we pray that You will give us comfort, strength, peace of mind, and patience during the difficult times in our lives. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Luke 7:37-38 – When a certain immoral woman from that city heard [Jesus] was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. (NLT)
"Fear God" was a command that I often heard in my dad's sermons. And I did.
Some years after my father's death, I uncovered the only recorded sermon that I have of his. I had forgotten what a fireball that he was when he preached. Most of my memories are of him as a Southern Methodist preacher. He was strict — almost legalistic. Fearing God — literally — was a part of his theology, at least as a young preacher.
As a child, I took my father's advice and feared God. Of course, I probably misunderstood the definition of fear at this young age, but I was scared. Scared of committing the wrong sin and having God annihilate me. Scared that I might not make it to heaven after all. Scared that I wouldn't please Him regardless of what I did. It was a skewed interpretation, but mine nonetheless, and one that didn't change for many years.
The sinful woman's view of God must have been quite different from that of the legalistic religious leader. Jesus observed, "I tell you, her sins — and they are many — have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love." (Luke 7:47 NLT) She understood more about Jesus than the Pharisee.
Somewhere along the way, my view of God changed as well. No longer was He a faraway deity I couldn't approach. While I still held a healthy fear of Him — after all, He could snuff out my life by issuing a second-long command — I came to understand that He wasn't out to get me. Yes, He has standards, and yes, I was obligated to obey them, but He was after a relationship with me. He wanted me to love Him with all my heart and serve Him consistently.
Fortunately, I avoided the other extreme view of God, that He is the grandfatherly type Who will let me get away with sin. God is a God of discipline, but He is more interested in teaching than punishing me.
In the person of the Holy Spirit, God is as near as the breath that we breathe. He calls us to a holy fear, but more so to a loving relationship.
How does your picture of God affect your journey with Him?
Prayer: Father, may our fear of You lead us to love You wholeheartedly and serve You diligently. Amen.
Have you ever had questions that you wish you had asked your parents? As an only child, I have no siblings with whom to converse about various subjects. In a day when birth control was not what it is today, my parents had been married eleven years before I was born. They were also of a generation — long past, I fear — when subjects such as birth control were not discussed. There are questions that they would have answered, but I never thought of asking them until after both parents were dead.
One question was about my name. My given name is "Saranne". I never knew whence that name came. The only person who ever called me that was my Aunt Florine. She was my father's sister, and she insisted on calling me "Saranne". Everyone else, including my parents, has called me "Punky". Do I know why I received that name? No, I really do not. One story is that I was jaundiced at birth, and someone made a remark about my pumpkin colour. Another is that by the time I was born, my parents' friends' children were all older, and I was everyone's little "pumpkin", which transformed into "Punky". All eight of our grandchildren except one call me "Punky" or "Punk". One of them said, "No one else has a grandmother with your name, Punk."
To this day, no one calls me "Saranne". I am well over 80, and the name "Punky" remains. But more important than that name is the fact that I am called a child of God because I declared that Jesus Christ is my Saviour.
John 1:12 – But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (ESV)
Isaiah 62:2b-3 – You shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. (ESV)
Abram, Sarai, Jacob, Simon, and Saul were all given new names to reflect the changes that God would be making in their lives. We, too, are given a new name — child of God — when we are adopted into God's family. Will we surrender to His lordship and live up to the transforming power of that new name?
Prayer: Lord, You tell us, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1 ESV) Help us to believe that and to live in accordance with it. Amen.
I have a dog run. This is a fenced area where the dogs can be outside to attend to their personal needs anytime they want. The area is thickly layered with gravel, making cleanup and disinfecting easy. The gravel, however, gets depleted; it gets eaten, not by the dogs, but by the ground itself. Little by little, the earth absorbs the gravel back into itself. To keep on top of this problem, I replenish it once or twice yearly.
Likewise, I, too, have found that I need replenishing from time to time. My physical, mental, and spiritual being becomes depleted by the cares of this world. I get worn thin. My patience is sorely tried. My temper bubbles more easily. What is normally a pleasure becomes a burden. My spirit is dry, and grumbling can easily replace praise and thanksgiving. Perhaps, most of my readers know exactly what I mean: human beings becoming depleted in various areas of their lives is, indeed, a fact of earthly life.
Becoming depleted, however, can be kept to a minimum by learning to allow ourselves to be replenished before the situation becomes dire. As Benjamin Franklin advised, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." In other words, it is wiser, whenever possible, to stop a problem from happening, than to deal with its consequences. So, today, let's do just that:
Psalm 34:17-18 – The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (NIV)
If we are beginning to feel tired and worn thin, depleted by whatever struggles that we are wrestling with, let us make a point of stopping and doing as the psalmist did amidst his times of need. Let us cry out to the Lord, Who not only hears, but is able to help. He is able to replenish us — body, mind, and soul — as we look to Him amidst our need, for He and He alone knows us inside and out. He knows just what we require even before we ourselves do. Perhaps it is rest or food, laughter or friendship, a healing touch, a word of truth, a holiday, financial assistance, a solution to an ongoing problem, strength, or courage. Whatever it is, He knows. Let us therefore be wise, take advantage of His wonderful knowledge. and allow Him to guide, to direct, and to fill us up anew, for an ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure.
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You know us inside out. Help us in wisdom to cry out to You for the replenishment of body, mind, and soul, before our situation becomes dire, that we might glorify You at all times and in all ways. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.
Genesis 4:26b – At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord. (NIV)
I don't know how many times in my life that I've called on the name of the Lord, but I'm thankful for God's gracious response when I've needed reassurance, guidance, deliverance, and support. As a troubled teenager who lost his way because of alcohol, I remember pleading with God to help me overcome my addiction. Years later, when I served the Lord as a parish minister, I tried to guide others who faced the same struggle, and I called on God to intervene. Sometimes, the Lord didn't answer in ways that I expected, and I struggled with those moments, but overall, when I've gone to God for help, the Lord has patiently shown me what to do and graciously led me through whatever I was painfully or fearfully experiencing, as well as enabling me to assist others.
I guess that's what led people way back in history to call upon the Lord. Whenever they experienced something too big to handle or too puzzling to understand, they looked to their Creator to give them answers. It seems to be an important part of human nature to call on a higher power or a supreme being for help. I think I once read somewhere that 92 per cent of the world's population prays to their god. This means that the vast majority of people on earth, throughout history, and up until the present day, believe in a supreme being. The mission of the church is to help people everywhere to understand that the One to Whom they should be praying is the God Who is revealed to us in the Bible, the heavenly Father Whom Jesus asks us to worship and serve. As for me, I find that comforting, so I will continue to call on the Lord in times of trouble and fear, as well as in moments of gladness and celebration.
Point to ponder: As we wander throughout life, how many times will we earnestly call on the name of God in prayer? And how many times will God lovingly answer our requests?
Prayer: Even now, Lord, as we read or speak these words, we're calling on Your name. We're asking for guidance and blessings, comfort and support. Be near to us even when we wander away; be close to us when we feel lonely or vulnerable; be real to us when reality perplexes us. In Your holy name, we make this prayer. Amen.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)
The basket of laundry in the closet was overflowing with a mixture of bath towels, kitchen rags, Mom's clothes, and mine. I just sighed. Washing clothes isn't a favourite chore of mine, but it is one that must be done on a regular basis. It is kind of tedious, right?
Sorting through the basket, I found enough clothes for four small loads. I could have made just two big loads, but Mom was giving me her supervisory eye.
As most know, there's a process in washing clothes: sorting them, spraying them with stain remover, making sure the water temperature and load size are right, putting in just the right amount of laundry detergent, closing the lid, pushing the start button, and walking away, letting the machine get the clothes clean.
In our spiritual lives, there is also a process of becoming clean in Christ. First, we need to believe that Jesus is God's Son, that He was born in human flesh, that He died on the cross for our sins, and that He rose again so that we can have eternal life. Then, we need to receive His living Spirit into our hearts to forgive our sins and give us new, spiritual life.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV)
Becoming one in Christ, being clean, and having a new beginning aren't tedious. Praise Him for that! Like an automatic washing machine, Jesus washes ours sins clean "in one cycle" — His death on the cross. But just like our clothes get dirty and need to be washed over and over, our lives become sinful, and we need to confess our sins and be forgiven, over and over. It is a process called sanctification. Praise God that after we have received Jesus, God still views us as righteous, even though we sin.
Let's allow the Lord to keep our lives as clean as possible!
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the opportunity of a new beginning, and for giving us the chance to become clean and stay clean. Lead us in this thing called life. Amen.
One morning, while I was at my computer, my 15-year-old son interrupted my thoughts with these words: "Mom, do you know what the biggest problem in society is? It is loneliness!"
He had no idea that, at that very moment, my fingers were poised over my keyboard ready to type this title: The Sacred Place of Loneliness.
That was in the 1990s. My son was eager to share an observation which experts would discover through extensive research. Loneliness is at the root of our crisis among youth.
I invite you to consider loneliness, not as a hopeless plight, but as an inner void meant to be filled by God, and God alone.
Consider it, therefore, as a sacred place. For here is where we discover God. Here, His Spirit intertwines with ours. Here, we learn to distinguish God's voice from all other input.
In times of deepest loneliness, God often prepares His loved ones for their destiny. Abraham stood alone when he ventured to the unknown. Joseph was left abandoned in prison. The disciple John was banished on Patmos, where he received his revelation. We, too, can discover the best things of God in the experience of loneliness.
As we learn to walk alone with God, we no longer rely on the attention and validation of others. We lose our craving for false satisfactions and trendy notions. We become free to think and to create.
Creative inspiration has often been birthed through agonizing loneliness and rejection: art, literature, music, poetry, theology, and much more. These visionary works possess a lasting quality. They can touch the depths of the human spirit because they did not arise merely from the superficialities of the day.
Let's not be quick to flee from the agony of loneliness, but rather, to learn to embrace it. In truth, we are not alone, for our heavenly Father is with us. Jesus said, "Yet I am not alone, because my Father is with me." (John 16:32 NIV) As we learn to be satisfied with God's presence, our pain-filled loneliness becomes transformed into peace-filled solitude.
He who will fly as an eagle does, into the higher levels where cloudless day abides, and live in the sunshine of God, must be content to live a comparatively lonely life. No bird is so solitary as the eagle. … God seeks eagle-men. … We must dare to be alone. – Streams in the Desert, December 20, L. B. Cowman Prayer: Dear Father of compassion, we are terrified of loneliness, of not mattering to anyone. Train us to enjoy Your presence in the depths of our being, that we may dare to be alone — and find new inspiration. Amen.
1 Timothy 5:8 – If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (NIV)
My mother lived on her own for 24 years after the death of her husband, and at the age of 87, she started showing the early signs of dementia. We learned that with dementia, the loss of memory becomes of primary concern for families when their loved one becomes forgetful and unable to function. When that happened to our mom, we had to step in and take care of her.
As the disease became more serious, she would go shopping and forget where she had parked the car, or she couldn't find her way home. She hid jewellery and money, and forgetting where she had put it, she blamed others for stealing it. She couldn't find the remote control or remember how to turn on the television. She forgot how to use the light switch to turn the lights on and off. When we went to see her, she'd often be sitting alone, hungry, and lost in her dark condo. The scariest lapse was forgetting to turn off the stove. When we couldn't trust mom to cook for herself anymore, my sister, Shevon, began to drop off food for her, but it would be found days later uneaten in the refrigerator, accounting for her rapid weight loss. As a result of her forgetting to eat, my sister started to prepare, bring, and eat meals with our mom daily. My mother's sad and questioning eyes during this time spoke volumes as she inwardly asked, "Who am I?"
When she needed more supervision, my mom lived with me for five months, and I organized a daily bus pickup and drop-off for her to attend an adult Alzheimer's daycare facility. They kept mom engaged in different activities several times a week until that became untenable. After her stint with me, we sold her condo, she moved in with my sister, and we hired full-time home care for her. But after a while, this situation was no longer manageable. So, after much prayer for God's guidance, we decided to place her in an assisted living facility. At first, she was very upset and extremely confused in this unfamiliar environment. However, we had no choice but to place her there for her own well-being.
It is during these difficult times that we need to turn everything over to God and ask for His direction. If you are going through a similar situation with a parent, family member, or someone else, remember that you are not alone: others are in the same situation, and God is right there with you. We show gratitude and love for our aged parents when we care for them.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we lift up before You those of us who are caring for family members, those who are themselves struggling with dementia, and ourselves, too. Help us all to find peace and comfort in Your guidance. Thank You for giving us the strength to cope each day. This we pray in Your name. Amen.
Psalm 119:105 – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (KJV)
Some 21 years ago now, the deadline for income tax returns to be postmarked was just a few days away. On this particular evening, my husband Marcelo decided that it would be best to drive to the post office and drop the return into the drive-through mailbox so that it would be postmarked first thing in the morning. At the time, our granddaughter Sha, then aged 13, was visiting. Marcelo offered to treat us to an ice cream cone on the way home if we wanted to go with him to the post office.
Just as we were about to get into the car, an extremely uneasy feeling came over me. I told Marcelo, "Something is wrong, I don't feel safe. We need to pray!"
Psalm 91 came to mind, and though I couldn't remember all of it, I prayed what I could remember.
Psalm 91:1-2,11-12 – He that dwelleth 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 will I trust. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. (KJV)
We made it safely to the post office, but on the way to get the ice cream, we were hit by a speeding van that had run a red light. The van slammed into the driver's side of our car, pinning Marcelo behind the steering wheel.
We were taken by ambulance to the hospital. Several of Marcelo's ribs were broken, Sha had back and neck injuries, and I was very badly bruised from the seat belt, and shattered window glass had cut my hand.
We never met the driver of the van, but we were told that he was not hurt physically and that he had been driving under the influence of alcohol. Apparently, he desperately needed Jesus, and we prayed that he would be saved, healed, and delivered.
Later, when the three of us shared what we had felt upon the impact of the crash, we each described a gentle, back-and-forth, slow-motion swish, then an abrupt thud when the impact of the crash was over. I think that the gentle, slow-motion, swish sensation resulted from angels taking the actual hard blows for us.
That evening, I learned the importance of knowing and memorizing Scripture. I thanked God for the warning and for the covering of Psalm 91.
We can liken Scripture memorization to depositing money in a savings account. If we never make any deposits, there is nothing that we can withdraw when we need it.
We need to take time to read, learn, and memorize God's Word, hiding it in our hearts so that it is readily available to help us to pray effectively.
Prayer: Lord, we thank You for Your precious Word. It truly is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Amen.
In Blessings from Pain, I told about my fall which resulted in a broken patella and subsequent surgery ten days later. As the days dragged on until surgery, I developed a list of "if onlys":
- If only I hadn't taken that shortcut across the street through that dirt strip and had been watching where I was walking, I wouldn't have fallen.
- If only I had called 911 as soon as I fell, I would have been taken care of right away.
- If only, when I got home, I had gone straight to an emergency room that was part of a hospital, instead of the smaller one around the corner from my house, I might have been admitted for surgery sooner.
2 Corinthians 7:10 – For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. (NLT)
I'm sure that I'm not alone in this mode of "if only" thinking. We look back on our lives and start obsessing over situations in which our actions or reactions were not as Christlike or as wise as they should have been. We develop lists like mine and dwell on them, often obsessively. That becomes sin as we endlessly rehearse our failures with no hope of, or intent to, change as we wallow in our guilt and frustrate everyone around us. We leave God out of the picture and deny the miracle of forgiveness; we want to pay for our own sin instead. We need to remember that on the cross, Jesus said, "It is finished." (John 19:30)
Each of my "if onlys" has a practical response. I need to accept that I did what I thought was best at the time and leave it at that:
- I am prone to clumsiness. I can't obsess over that; I just need to be more aware of where I walk.
- When I fell, I was in California, USA, away from home, and responsible for my sister's adult disabled daughters, and I felt that I needed to get home to them first.
- It's snowbird season in Arizona, USA, and doctors' schedules are full.
Acts 3:19 – Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. (NIV)
Do you have an "if only" list about something in your past? Let that sorrow and regret lead to repentance: take steps to prevent that type of action or event from happening again. Use it to grow in your walk with Christ and experience those "times of refreshing". Remember: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)
Prayer: Father, we are so prone to wallow in our guilt instead of repenting and turning to You. Help us to leave our regrets in the past, to accept Your forgiveness, and to act like the new creations that we are. Amen.
I once participated in a service of praise, prayer, and foot washing with Christian people during the Lenten season. Sitting in a circle, one by one, we knelt, washed, and dried our neighbour's feet, using a basin of warm water and a towel. Some I only knew socially, and I confess that I felt uncomfortable having someone I was only acquainted with wash my feet! Nonetheless, it was a moving and memorable event.
If I felt uncomfortable, can you imagine how the disciples must have felt, having their Lord and Master Jesus kneel and wash their feet Himself? (John 13:3-12) Perhaps this came to mind when John wrote years later, encouraging us to love each other as Christ did.
1 John 4:7-12 – Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. (NKJV)
John frequently urged believers to love each other; it was his central message. Love is of God, and to be born of God, and to claim that we know Him, we must be able to love those in His body, the church. Jesus' love was given without demand for repayment, even to the point of sacrificing Himself for our sakes. Nothing else would satisfy God's demand for justice for sin, but His love saved us from the judgment that we deserved, and love enables us to grow and live through Him. God did not withhold His best gift, His own Son, "His indescribable gift". (2 Corinthians 9:15b NKJV)
If God did this for us — rebels who turned our backs on Him — how much more are we to love each other, even if it's uncomfortable! How will you respond to His indescribable gift today? Love for others is the evidence that He is among us. People don't see God, but they will see His love shown in our lives. As we love one another, they will seek Him for themselves, in order to be loved by Him.
Prayer: Our Lord, we are amazed that You did not withhold from us Your own best gift, Your Son Jesus, for You love us that much. Help us to love each other as a witness to our world. Amen.
Matthew 16:25 – [Jesus said] "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it." (NLT)
Some years ago, my husband received a phone call from a social worker in a neighbouring province: "Could you take your mother in?" I had recently returned to our home in rural Alberta, Canada, after visiting my mother-in-law in hospital there. She was referred to endearingly as "Mother-Dear", a tongue-in-cheek nickname that her children had given her. Acute physical issues had caused her to be admitted, but the doctor's assessment of her persistent, annoying requests was "importunate", as if Mother-Dear still demanded the attention that she had craved during her troubled childhood.
When we first heard that she was in hospital, God distinctly impressed me that I should go and visit her. I wasn't sure how to accomplish this. Through a series of miracles, though, I was able to leave my teaching job, even before spring break began, and hitch a ride with an acquaintance who was going that way, a journey of more than eight hours. Now Mother-Dear had been in the hospital nearly a month, and had improved so much that she no longer qualified for the long-term program that the doctor had initially targeted for her. Hence, the phone call.
It was a daunting prospect, but Terry and I knew that we had to offer her a home with us. We saw that God was asking us to give up our right to the comfort and privacy of our own home out of love for someone weak and powerless, so that she could get better and even flourish.
"How can we ever do this?" I asked our pastor's wife.
"If God is leading you, He will provide what you need to for the task," she replied.
So that we wouldn't miss too much school, we left during the night to pick up Mother-Dear. She was so happy and relieved that we would take her in.
At first, Mother-Dear clung closely to me, and needed help with the smallest of tasks. As the months went by, she flourished in the atmosphere of the small Bible college on whose campus we lived, and that included the Christian school where we taught. She lapped up the care and attention of the college students as we took part in campus activities. Bit by bit, Mother-Dear became sure of her position as a child of God, and we witnessed her faith and trust in God blossom. The 17 months that she stayed with us were not easy, but by taking in Terry's mother with God's help, we laid aside our own rights in order to benefit someone else.
Let's do our best to live not for ourselves, "but for the good of others". (1 Corinthians 10:24b NLT)
Prayer: Lord, help us to remember that we live to benefit others and not for ourselves alone, for that's how You want us to live, even when we're inconvenienced. May whatever we do be done all for Your glory. Amen.
Hebrews 6:18-19 – So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain. (ESV)
My wife Caroline recently reminded me of a story given to her by her dad, Kirk, when she was visiting him in the hospital. It was about one of the other patients who was in the same ward and how he had come to be there.
Apparently, the man had wanted to fix something on the roof on the back side of his house. So, to be safe, he tied one end of a rope to the tow hitch of the car in the driveway on the other side of the house. Thus secured, he made his way up the roof, playing out the rope as he went upwards.
In the middle of fixing the roof, unknowingly, his wife went out to the car to go shopping and proceeded to move the car down the drive, pulling the man over the roof apex and so onwards down to the ground, causing multiple injuries. Hence, his arrival in the ward.
As it turns out, this little vignette has all the stuff of an urban legend. Maybe it was the truth because it was over forty years ago, or maybe it was just a nice story that he told to help lift the mood of his young teenage daughter, now my wife, when he knew that it was upsetting for her to see her dad spend months in hospital. Sometime later, Kirk became a Christian as he followed his daughter's example.
The important thing is what is illustrated and contained in the story itself: be careful what you tie yourself to or what you have confidence in and set your store on in life.
Luke 6:47-48 – Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. (ESV)
Jesus is our only sure foundation.
Prayer: Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers today. We bring before You all of those we know who are unwell and suffering. Meet them in their need, and bring them Your healing balm and peaceful presence. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
1 John 5:13 – These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (NKJV)
At the age of 12, I was attending a youth service at our church when an event took place that literally changed my life. My three friends and I were sitting in the back seat. When the sermon was over, one of them looked at me and said, "Let's go up to the altar and get saved." It was panic time for me, and just the thought of walking all the way up there was holding me back. After encouraging each other, all four of us stood up and walked to a row of chairs set up for the purpose. We knelt down next to each other not knowing what to do next.
I was on my knees with both hands on the chair when I sensed someone behind me. The leader of our Sunday School leaned down close to my ear as she started to pray. I heard my name as her tears were falling on my hands, and it broke my heart. She then asked me to pray, and I invited Jesus into my heart. At that moment, I knew for sure that I was saved, for Jesus was now living in my heart because in Revelation 3:20, He promised to come in if I asked Him. I couldn't wait to get home to tell my family that day.
Further confirmation of my conversion came the next day in school when I confessed with my mouth that I was saved. I raised my hand in class, something that I had never done before. Miss Hall was shocked as she said, "Yes, Stephen?" and I blurted out that I wanted to tell the class something. So, with her permission, I stood up and said out loud, "Yesterday, I got saved in church. I accepted Jesus into my heart." To my surprise, the whole class clapped for me, and Miss Hall was smiling her approval.
Now, how do I know that I am saved?
Romans 10:9 – If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (NKJV)
I believed that 68 years ago, and I have continued to believe it every day since, because the Holy Spirit tells me that I am born of God.
Do you remember when you were saved? Perhaps, it is time that you told your story as well!
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we pause in Your presence to say thank You for the gift of salvation. Through the testimony of the Holy Spirit, the precious blood of Jesus, and Your Word, we can know that we are saved — really saved! Help us, by Your grace, to share our story of salvation. To You be all the glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen!
Proverbs 6:6-8 – Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. (NKJV)
I was recently watching a procession of singers filing offstage. I had a birds-eye view, captured by a drone. That procession reminded me of ants, which move in just such an orderly manner.
In today's passage, King Solomon had a lot to say about the ant. He saw wisdom in the lifestyle of the ant: hard work, proactiveness, and forethought. Thinking about that, I had an epiphany: God gave the ant certain characteristics that He wanted us to see and emulate.
To consider the ant, there must be moments of humility and introspection. The ant is a creature that we overlook, trample, and ignore in our daily lives. But if we think about our lives and actions, and if, in that moment of thought, we begin to appreciate this creation of God, then in that mood of appreciation, we can gain insight into what God expects from us. It's a humbling moment.
In the ant, I see orderliness. No one tells a colony of ants that are harvesting a crumb to line up. No one tells them not to fight for a piece of the crumb. We just see them move in an orderly fashion, like soldiers. Some are coming while others are going.
Also, the ant breaks boundaries. In the colony, there are no motivators or therapists who say, "You can do it! You just need to take a deep breath, then you can lift a crumb five times your size." Not at all! Ants just perform that feat because they are created with an understanding of their strength and capacity. When we are reborn in Christ, we have His assurance and promise that we can perform unheard-of feats. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13 NKJV) So, what else do we need? Which other motivational book do we need to read? The Bible has said it; then it is so.
The ants are unified. I have seen an invasion of ants temporarily send occupants of rooms packing. That's because the ants are not lone rangers. They move together. We complain about the corruption and debauchery plaguing the world today. Have we gathered together like the disciples in the upper room to pray? When believers gather in twos and threes like the ant — not to complain, but to pray — Satan is sent packing.
The ants gather their food in the harvest. They have an understanding of the seasons. Likewise, we need to have an understanding of the times in which we live.
So, have you been relaxing in your comfort zone? Procrastinating? Lacking in humility for insight? Not ready to work with others? Not understanding the times? Go to the ant!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us the grace and humility that we need to come out of ourselves and see with open eyes these relevant lessons that You have planted all around us. Amen.
Acts 17:26b-27 – He allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him — though indeed he is not far from each one of us. (NRSV)
Is there anything special about the address you call home? Today's verse suggests that it is no accident that you are where you are.
Since moving to Petpeswick Inlet, Nova Scotia, Canada, my wife Jeanne and I have developed a daily practice. Each day begins with our morning prayer over food, including thanksgiving for place — this place in which we live and move and have our being during most days. Our day ends by going out to our deck overlooking the inlet and simply absorbing the land and seascape before us with a silent and not so silent prayer to the Creator of the land before us, the waters of the inlet, and the star-studded sky above us. We encourage one another and celebrate the "boundaries of the places where [we] live". This place helps us "search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him — though indeed he is not far from each one of us."
Placefulness is simply a word inviting us to be aware of where we live and to connect with the creation immediately around us. It is more than awareness, in that it is the beginning of a contemplative practice of placefulness. Like any spirituality worth its salt, that means integrating the good, the bad and the ugly in the places that we live, especially as climate change takes a deeper hold on the world.
How might the idea of placefulness affect our approach to our meditative and prayer life? On a very earthly level, placefulness invites us to get to know better the place that we call home and how we can be good stewards. Connect with all the living things around you, from the grasses that grow and the birds that soar, to the people who make up your community. Do you ever think of the impact that your daily living has on the immediate world around you, like where your garbage and recycling goes and where your sewer flows? To celebrate Earth Week (April 21-28), a faith-based coalition is engaged in For the Love of Creation which takes us beyond our immediate "place" to the entire creation that God has given us.
There are times when I find myself breathless as I look at the world around me and in awe of the beauty that the Creator authored from the beginning of time.
This earth may not be our home, as the old hymn reminds us, but it is the place that God has planted us, rooted us, and given us the task to nourish and tend. "To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul." (Simone Weil)
Prayer: God, You've placed us here on this plot of holy ground, and we give You thanks. In deepest gratitude, we acknowledge Your presence in this place, in every rock and reef, in every season and solstice. Amen.
Isaiah 41:10a – Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. (NLT)
I stared at the button that read "Reset Settings", thinking that it might solve my issue. Fear, however, kept me from clicking it.
Computers seem to have a mind of their own. Sometimes, an update will change the way something performs, or I may accidentally press a key combination and find my computer doing things never done before.
Once, my computer stopped giving me prompts when I typed in specific words that I'd typed in previously. It was not a huge discomfort, but when I'm in a hurry, I save seconds by clicking on an email address or my own name rather than typing it.
So, I had my tech-savvy friend take a gander. After trying a few things unsuccessfully, we came to the dreaded "Reset Settings" button. He said, "Click on it." I feared what might change. He told me not to worry. If it changed something, he could fix it. So, I clicked, and all my missing functions reappeared. I had languished in aggravation for a month when I could have stepped out in faith.
Fear may be a natural human emotion, but it often gets in the way when serving God. It has stymied God's people on more than one occasion. Fear led Abraham to lie about his wife. Fear kept Moses from wanting to approach Pharaoh. Fear made Gideon ask for a sign assuring him of God's presence. And fear made the disciples think that they were going to die in a storm on the Sea of Galilee.
Fear has kept me at bay a few times as well. What would my friends think if I served God instead of the addictions that they did? How would I pay my bills if I left everything to attend college and study for the ministry?
An old saying comforts me: "If God leads you to it, He will lead you through it." Trite? Maybe, but true nonetheless. God never takes us where He hasn't already been in His plans. He never asks us to do anything that He won't provide the means and sustenance for us to do. "Fear not" should be our battle cry as we move out into the unknown lands of God's will.
Where does God desire to take you that fear won't let you go?
Prayer: Father, give us the courage to follow wherever You lead, with the confidence that You'll go before us. Amen.
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2 Thessalonians 3:16 – Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. (NIV)
Over three decades ago, Bobby McFerrin wrote a little song called Don't worry be happy. Do you remember this catchy little song? The lyrics from his song started off:
Here's a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry, be happy
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry, you make it double
Don't worry, be happy
This song went on to win song of the year and record of the year honours at the 1989 Grammy Awards.
It took me a few years to stop worrying about this and that. One day, I had no choice but finally to pick up my many burdens and turn them over to Jesus. Why was this necessary? My mind was lying to me; it told me that I was having heart issues. Before consulting with my doctor, every burden that I was carrying I bravely took to the Lord in prayer. When I eventually sat down with my doctor, he told me, "Your heart is fine." The doctor also said, "Stress and anxiety are bad for the heart." Oh, what needless pain I had carried around! Now, my heart is pain free. Enough of the endless and needless suffering of worrying.
You, too, can take all your burdens to Jesus. The result will surprise you.
Worrying doesn't accomplish anything constructive, yet we do it anyway. On the other hand, worry can blind us with fear, and fear turns into pain and stress. What does the Bible tell us about worrying?
Psalm 56:3 – When I am afraid, I will trust in you. (NIV)
Psalm 94:19 – When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. (NIV)
Jeremiah 17:7 – But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. (NIV)
We can trust God completely, believing and remembering that He is always with us and that He will see us through all our troubles, great or small. Jesus said:
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (NIV)
To help combat worrying, I often sing either silently to myself or loudly:
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.
– Joseph Scriven (1820-1886)
Today, you, too, can say, "Enough!" Perhaps, you might sing that hymn or another one that comforts you. Take your worries to Him and accept His peace.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, it is a privilege to carry everything to You in prayer. We thank You for Your constant presence in our lives and for taking care of all our troubles, great or small. We praise Your holy name with everything within us. Amen.
A few weeks ago, an article appeared in the newspaper, entitled "Why GenXers Aren't Going Back to Church." You can imagine that there was a wide variety of reasons for people 41-56 years old.
Some were busy with work and kids. Others were empty nesters and ready to enjoy life. Several admitted that they had just gotten out of the habit since COVID-19. Then, there were those who had given up on the institutionalized church.
Rather than become defensive, I wonder: if they are not worshipping at the altar of Jesus Christ, where or what are they worshipping?
If they are attending a rock concert and worship a musician they love, or a sporting event where the athletes are glorified, it is doubtful that they will get much in the way of adoration or glory in return. Of course, the real danger with a false altar is that it can break the second commandment, "You shall not make for yourself an idol." (Exodus 20:4a NRSVA)
The same holds true if they worship at the altar of fame and fortune. This altar is not just about money or climbing ladders. It can be become self-destructive, for Jesus warns, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth … for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19a,21 NRSVA)
We know that idolatry and false worship have been around for ages. We also know that the altar of Jesus Christ is before us where, "the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth." (John 4:23a NRSVA)
The word "worship" is derived from the word "worth". When we worship at the altar of Jesus Christ, we are doing something worthwhile by providing ourselves with meaning, purpose, and direction.
The hour is now. It is time for us not only to invite a GenXer back to worship in Spirit and truth, but it is a higher calling for those of us who are willing to mentor this next generation. As mentors one-on-one, we can help to discern and sort through the conflicting cultural priorities, values, and views which tend to separate us from God and our biblical beliefs.
We need not simply be the "adult in the room", but we can also be mature adults who have a little wisdom under our belts and are willing to meet at a personal level. We can at least ask questions and encourage a conversation between the generations about what it might mean to follow Jesus. Also, it may be fair to ask what God expects of you, me, and our churches today, and how can we pray together for such an expectation to be realized. Such questions demonstrate the openness of the church to invite GenX seekers to the altar before us where we can worship together and experience the "peace of God, which surpasses all understanding." (Philippians 4:7a NRSVA)
Prayer: Almighty God, as we kneel before Your altar in Spirit and in truth, clothe us in Your Spirit and help us to reach out with hands and hearts of love to those who do not yet know You, so that all that we do may be to Your honour and glory in the name of Jesus. Amen.
I once knew a woman from our church community whom I really detested. Although gifted and attractive, she often said some very unkind and condemning things to others. I avoided her, and I wasn't the only one to do so. It really bothered me when she unleashed her vitriolic attack on a shy, quiet person who wouldn't speak back in self-defence. Many years later, I think back on her with distaste, yet in reading God's Word in 1 John, I am convicted by my lack of love for her.
1 John 2:7-11 – Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (NKJV)
John speaks of the love of Jesus, Whom we are to imitate, transcending any love ever shown. His love includes every person whom we will meet in this life! This holy love is possible only by Jesus' finished work on the cross, His life given for ours, so that we can love like He did. John is holding us up to a holy standard: the way that we love other Christians is a measure of our walk with the Lord. How we respond to sin and obedience determines our level of fellowship with God, but so does our love for His people.
If we can't love one another, it affects our own experience of God's love. We can do all the right things and believe all the right teachings, but if we can't love other people, our relationship with God is in danger. When I think back to my experience with this Christian woman, I now grieve that my attitude toward her affected my relationship with the Lord, but I was blind to it. My walk with God would have been so much more joyful and rewarding if I had responded to her with kindness in Christian love.
Is there someone in your church fellowship or community who is hard to love? Have life's experiences beaten and scarred that person into a crusty, unattractive individual whom people avoid? Only the love and sacrifice of Jesus make it possible to live the life of love that He did, and empowers us to love the unlovely. I pray that you can demonstrate this holy love for others, and be welcomed into a closer fellowship with our Lord.
Prayer: We thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your life of love that we are to imitate as we love Your children in Your church body. Heal our blindness and darkness, and guide us into the fellowship that You long to have with us. Amen.
As I mowed the grass this week, I was so mesmerized by the barn swallows that swooped and dove in front of my mower. They migrate back to this area in late April — a sure sign that spring is on the way for us. They set up housekeeping in a barn near us, but they dine on our bugs as we mow. For ages, I've thought that I could get a picture of them because they dip so close to the mower that I could almost touch them. Today, I tried to take a picture but neither I nor my shutter speed were fast enough. I took a few pictures, but the birds looked like specks in the sky.
One of the things that I read about barn swallows is that they are aerial foragers — they eat on the fly. There is no air show that can equal their antics as they do their acrobatics in order to get their dinner.
The birds reminded me that I recently went through a time when I was likewise an aerial forager — I ate my spiritual food on the run. Although I talked with God constantly, when it came to reading my Bible and meditating on it, I was like the little barn swallows, just grabbing what I could get quickly. I collected bits and pieces that kept me from starving spiritually, but by no means did I feel full or satisfied. I was talking to God, but I was not listening to Him completely because I was not hearing His voice through His Word. For several months now, I have been feasting on His Word and not foraging on the fly, and my heart is well fed.
Psalm 119:103 – How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (NKJV)
My little friends have followed me all summer as I mowed, but as the colder winds blow, we will see fewer and fewer of them until they are all gone. What a blessing that "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8 NKJV) I will miss these wonders of God's world, but I will always remember the lesson that I learned from their dining habits. I pray that you will, too.
Jeremiah 15:16 – Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. (NKJV)
Pray with me:
Prayer: Lord, I am grateful for the bites that You have provided, but I long for a full meal. My heart is Yours, my Saviour. Amen.
Matthew 18:15-20 – Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (KJV)
We spend much of our life making agreements with one another. Even babies and their mothers "agree" to share food and company. It is not surprising, therefore, that Jesus teaches how agreements should be made.
Over the years, I have counselled many young couples with the advice that a strong marriage is achieved with a strong triangle. The horizontal line consists of a durable bond joined equally by a male and female partner. In turn, both partners need a solid, unbroken relationship with God over all so that the triangle can withstand the many stresses that are daily encountered. A triangle like this needs work to be established and maintained.
My wife and I lived more than sixty years as a happily married couple. While we tried to preserve just such a strong triangle vertically, we quickly understood the difficulty in maintaining the 50/50 equal horizontal relationship involved.
We soon realized that we would come closer to meeting that goal with a 90/10 target. I had to spend 90 percent concerned about her and 10 percent on myself. In turn, my wife was always 90 percent concerned about me and 10 percent about herself.
Of course, we never achieved our ideal balance, but we certainly came closer to a 50/50 balance than we would have otherwise.
In any agreement, marital or otherwise, Jesus sets out the key to success at the end of today's passage: "together in my name". The horizontal bar of any agreement can be made successful if it is strongly connected at both ends vertically. Let's all try for such an objective!
Prayer: Dear God, help us learn how to make strong, successful agreements by willingly striving to adopt a 90/10 attitude. Most of all, may we realize that we must make agreements with a strong relationship with You through the leadership of Jesus as guided by the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 139:13-16 – For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (NIV)
Earl, my kitten, is interested in everything I am doing, everywhere that I am. He silently perches on a shelf above my baking counter and watches me avidly as I prepare meals and baked goods. He quietly sits high atop the bathroom door so he can see me in the shower. He unobtrusively curls up beside me as I watch television and follows me from room to room as I vacuum and dust. There is something very comforting in his presence and the knowledge that I am a very important person to him.
I also find great comfort and encouragement when I consider that there is another interested party in my life: God. God knows everything about me from start to finish. Somehow, He is aware of every moment of my life, and I am so important to Him that He has repeatedly promised never to leave me nor forsake me.
God sees the good, the bad, and the ugly that goes on within me, and yet, He never forsakes me. He never stops loving me. He is always there to guide and direct me. When I ask — and even when I don't ask — He continues to work for good in my life. How marvellous, how wonderful is this!
I do not always feel that God is with me. I am able to see Earl, but I cannot see God. I can, however, see the evidence of Him around me. I see Him through the beauty of nature and the continuation of the world in its orbit. I view Him in the eyes of those who love me and through the creatures that I care for. The Scriptures reveal His character to me and the history of His presence and interest in the lives of so many who have gone before me. When I choose to listen, within my heart and mind, I hear His still, quiet voice, a voice that always lines up with the wisdom and truth of His written Word. I sense His presence when I call out to Him in prayer and when I see His gracious answers to both enormous and miniscule requests. Yes, there is no doubt in my mind that God is always with me. God is always the interested Party in my life, something for which I am truly thankful.
I pray that you, too, may be watchful for and truly thankful for the Interested Party in your life.
Prayer: Thank You, Father God, that You are the Interested Party in each of our lives, whether we acknowledge You and Your presence or not. Open the hearts of many today to Your love and salvation through Jesus Christ, that You may be glorified and that they may be comforted and encouraged through Your presence as the Interested Party in their lives. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Zephaniah 3:17 – The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (ESV)
As I write this on August 14, 2023, it is our thirtieth wedding anniversary. Caroline has posted on Facebook a picture of us on our wedding day. Oh, how young we looked then! It has made me reflect upon our journey together over time.
So many things have happened to us, and we have battled through them together. Up hill and down dale, we have managed to keep a roof over our heads, and our heads above water, both in this world and in God's kingdom. It has not been a stroll in the park, but still, our love remains. Even more amazing is God's love for us.
Today, we presented each other with gifts and then carried on with the day, as the children do their own thing, oblivious to our link. They are our greatest gift.
Back in the past, I bought a mug for Caroline and still it survives — no small feat. It is covered with little hearts of differing reds. There also used to be shiny gold hearts on the mug, but the years of washing with detergent have removed them, much like the years have done in taking the shine off our younger selves.
Over the thirty-three years since we first met, God has influenced our lives for the better, and I am mindful that we are not who we would have been in life if it were not for Jesus. He is the constant in our relationship. He sustains us through the times when we want to give up, or want to have the last word, or when we get our own back in revenge, and then He reminds us to moderate our extremes in the tendency to rush on ahead. In removing the shine, He grants the patience needed to ride the wave and prompts our humility to know and admit it — eventually — when we get it wrong. Still our devoted hearts cover over a multitude of failures.
What remains is a testimony to the constancy of Jesus with us. Even when we were not aware of it, Jesus stuck with us, not put off by our not hearing, or blowing hot or cold. His grace and love are there when we get mired in the world. His faithful love remains.
So, as Caroline and I celebrate, let all of us together rejoice and remember what God has done for each one of us, what He is doing, and is yet to do, because He is in the business of redemption through His unfailing love shown on the cross.
Let us call out to Him in faith, for He can be found. Even when we do not feel like it, Jesus is already there with us in reconciliation.
2 Timothy 2:13 – If we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself. (ESV)
Prayer: Lord, thank You for always being there for us. Thank You that nothing and no one is beyond Your capacity to redeem. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
On a beautiful day last week, I had occasion to enjoy an outdoor lunch with my wife, my daughter, and her husband, here in Canada on a visit from New Mexico, USA. We were eating at a restaurant on Granville Island, in Vancouver, British Columbia. In front of me, there was a plate of French fries, and in my right hand, I had a tasty piece of deep-fried cod — a favourite of mine! All of a sudden, there was a whack on the side of my head, and my lunch disappeared from my hand. The whack was from a well-placed wing, and the ambush was complete! The seagull and his gang of feathered felons were making short shrift of my meal on the deck — to the profound amusement of all the patrons around us. Others have related similar observations of these talented scavengers, but for me, it was a first, and so, there I sat … stunned.
As I reflected on this experience, I realized that that seagull was being used as one of the good Lord's vehicles to remind us that a spiritual ambush can be concocted by "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience." (Ephesians 2:2 ESV) Satan is always on the watch, ready to ambush a wayward soul facing temptation. Be aware! Always be on the lookout, if not for the shifty seagull, at least for the sly deceiver who seeks to tempt us into disobedience or to weaken and destroy our faith in our awesome God. Let's remember to put on our spiritual armour every day!
Ephesians 6:10-18a – Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (ESV)
Prayer; Lord, thank You for even the little lessons in life that You provide when we are watching and listening for Your awesome presence or reading the prompts from Your Word. Deliver us from the evil one, and protect all of us this day from his attacks, ambushes, and temptations. We ask this in Your awesome power through Your Son, Who gave His life that we may inherit eternal life. Amen.
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When I sleep, I always dream, even if I am just nodding off. I can't help myself from doing it, and I have tried to understand why my brain won't shut off at night! I often dream that I am either in the twilight or walking in darkness. … Read more
On a recent trip, I drove from my house in the mountains of Arizona, USA, to a small town about 45 minutes away and considerably higher in altitude. On the way, I noticed a large herd of cattle scattered across a lush meadow, knee deep in … Read more
In my devotions today, the question was asked, "Do you feel inferior?" I had to think about that for awhile, because there was a time in my youth when I did feel inferior, as most teenagers do at times. But as for now, at first, I didn't … Read more
"Oh look!" I exclaimed. "What's that juvenile robin doing back at the nest?" We had watched it fledge three weeks earlier, and fledglings aren't supposed to return. Yet this one did. The reason soon became obvious: Papa was there, and … Read more
In our new home, my job is to keep the grass mowed and trimmed. We have approximately six acres which need to be mowed once a week, and it takes me about three hours to do the mowing. Fortunately, my family bought a good riding mower that … Read more
I used to be not so good at listening — I was better at the doing. Now, as the doing gets harder, the listening becomes more vital. Earlier in life when I was working, I used to like to zoom up the motorways to visit customers. These … Read more
What fun we have with some of the novices who come to visit our region in the summer. We have a plethora of possibilities when it comes to watercraft — from kayak to canoe, from tender to sailboat. One thing the tourists all have in … Read more
My brother and I don't usually exchange birthday presents, so I was surprised to receive a padded envelope in the mail shortly before my recent birthday. This is more than a card, I thought, fingering a flat, rectangular object in the … Read more
Mine wasn't sizable, but it seemed enormous at the time, especially when I had no idea that I even had an inheritance in the waiting. I was fifteen and doing what many teens do — lying on my bed, trying to escape my parents. But when I … Read more
When I was a young child, I started to ask for a pony for my birthday. We lived in a town where there was a good-sized empty acreage across the road from our house. I thought that a pony could live there and that I could ride it every day. … Read more
Have you ever been tagged as part of a group of people? When I was in high school, the athletic guys and girls were known as the "jocks", the academically minded quiet ones were known as "the brains", and some of the tags weren't as … Read more
I'm so grateful that our gracious God answers our half-formed prayers. Are you? All too often, I find myself muttering a fragmentary thought as I dash in and out of God's holy presence. My need may be genuine and my thought sincere, but … Read more
I'm digging for family gold in Jerusalem — treasure that's been rumoured about for generations, hidden somewhere under the city. The authorities are trying to discover what I'm doing, and those who want the treasure for themselves and … Read more
Many churches celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration on August 6, based on the story in today's verses. We know what "mountaintop" experiences are, but this is not about anything that we do, rather that we become aware of what God is … Read more
How many times have you seen true darkness? I remember going down into a cave with a group of people. The guide said, "In a minute, we will turn off the lights, and you will see, perhaps for the first time, real darkness." Before that, we … Read more
In May, five new members of our family arrived. Five baby pygmy goats tumbled out of their travelling crates and into our corral. As they did so, we all wondered how Agnes, our ancient, eleven-year-old goat, would react to these … Read more
We spend much of life communicating with others. To do so usually requires two willing participants. Often, it requires spoken words, as referenced in today's Scripture passage. I am always intrigued by the fact that Jesus frequently … Read more
Daisy, our West Highland Terrier, is now a year old. She amazes us by loving us, never growling in fear, even after being taken to the vet for an operation, and barking only to call us to play or to let her outside. Having had her … Read more
I've worked in places where benefits were good, places where they were meagre, and places where they were nonexistent. While a good salary might attract us to a particular job, benefits enhance the chance that we'll actually apply for … Read more
I didn't think I wanted very much. I simply needed a lightbulb to replace the blown-out bulb in the utility room of the hospital ward where I was the charge nurse that night, years ago. I quickly discovered that this procedure was not my … Read more
Years ago, Granny gave me her recipe for bannock bread, which is a neat, round loaf baked on a flat sheet in the oven. It is simple food for plain people, but so satisfying. When I make it, it is not only delicious to eat, but baking it … Read more
"Oh, thanks, Alan!" I gratefully exclaimed, as he came up beside me and grabbed my arm. We were going down a steep, rocky incline at one of the ancient sites in Israel, and he could see that I was having trouble keeping my balance. He … Read more
Several years ago, my husband and I attended the BNP Paribas Open Tennis Tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA. While we enjoyed watching great tennis players perform, it was the supporting players, the ball boys and ball girls, who … Read more
I just have to share with you a traumatic occurrence in my life! I had put off shopping for clothes for many months, but the sales were great, so I picked out a few things and went into the dressing room. When I began to undress, I noticed … Read more
Trouble was brewing in the Appalachian region of the eastern United States in the late 1800s. It all started with a dispute over the ownership of a hog. Reprisal and retribution spiralled out of control and seemed endless, and over a span … Read more
During the fifteen years that we lived in Europe, we always made an effort to go on vacation. Sometimes, we went during the children's spring break, and always in the summer. In 1973, we decided to go to Romania. In the brochures that I … Read more
For my granddaughter's fourth birthday, we went to Jurassic Forest, a theme park about 45 minutes from our new home. As we walked along the various paths searching out and discovering life-sized, animated replicas of numerous dinosaurs, I … Read more
Recently, I started to cook myself a breakfast of fried eggs on toast when I realized that one of the main ingredients was missing: eggs. I had one from the old carton in the refrigerator, but where were the rest of the eggs? The … Read more
Hanging upside down on playground bars was always fun for me as an active little girl. It was an interesting perspective for my brain to unscramble and to realize that there are more ways to see the world than the right-side up way. It … Read more
I was the recipient of grace … undeserved mercy. "I promised God that I'd help the next person I knew whom He had called into ministry." He spoke the words, and then handed me an envelope. I was following God's call, which, in this … Read more
Dear friends, join me on a faith journey that will challenge my family to our core and bring us face to face with the reality of how fragile life is. We will encounter a crisis that tests our faith and gives us two choices: rely solely on … Read more
At my office, we have a label maker, a nifty hand-held device used to type up labels and shoot them out, with a peel-and-stick backing to be removed before adorning files, drawers, and folders. Some people get a little carried away and … Read more
While in my early 20s, I was a nominal Christian. I went to church, but did not know Jesus as One Who died to save me from my sins and give me a "wonderful new relationship with God". Briefly, I worked for a company in Toronto, Canada, … Read more
When my granddaughter Riley was young, I used to take her on one of our "tree lesson walks". I would take her to each kind of tree and show her the leaves, the bark, and anything else that would help her remember the tree and its name. The … Read more
One day a few months ago, I was mulling over the details of my difficult health situation. That's when I cast it all before God and was startled by His question: "Will you give Me your diseases?" I consented, willingly; and with that, I … Read more
You've probably said one or more of these sayings in your lifetime: – He's as old as Methuselah. – You're the apple of my eye. – I just escaped by the skin of my teeth. – It's time to put your house in order. – It's like the blind leading … Read more
As my family and I have been busy exploring the new area to which we have moved, doing so has been much easier due to the GPS available on my daughter's phone. No matter where we are going, all she has to do is to enter the address of our … Read more
When I was twelve years old, I won a prize at the end of the school year for academic achievement; it was a novel about horses. I didn't think that it was the greatest story, but I was proud of the handwritten inscription in the flyleaf … Read more
Have you ever tried to trace your family lineage to find out who your ancestors were and where they came from? Sometimes, a family tree can become so dense and tangled that it is more like a family shrub! Broken marriages can result in … Read more
Healthy anger is not only possible but also beneficial. No one has the power to make me mad, but they can create the circumstances making the possibility greater. I get angry when I read of a parent who drives a vehicle into the lake to … Read more
One of the joys of grandparenting is that the parents need a babysitter. We get the call, and in an instant, a sleepover is arranged at our house. Several weekends ago, I was up early with my five-year-old grandson making breakfast, … Read more
When I was growing up, I loved the music of the Beatles. I listened to their music, saved their newspaper and magazine pictures, and eagerly listened for every detail of their lives. I was only nine years old when John Lennon and Yoko Ono … Read more
The mindfulness of God is something that I have really grown to appreciate over the years. His constant presence has helped me on many occasions to overcome times of adversity, distress, and tragedy that I thought I would never be able to … Read more
Since coyotes roam this area, I always try to get my cat in at night. One evening, I waited until dark to go out. My granddaughter Riley was here and wanted to go with me. We called and called but with no response. We walked out further … Read more
About two weeks into working under my pastor, I came to the conclusion that he was too overbearing and domineering. I was absolutely sure of that, and this caused a lot of issues in the church. A year later, as I looked back at all the … Read more
I love spring! It's such a beautiful time of the year. The weather is warm, everything is coming back to life, the grass is green, the flowers are blooming, and the birds are singing. It's amazing how God brings new life to the world every … Read more
He was looking for the worthwhile, and his discovery on January 24, 1848, changed the lives of thousands. James W. Marshall was prospecting at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California, USA, when he discovered gold. News of his find spread … Read more
My friend and I had a ritual when I went to visit. Since she had severe arthritis in her hands, I would always wind her grandmother clock — which was shorter than a longcase grandfather clock. It was one of those thirty-day clocks, and … Read more
Travelling through the mountains offers many fabulous views. One which I find most inspiring is when I encounter the bison. You can see the males from a great distance away. Suddenly, your eye will discern this large dark spot in the … Read more
My husband John grew up on a farm that was on a lake, but he never learned to swim. He stayed very close to the shore if he were anywhere near water. In time, our son Donald was born. We decided to give him swimming lessons when he was old … Read more
When I was a child, I always had my nose in a book. My mother never had a hard time finding me! I was running through the forests of Narnia with the Pevensey children and Prince Caspian. I was on board the pirate ship having adventures on … Read more
It was thrilling to watch the last two baby robins fledge, or leave their nest. That morning, we had arisen early to turn on the video recorder in anticipation of the big moment. For a while, the fledglings teetered precariously on the … Read more
As any parent can tell you, when your child has a high fever, it is pretty scary, especially when it will not come down. The last thing in the world any parent wants to do is to put a hot child in a cool bath to take their temperature … Read more
A year ago, I wrote about Zoe, my son's Labradoodle, stealing — and quickly eating — a frozen pizza that was setting on the kitchen counter. Well, she's at it again. On Thanksgiving Day in 2022, … Read more
One night, I had a dream. I was at a resort in the Caribbean with a friend, and there were some people asking about their luggage, which had not arrived. The clerk at the desk said that they would find it, and one of the people responded, … Read more
My little horse Frank had never taken a journey in the horse trailer before. Therefore, I was very concerned about the 2000-kilometre trip to our new home that lay ahead of us. The first step in preparing Frank for this ride was to … Read more
In 1991, when my husband, Terry, our three boys, and I went to Slovakia on a short-term educational mission, we were foreigners in the land. Needing groceries, we explored the little hole-in-the-wall shops in our new neighbourhood. There … Read more
I remember it as the one time in my life when I openly grieved and experienced good grief. I don't come from a crying family. If we shed tears, we did so in private, and then, only for brief episodes. But for me, grieving changed when my … Read more
We all leave an inheritance to those who follow us, particularly if we have children. I had four older brothers, and we were especially fortunate in inheriting godly examples of Christian living from our parents. We were also shown how … Read more
While I believe Jesus' words that God does feed the birds of the air, I love to watch them flutter around my bird feeders as they chow down for the trip ahead every spring and fall, or if it's summer, to furiously fly off to feed hungry … Read more
I love to read, and I especially enjoy reading biographies. These accounts give me a real sense of connection with people of the past, and help me to see how history unfolded during their lifetimes. So many people with fascinating lives … Read more
Sharon Lundquist and I married brothers and have been dear friends for most of our adult lives. I sometimes say that we are sisters-in-love as well as sisters-in-law. For many years, we have lived in the same greater metropolitan area, but … Read more
One of the hardest things for parents to do is to watch helplessly as their babies are hurting. When my daughter Missy and her husband took Jenna, my granddaughter, for her baby shots, she was bubbly and smiling, but then, it happened. … Read more
I still remember my great-aunt from the hills of Kentucky, USA. Aunt Anise had an old, covered water well in her backyard, which was absolutely amazing for a city boy like me. She also wrung chickens by the neck, plucked their feathers, … Read more
When I was a child, I had a heart disease, and I was bedridden for a number of years. It was a difficult and lonely time for me, and I am sure that this was also a challenging time for my parents as they cared for me, to keep me busily … Read more
Amidst our recent preparations and travels, as my family and I relocated from the far north of British Columbia, Canada, to the next province, Alberta, I found myself humming or singing the wonderful song *`The Family of … Read more
I've been thinking and reading a lot about forgiveness recently. I guess the older that we get, the more that we realize how many mistakes that we've committed, foolish choices that we've made, and careless words that we've said, and end … Read more
I was telling myself a big one — lying to myself — and the trouble was that I believed it. My lie began about the time I turned fourteen. It went something like this: "You don't need school." If I didn't need school, I didn't need to … Read more
It's the first day of an eleven-day tour of Israel and I'm sitting on the steps of the pool of Siloam near the city of David, in Jerusalem. Our guide is explaining how Jewish people ritually cleansed themselves here before the long walk up … Read more
Recently, one of our leaders led the church community's "all-age spot". She held up a piece of string as a visual aid and asked some children to come up and help her to hold it as a representation of time. They stretched it out across the … Read more
My mother taught me the basic stitches of embroidery when I was young, and I have continued doing this needlework all my life. It is an enjoyable and rewarding hobby, and I glory in the colourful threads and the canvas slowly revealing the … Read more
"Would you be available to sub today?" It was a text message early one morning recently from the principal of the school where I used to teach. I arrived at the school to find that my assignment included three different grade levels — … Read more
When Larry and I were younger, we used to go canoeing on the Current River. Usually, we had others to enjoy the ride with us. On one of our trips, we came upon a cave with a spring of water that fed the river. Several of us went in to take … Read more
In high school, my teachers often told us about what they called "the Black Book". They would say that if our names were entered in the book for any atrocious activity, it would stop us from getting good jobs later in life. How we dreaded … Read more
Isaiah 55:12 – You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. (NIV)
Since the rain has stopped, I am able to see Mt. Topo from my porch. I dried off a chair to sit and enjoy the beauty. Near the middle of Mt. Topo is a section of dense fog, and as I watch, some arms of the fog slowly break away in separate movements as they float upwards.
It makes me think of us when we are living in worldly ways, and then, we slowly break away and head towards higher or heavenly things, where God is.
Above those foggy arms reaching upwards on Mt. Topo, the sky is clear, but above me, the sky is completely clouded over. Yes, no matter how cloudy our lives can seem, God has a brighter and clearer time for us. We need to keep looking towards Him and not on our circumstances.
Surely as the day follows the night, God is always with us!
Now, ten minutes later, the fog has cleared, and God has given me a clear view again. I cannot get enough of Mt. Topo, with so many shades of green. The land just seems to flow down to areas for some cows, and then, on down to some homes. When I look up at that beauty, my response is, "I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2 NIV)
Where do you get your strength from? God provides the strength, but I appreciate it when He gives us something beautiful to enjoy as we look to Him. Take a moment and think of things that God has put in the line of your viewing when you just felt Him! I bet that there are several things.
Here a couple of examples that I see in the power in the waves as they come crashing onto the big volcanic rocks.
Psalm 93:3b-4 – The seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea — the Lord on high is mighty. (NIV)
Then the water flows back giving playful ripple sounds. For me, this shows both the power of God and the gentleness of God.
His Presence
I'm thankful to see God's power in action
And hear the ripples show His gentle trait.
No matter my situation, God's the main attraction,
Thankful for the peace of knowing He's my soul mate.
Psalm 34 verse 8 tells us of His goodness we should taste.
Help me, Lord, my time not to waste.
Cover me, Lord, so Your fragrance people can smell,
Then rejoice, 'cause now, with their souls, all is well.
Prayer: O gracious and loving Father, thank You for all that You give so freely to us. Help us to be mindful of Your goodness, no matter how life presents itself. Help us to stay focused on You, and may the Holy Spirit remind us of Your promises, even when we see the cloudy situation. In Jesus' precious name, we pray. Amen.
Hebrews 13:5 – Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (NIV)
Simon, my dachshund, is a thief. Every morning and evening after he gobbles up his bowl of food, he races over to an older, very patient dog and helps himself to her food as well. He edges in to the far side of her bowl and begins munching away. Even though he is reprimanded daily, he steals shamelessly if I don't keep my eye on him. He is never content with what he has.
Many people are like Simon. They are always wanting more and will encroach on others' property, possessions, and even emotions to try to grab for themselves what is not theirs for the taking.
Individuals do it to one another, even as countries do it to other countries. But God tells us very clearly to keep our lives free from the love of money — which brings with it power and possessions in this world — and to be content with what we have. Why? Because He is with us. He will never leave nor forsake us. His presence and His companionship with us far surpass any contentment that money or possessions can ever afford us in this world.
God has promised us that He "will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19 NIV) King Solomon discovered that no amount of money, companionship, travel, possessions, or adventures satisfied him in the end. He wrote, "Meaningless! Meaningless! … Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIV)
Matthew 6:19-21 – Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NIV)
God knows that the real treasures that we need for fulfillment and self-worth do not stem from the material, but from the eternal. So, let us prayerfully choose to keep our lives free from the love of money and be content with what we have, because when we have God and truly begin to understand the great treasure that is ours, we will have everything that we shall ever need, now and throughout eternity.
Prayer: Father God, open our eyes and the eyes of people worldwide to see and understand the great treasure which is ours for the asking: You, Who have promised that You will never leave us nor forsake us. You and only You have the power to bless us with Your Spirit, Who is able to develop in us the true treasures of Your attributes: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
The word "ritual" often carries an aura of mysticism, conjuring up a negative vibe. But a ritual can be simply defined as an action repeatedly done in the same way. A ritual needn't require hocus-pocus or incantations, but can simply be a regular pattern or routine of doing something, often for the purpose of creating a memory pathway or helping to cement something in our hearts and minds.
For example, I have a particular routine that I follow when I go to the coffee shop. I order my favorite cardamom latte and then pick up the filled-to-the-brim mug at the service counter. I then carefully carry my beverage to the condiments bar where I sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on top, enhancing the swirl of coffee art on top. The cinnamon adds little flavour or substance to the drink, and the barista could easily sprinkle it on for me, but I like the little ritual of doing it myself. It's simply a small act of completion, bringing a sense of satisfaction and well-being.
I follow other regular routines in my daily life that also contribute to a sense of order. I routinely make my bed every morning, even when no one but me will see it. I go to our dining room at 5:00 p.m. if I want to eat dinner. I regularly pay my bills and put gas in my car. Ritual or routine, systematic patterns in life are essential.
In Bible times, the Jews had many, many, many rituals that they were required to perform daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. There were seemingly endless rules for offering sacrifices and observing the Sabbath. Daily life entailed regular attention to fulfilling the law. These God-given commands weren't intended to place an impossible burden on the people but were meant to be a daily reminder of God's place in their lives.
Many of our churches today observe ordered traditions. For example, the sacraments of baptism and communion — rituals which serve as reminders of our daily life with God — are regularly celebrated as sacred remembrances.
1 Corinthians 11:26 – For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are retelling the message of the Lord's death, that he has died for you. Do this until he comes again. (TLB)
Thus, even though we are no longer bound by the old Law, we observe patterns and traditions that help us to remember who we are as the people of God. It is important, however, that we disentangle sheer repetitive actions from the meanings that they are intended to point us toward. With frequent repetition, even deeply meaningful symbolic actions can become trite and stale.
Let us look at some of our repeated church practices and traditions with fresh eyes and receptive hearts. May they serve as true reminders, not as meaningless, rote actions.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, as we maintain a regular discipline of meaningful traditions and practices in our lives as Christians, may we seek to exercise them in a fresh and vibrant way, avoiding dull monotony. Amen.
Psalm 119:67 – I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word. (NLT)
One was large and the other small, but they both needed to be on a leash.
I once owned an Eskimo Spitz. My family owned a much larger dog that I inherited when they moved away. Since I lived in the country, I didn't have to abide by leash laws, so both dogs scampered through the woods and open fields, played in the swamps, and chased wild animals.
Then, it happened. They took up with a pack of wild dogs. Initially, they returned home every night, but soon, they came home only periodically. I decided to leash my Eskimo Spitz the next time when he showed up. Unfortunately, I never caught the larger dog, and he soon became wild like the ones that he followed. One dog came with me when I moved away, but the other continued running wildly.
I'm not much different than my two dogs were. I tend to wander. While there's nothing inherently wrong with a little innocent wandering, the wandering that I've done wasn't innocent and wasn't in God's plan. Sometimes, the wandering didn't start sinfully, but quickly became that. I knew Who provided for me, just as my dogs knew, yet I wandered anyway.
For my Eskimo Spitz, the discipline came with a leash — the only way to keep him at the house and away from unsuitable company. Had I unleashed him, he would have run again. Wandering was in his nature.
God deals with our wandering natures through the leash of discipline. The forms that He uses vary, but He designed each one perfectly to accomplish His purpose of keeping us home and away from unsuitable company — whether people or things. Closely following the teachings of His Word will go a long way in keeping us focused on spiritual rather than fleshly escapades.
The leash that I used was literal. God's leash comes in other forms, but He designs it to accomplish the same purpose.
Thank God that He loves us enough to discipline us when we stray. Then, we need to stay close to His Word so that our tendency to wander will be tamed.
Prayer: Father, we ask You to leash our sinful wanderings and keep us on the path of godliness. Amen.
Our daughter is a horse lover. When she was 13 years old, she got her very own horse, Jewel. She had been present at the birth of this horse and spent time with her for her first three months. Then the owner asked us if she could have the horse. What a happy day that was for her!
When she and her husband bought their first house a few years later, Jewel needed a companion, and our daughter was able to rescue a horse named Jazy from a friend who wasn't able to look after her any longer. Jewel and Jazy became fast friends.
When Jewel died very suddenly, Jazy needed a new friend. Blossom was rescued next. A short while later, another friend needed someone to take one of her horses, and so, Merlin was rescued. Sadly, he died suddenly after only eight months. The next rescue was Ben. Jazy, Blossom, and Ben are still living happily together.
A few days ago, our daughter received a message from another friend whose horse, Tess, was not being well cared for at the place where she was being boarded. She asked our daughter if she would rescue it and keep it with her three other horses. Despite involvement from the SPCA and the police, this rescue took almost three days due to an uncooperative property owner. Tess has finally arrived and is settling in nicely with her new friends.
On a spiritual level, like these horses, we, too, all need to be rescued — from the penalty of our sin, which separates us from God and which can destroy our lives.
Romans 3:23 – For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. (NLT)
Jesus came to give His life to rescue and save us from eternal death, the penalty of sin. When we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we are saved — rescued!
We can't rescue ourselves from our sin, any more than Tess or the others could rescue themselves. Therefore, let us thank God that He had a plan to save each one of us!
Psalm 13:5 – But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. (NLT)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You never leave us nor forsake us and that You want to rescue us from the darkness of the world and bring us into Your glorious light. We are so grateful that Jesus gave His life for our sins, just as You planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory be to You forever and ever! Amen.
I am a novice kayaker, and the last time when I was out with a kayaking group, I upset my kayak and fell into the water — not once, but twice! I was safe, though, because I was wearing a lifejacket and because the kayakers support each … Read more
When I attended Bible college in Toronto, Canada, in the 1980s, I had the great privilege of studying under gifted Bible teachers and inspiring preachers from around North America and beyond, who were invited to teach in the college chapel. I didn't fully appreciate it at the time, but looking back, I am so grateful for their teaching. One guest preacher was Dr. Andy Telford, a tall, elderly man, who shook his finger at us and declared, "Young people, know your Bible! Know your Bible!" I'm glad that I took sermon notes that day! The Reverend Don Campbell, the minister of the church that I attended at home in Ottawa, was one of the greatest teachers and influencers on my life, and in many ways, I owe my development as a thinker and writer to him. I believe that good pastors are integral to healthy, growing churches, and the author of Hebrews urges us to obey our leaders and to respect their authority over us.
Hebrews 13:17-19 – Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honourably in everything we do. And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon. (NLT)
God has given us leaders to teach and guide us, and they have the right, therefore, to tell us how to live and walk after God. They carry a great weight of responsibility, and they are accountable to God Himself for the call that they have answered to care for our spiritual wellbeing.
We may not always agree with them, and we can share our opinions, but we should do that with respect. Indeed, at times, the direction of ministry can be guided by discussion of opposing opinions. And yet, obeying and honouring our leaders brings us joy and spiritual growth as Christians. The head and heart of the church is Jesus, and if the church as a body follows His direction, then He is glorified. God gives vision to our teachers and leaders, and when we as a body get in line with that vision, there is dynamic power for the ministry.
We are to pray for our pastors and spiritual leaders, for the strength to live upright lives and to lead us according to God's direction and inspiration. Are you a member of a Bible-preaching, Spirit-led church? As Dr. Telford urged us, do you know your Bible and live by it? Will you pray for those placed in leadership? I pray you will find such a church, and find joy and direction in the body of Christ.
Prayer: We thank You, Lord Jesus, the head of the church, for the power and direction to be a part of that body. We pray that Your kingdom may come, and that Your will may be done each day in our own lives and in those of our leaders. Amen.
Jeremiah 24:6a – My eyes will watch over them for their good. (NIV)
On April 21, to our delight, a pair of robins returned to their former nest under the neighbour's roof eave. Again, we can watch the progress via closed-circuit video.
This season, I've been especially struck by the male robin's fatherly behaviour — notably, his watchfulness. Even while he is off somewhere, he seems to know what's happening on the home front. Whenever Mama Robin flies off for a break from egg-sitting, I can be sure that he'll shortly fly in to guard the nest. He doesn't sit on the eggs. He stands on the edge and hovers over the nest like a security guard on high alert. I enjoy watching the constant movements of his head. His eyes focus back and forth between the nest's interior and the wider surroundings. Papa Robin is fully attentive to his charge — all the time. That's remarkable fatherly vigilance.
I wish to keep that observation embedded in my mind. For whenever I feel vulnerable, that image of Papa Robin will remind me of God's fatherly vigilance hovering over me. Even when it seems like God is far off, I can trust that He is fully attentive and present. His watchfulness is constant, and it is protective, just as His dear ones have been promised:
2 Thessalonians 3:3 – But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. (NIV)
One might argue that the bird is merely behaving according to natural instinct. He's programmed that way for the survival of the species. In response, I would note that Papa Robin's behaviour reflects God's very nature — for a similar reason. God's kingdom family continues to survive and expand through His fatherly vigilance. It will never go extinct!
That's a grand, eternal promise. Yet, I find myself most deeply assured through my heavenly Father's watchful eye on me personally. That seems to be what the psalmists experienced. It's why their psalms are so endearing and personal.
Perhaps, you'd like to join me in these prayers for God's personal fatherly vigilance, drawn from Psalms 17:8, 40:11, and 142:3.
Prayer: O my Lord, keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings. May Your love and faithfulness always protect me. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who watch over my way. Amen.
In the United States, after reaching age 65, we are eligible for Medicare. The insurance providers recommend an annual wellness exam. Besides a quick physical checkup and questions about general health and lifestyle (Have you fallen lately? Can you manage your own finances?), there is a memory test. First, the technician says, "I'm going to say three words. You'll need to remember them later, okay?" Then, she gives several other tasks before saying, "Now, what were those three words?"
I dread these exams. What if I forget those words, or I can't count backwards by 3 from 97, or I accidentally say 2022 instead of 2023? And most people don't use analog clocks anymore!
Thankfully, during my recent exam, there were only two tasks: remember three words while drawing the hands of a clock at 11:10. So I said those three words in my head while writing the numbers 1-12 in the right spots on the circle and inserting the hands at the correct time. And then, I correctly repeated all three. Whew!
I imagine that many readers of PresbyCan devotionals are of an age to appreciate my dilemma. And it can be worrisome. But even as we age, we can still remember — we just need to use different strategies, like my repetition of those three words in my head while completing the other task.
In my Bible, on the title page for Deuteronomy, I wrote REMEMBER. That's one of its themes. The word occurs numerous times in Deuteronomy, along with "do not forget", as Moses repeatedly reminds the Israelites to remember how God brought them out of slavery and led them through the wilderness, and how only He gives the power to be successful in following His commands.
Isaiah 46:8-10 – Remember this and stand firm. … Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, … and I will accomplish all my purpose. (ESV)
"Remember" also occurs over 300 times throughout the whole Bible as we are told of God's great deeds and His love for us. We need to remember all that God has done for us and the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. We can do that when we take communion: "Do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19 ESV) But like the Israelites, we also need to make a conscious effort to remember Who God is, what He has done for us and our friends and family, and what He has promised through His Word.
Remembering requires effort. I had to force myself to remember those three words for the minute or so that it took to complete the other task. Some days, when life is tough, we may have to force ourselves to remember His blessings and His care for us. Remembering also requires repetition. As Moses repeatedly reminded the Israelites, we need to remind ourselves repeatedly to remember the former things and know that God will accomplish His purpose in our lives.
Prayer: Lord, help us to remember, as You repeatedly told Joshua, to be strong and courageous, for You are with us wherever we go. Help us to remember the way that You have worked in our lives throughout the years as we continue to live for You. Amen.
Acts 1:4b – Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (NIV)
Mark 16:19 – After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. (NIV)
When the light returns here in the far north of Canada after the long, dark days of winter, people feel such relief. Another cold, dark season is behind us. The long days of light, up to 22 hours of it, are spread before us.
Jesus went through a long, dark time from the moment when He was arrested in the garden until He called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." And then, He breathed his last.
The disciples also weathered a great period of darkness upon the death of Christ. Yet after their times of darkness, a great time of relief occurred. Christ rose from the dead, ascended back into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God, in perfect light and holiness. And the disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, went forth in great power and confidence to teach, heal, and preach the gospel wherever they were led.
Times of darkness are never easy nor encouraging for anyone. And yet, we are all called from time to time to endure them. When we do, I have found that one of the best ways to successfully navigate them is to remember this promise from God as found in the Scriptures:
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)
Trusting in the right thing or the right person changes everything when it comes to walking through and enduring the dark times of life successfully. When our trust is placed in the solid foundation of God's truth as found in the Scriptures and the undeniable Rock of the person of Jesus Christ, Who will never leave nor forsake us, we, too, are empowered, just like Christ and His disciples, to walk in obedience and faith until the day of relief comes upon us.
So today, may each of us, whether we are walking through a dark time or not, choose to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. May we acknowledge Him in all our ways so that He will make our paths straight. Let us trust Him, and He will lead us to the very best destination that God has prepared for us, a destination that will bring us relief as our darkness transforms into His wonderful light.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that we can trust in You and know that we will never be let down by You. For You are loyal and steadfast, the Rock of all ages. Empower us to have the faith to trust in You with all of our heart, to lean not upon our own understanding, but in all our ways to acknowledge You with joy, knowing that as we choose to do so, You will indeed lead us straight to the best destination for us. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.
Psalm 119:61 – Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. (NLT)
After a few weeks of hanging around with him, I began to wonder who was influencing whom.
My father had just returned to the denomination of his upbringing and been called as interim pastor at the church of his boyhood. The first person to offer his friendship to me was the son of the chairman of the deacons. Who better to hang around with, I thought.
I soon discovered that he wasn't involved in anything that would enhance my spiritual journey, but I chose to follow his lead anyway. Before long, I was drinking. Then, I began skipping school and experimenting with drugs. I liked my new friend, but a time came when our paths separated — and for the better. I knew that he wasn't a good influence, but I let him influence me instead of influencing him.
If I let them, evil people will always drag me down with their deceptive offers. "There's nothing wrong with having someone on the side besides your wife. … Spend the money you make. You earned it. Your family won't miss it. … Religion is for those who can't handle life. … You don't have to take what your boss is dishing out. Tell him to take that job and shove it. … Why work? Live off the government. Everyone else is. … These pills will help you get through the day. They won't harm you." On and on, the evil messages come.
The psalmist's answer to evil attempts to drag him down was to root himself firmly in God's instructions. This is a good idea. God's Word communicates His expectations and guidelines. Through introspection, we can determine if and where we're falling short. When we determine what's keeping us from living up to God's commands and leading us astray, we should investigate the source of our failures. For me, it was a good friend who had a bad influence.
Once we've discovered the source of our problems, we must do something about it. For me, it entailed saying goodbye to a friendship.
If ungodly offers influence you, what steps can you take to be the influencer?
Prayer: Father, help us to shine Your light into other's lives rather than to travel in their wicked ways. Amen.
In the 1970s, we moved our European/Middle East head office to London, England. At that time, one of our external auditors told me this story.
Two men shared an office; they had desks facing each other. They had worked together for a number of years and had become good friends. One day, one of them had put a five-pound note on his desk to be used for a particular purchase, but he was called away from his desk. When he came back, the money was gone. He asked his friend about it, but the friend said that he did not know what had happened to it. He accused him of taking it. The friend swore up and down that he had not, but the other fellow did not believe him. Their friendship was over; they still shared the office, but they hardly talked.
In order to facilitate some changes in their office, workmen removed the desks, and the banknote fluttered to the floor. It had fallen down between the two desks and had been stuck on a ledge all those months. Because of a false accusation, a good friendship had been ruined temporarily.
False accusations caused Jesus to be taken to Pilate for trial by those who despised Him:
Luke 23:2 – And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king." (NIV)
Pilate openly declared that he could find no fault in Jesus, as much as admitting that he believed Jesus to be telling the truth and the chief priests to be lying. But Peter states that Jesus was setting us an example:
1 Peter 2:21-23 – To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (NIV)
Several times in his letter, Peter reinforces this thought:
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If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. (1 Peter 2:20b NIV)
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But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. (1 Peter 3:14a (NIV)
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If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (1 Peter 4:14 NIV)
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, help us to bear it patiently when we are insulted for the name of Jesus. We also pray that we will always speak the truth and be slow to accuse others of things that we think they may have done or not done. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Some of my fondest childhood memories take me to an old farm house in which we lived for awhile, near Clinton, Illinois, USA. The old house sat on a hill overlooking rolling pastures and a long lane. What I loved most were the critters that roamed that old farm. At that time, my dad took care of the animals that belonged to the landlord to help with the rent. But in my mind, the cows, sheep, and one old coughing goat were my special pets. Sometimes, if people didn't know any better, they might have thought that the coughing goat was an intruder because of his human-like cough.
One day, I ventured out to start my day, and headed for the barn, my favourite place to play. I was sure that the stray cat that resided there had had her kittens by then. Before I could reach the old rickety building, I was stopped in my tracks at the most horrible sound that I had ever heard. The sheep that normally meandered mindlessly in the pasture were bellowing as if they were being murdered. Wide-eyed, I watched as one sheared sheep after another was released minus their woolly coat, scared and bloodied from the ordeal.
The thing that saddened me most was their fear and confusion as they didn't know where to go. I wanted to help them, but they were lost in their own fear. They needed a leader! They thrashed about in desperation until they heard a baa that came from the old coughing goat. He became their leader, and feeling that they were safe, they immediately became calm.
The Bible talks of sheep many times in the context of their need of a leader or a shepherd. It is well known that sheep are not too smart, and it is even thought that they have poor eyesight. The Bible says that we have all gone astray, like sheep, and need a shepherd. Sometimes, our eyesight fails us, and we can't see past ourselves. Unfortunately, sometimes, we turn to an old coughing goat instead of to the Good Shepherd, Jesus, to lead us.
Many times, not knowing which way to go, I have put my confidence in someone or something unreliable. When I turn to anything other than God's truth, I run after the coughing old goat. Sometimes, I listen to my panicked emotions rather than to the truth found in God's Word. I run amuck, afraid of everything, rather than praying to the Shepherd Who can calm those fears.
If you, dear one, have gone astray and do not know which way to go, remember that the Good Shepherd knows His sheep. He is there to comfort and calm you, to forgive and guide you.
1 Peter 2:25 – For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (NIV)
Prayer: Lord, may we not rely on voices that can lead us astray, like money and power. May the voice of Jesus be the only one that we hear and obey. Help us to listen through the pages of Scripture and in the depths of our prayers. Amen.
When I taught French many years ago, one of the boys in my class failed a test. The next day, his mother came to me and made a startling request: "Mrs. B, would you let Ethan take his test again?" I had never had anyone ask me that before, and it took me by surprise. Deviations from the norm throw me off. That's not the way to do things! I thought. Various objections ran through my head. He should have turned his assignments in. He should have paid more attention in class. He should have studied harder. To let him take the test again seemed unfair to the other students who had done all the right things. I wrestled with my thoughts for a few moments. Grudgingly, I agreed. "All right," I said. "Ethan can take the test again tomorrow."
He took the test the next day and did better the second time around. His mother was happy, and possibly Ethan's estimation of me went up a notch.
Galatians 5:1 – So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law. (NLT)
As a teacher at a Christian school, I had the authority to make the rules and evaluate students in the ways that I deemed best. I had the right to "go by the book". But was it always the best way? According to 1 Corinthians 12:31b, there is "a more excellent way." I could use my discretion in this tricky situation, and didn't have to be rigid in my thinking.
Showing him grace in letting him retake the test was crucial. He was only a young believer in Christ. What was important was how I came across to him as a follower of Jesus. Was I going to show him the grace that Jesus shows me, day after day?
1 Corinthians 8:13b – I don't want to cause another believer to stumble. (NLT)
Galatians 5:13b – But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. (NLT)
Insisting on rigid adherence to the rules and thinking that I always had the right solution was not freedom in Christ. I didn't want my student to get the wrong impression of God's ways. I had to act in love for his sake, so that he would understand one of the main themes of the Bible, that there was freedom in the Christian faith.
In any situation involving people, we can stick to the rules, or we can show the grace of God. None of us deserved it, but God poured out His love for us by allowing His only Son to die a cruel death, so that we could live a different kind of life. Let that be our challenge, that in serving others, we demonstrate to them the grace that God has so freely shown us.
Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for Your more excellent way. Help us to act in love and compassion for others, as You have extended grace to us. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
1 Kings 19:11b-13 – After the wind an earthquake … and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. … Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (NRSV)
The Bible seems to be written for the culture in which we live rather than one thousands of years ago. It is hard for me to imagine a non-industrial society being so noisy as to overwhelm the senses, but maybe it was. I do know that when noise and clamour and chaos assault me in the here and now, I find that Scripture has a comforting word for me. Take my experience at the pool last summer as an example of being overwhelmed. My grandson was in the provincial swimming finals in a number of events that stretched throughout a long and noisy day. I was simply exhausted as the day wound down, and the moments before leaving seemed endless. I couldn't wait to get home and sit on our seawall and watch the waves lap against the shore and listen to the stillness (yes, even the stillness has a unique sound if you can and will listen for it). There is a voice that often only prophets can discern amidst the noise of the world outside.
What does that voice say to you? I actually heard it this morning and it somehow came with my name attached:
Kenn, do not look forward in fear to the changes of life; rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same understanding God who cares for you today will take care of you then and every day. He will either shield you from suffering or will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations. – St. Francis de Sales Peace returned after that long and exciting day! I really did enjoy watching my grandson, and yes, I made as much noise as anyone else and maybe just a bit more than most as I cheered him on. And yes, he won a number of his events and set personal best times. And yes, the stillness beside the seawall and the personal prayer brought me the equilibrium that I so desperately needed. If I were asked, like God asked Elijah, "What are you doing here?", I would answer that I was listening to the voice in the stillness.
How do we sit still and hear God? Stillness is when we step away from the busyness of life and connect with God. It's when we slow down for a few minutes and listen — truly listen — for God's voice. Stillness is how we stay focused on God's vision for our lives and listen for His direction and guidance.
Today, try the prayer of St. Francis de Sales, and you, too, may be able to hear the voice in the stillness.
Prayer: God, help me to know why I am here in this place, at this time, seeking Your purpose and plan. Amen.
One of my favourite chapters in the Bible is the thirteenth of Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth, in which he teaches about the three basics of faith, hope, and love. It especially details aspects of love. Accordingly, it is often part of wedding ceremonies. But placed just before the summary is the profound teaching of the twelfth verse:
1 Corinthians 13:12 – For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (KJV)
I was recently reminded of this verse with the passing of a fellow resident.
When Dr. Ben moved into our residence a number of years ago, he was assigned to sit at the same table where I sat, so I got to know him reasonably well. He had recently sold his dental practice and was an avid follower of the local Toronto basketball team. He was also fond of a lovely new car that he had just purchased.
He had two sons — one in New York and one in California — both of whom I was privileged to meet over the years. Undoubtedly, however, his greatest joy was his grandson in California whom he had never met in person. Over the months, I would overhear telephone conversations between Ben and his grandson.
Then one day, his son brought the grandson to visit in person. I was fortunate to be present when the two met for the first time ever. As expected, the grandfather was thrilled to see his grandson for the first time.
The real surprise, however, was his grandson's response.
The young child was shocked to see his grandfather alive in person. He thought that his grandfather lived IN A BOX. He had seen his grandpa only in the device held by his parents when conversing with Ben. It was a pleasant surprise when he found that he was able to speak to, touch, and feel a live person and not just an image in a box!
Perhaps, like me, you sometimes long for the time when you can see the triune Godhead in person and not, as it were, in a box. Fortunately, the "box" that we have as a guide is the Bible, and chapters like 1 Corinthians 13 show us how to live.
Dr. Kenneth Wuest, in his expanded translation of the New Testament published in 1961, writes about our seeing as children through a clouded mirror, then concludes, "but then I shall fully know even as also I was known".
Even as we continue to struggle with only a partial knowledge of God and our inability to understand all that we daily face, may we have faith and hope to believe in the future that is promised for us. May we do our best to share love with others, even when we sometimes mistakenly feel that God is in a box!
Prayer: Dear Father, we are grateful that You have shared Your Word with us. Help us to exercise faith, hope, and most importantly, love with others. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
"Where on earth can my jacket be?" I wondered. Uncharacteristically, I had mislaid my favourite jacket. Though it has seen plenty of wear, I like it for its suitability to most weather conditions. Many of us love an old, familiar garment and choose to hang onto it, even when it starts to fade and fray. This jacket is a good case in point.
I mentally retraced my steps over the previous week, trying to remember how and where I might have left my jacket. I asked at my most-frequented coffee shop if one had been turned in to lost-and-found. I searched all over my own apartment, in my car, and even at my daughter's house.
I finally thought to check the coat rack next to the puzzle table in the lobby of my retirement community building. There it was, hanging in plain sight. I must have laid my jacket on a nearby chair when I stopped by to work on the puzzle one day, leaving it behind when I left. Even though I never hang my jacket on that coat rack, a kind soul must have hung it up for me, and there it waited for several days as I diligently searched for it — everywhere else.
We also often overlook the obvious things that God is willing to make clear to us –- if only we're willing to look in the right place. We know without a doubt that God cares about our concerns, big or little. But all too often, we restrict our prayers to little things such as a convenient parking space or an open table at a restaurant, while trusting life's big matters –- life-altering decisions, family crises, and financial needs –- to "experts" or even just common wisdom. Perhaps, we underestimate or mistrust God's power to deal with large concerns, or perhaps, we don't want to risk dealing with an undesirable answer from God. Let's trust Him with His mighty power in every aspect of our lives.
He knows our needs and has the resources of His entire universe at His disposal. Our part in the equation is to have an open and sincere seeking heart, trusting Him to answer and provide in the way that He knows is best, not just in the way that we choose.
Luke 11:10-13 – For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You fathers — if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. (NLT)
Let's go first to our heavenly Father with our needs and concerns, knowing that He loves and cares for us.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, we are so often short-sighted, seeing only our immediate needs without knowing the bigger picture of life. May we give You all of our concerns, big and small, trusting You to answer and provide as You know best. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:12 – Now we see but a poor 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. (NIV)
Earl Grey came to me after two other families had failed to collect him. He is a grey tabby, and he loves to get into everything. I have discovered him everywhere from inside my mop pail to inside a cloth bag that had been left on the floor. He is just a kitten that insists on being everywhere all the time.
The Lord's servant, Job, eventually discovered that this is also a trait of God, though amidst his horrendous suffering, he cried out to God, "Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?" (Job 13:24 NIV)
Job is confused by his suffering, wondering what he has done to deserve it. He also feels that God has left him, for he complains, "If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to His dwelling! I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say." (Job 23:3-5 NIV)
Sometimes, I have had the same thoughts and questions as Job when I read the morning headlines and see the suffering of the world. What is going on, God? Why are You allowing these things? Why all this suffering? What kind of God would say that He loves us beyond measure, but then treats us this way?
Yet, God is in everything. We cannot go anywhere that He is not. He knows the beginning from the end, and He is always with us, whether or not we feel or discern His presence.
So, as we read the headlines, let us choose not to dwell upon what we cannot understand, but to remember and know, like Job came to know, that God can do all things. No plan of His can be thwarted. The world is not out of control at all, because God is always in control. Let us also remember that right now, we can see only in part, but one day, we shall see clearly and understand God's whole plan: "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11b NIV)
Such remembrances shall bring us encouragement, hope, and joy, for they speak of an everlasting and eternal love that shall never fail us, even amidst the sufferings of this world that we cannot yet understand.
Prayer: Father God, we come in faith, hope, and love, choosing to remember that You are in control of this world and that You know and understand all its sufferings. Strengthen and encourage us to continue to trust in You and Your Word, that better things are yet to come, eternal things that shall fill us up to overflowing and remove all suffering, tears, mourning, and lack of understanding. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Several of my relatives have discovered that with proper instruction, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is capable of writing poetry, essays — the possibilities are endless. There are articles on how AI is going to impact society, like automation revolutionized many industries, and how it will eliminate many entry-level jobs. I began to wonder how soon people might submit AI-written devotionals!
Then, I thought that I might try it myself. So, I instructed Bing in the Edge browser to write a 500-word Christian devotional based on Isaiah 43:19 and specified the version. A few seconds later, out came an uplifting devotional:
Isaiah 43:19 in the New Living Translation says, "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."
This verse is a promise of hope and restoration for God's people. It is a powerful reminder that God is always at work in our lives, even when we can't see it.
God promises always to be doing something new in our lives. He is constantly working behind the scenes, bringing about new things and making a way where there seems to be no way. When we feel stuck in the wilderness or lost in the desert, God promises to make a pathway for us. He will provide streams of living water to quench our thirst and guide us on our journey.
As we meditate on this verse, let us remember that God is faithful to His promises. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), and He will always make a way for us when there seems to be no way. Let us trust in His goodness and His love for us, knowing that He is always working for our good (Romans 8:28).
Let us pray: Dear God, thank You for Your promise to do something new in our lives. Help us to trust in Your goodness and Your love for us. Guide us on our journey and provide streams of living water to quench our thirst. We know that You are always working behind the scenes, even when we can't see it. Help us to remember that You are faithful to Your promises and that You will always make a way for us when there seems to be no way. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. I hope that you were encouraged by such helpful advice! I was impressed that "it" came up with the Hebrews and Romans verses all on its own and wrote a very good prayer. However, it did not meet our guidelines for writing devotionals: it was missing the personal experience that we like our devotionals to begin with or include. In fact, it is impossible for a computer to have a real-life experience of any kind, certainly not one with its "creator", but especially not the kind of personal relationship with God that is so central to the Christian faith.
This raises an important question for professing believers. Do we have a personal relationship with God, or is what we believe simply based on what we have heard in sermons or Bible studies? Do we know a lot about God, or do we know God personally?
Prayer: Lord, draw us ever closer to Yourself, that we may know You intimately, as we know our closest friend. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 119:59 – I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. (NLT)
Direction determines destination, so that makes discerning life's direction a critical matter.
Google Maps is my favourite driving directions app. Siri is nice, but she tends to misunderstand my southern accent. With Google Maps, I simply plug in my desired destination, and it takes me there. It even has a voice to guide me, so I don't have to distract myself by looking at the listed directions.
But for Google Maps to guide me, I must put in my intended destination. Once, I plugged in Herdon, West Virginia, USA — where my brother and his wife then lived. We would not have arrived at our desired destination had I entered another destination. We arrived six hours later, but only because I had initially headed in the right direction.
The psalmist did what all people must do at some point in life: ponder their direction — a relationship with God, career, college, residence, investments, and relationships. All require going in a particular direction to reach the proper destination.
At age nine, I discerned the direction that I needed to go. That direction involved turning my life over to Jesus Christ, asking Him to forgive my sins, and committing to serve Him faithfully and unashamedly. For most of those years, I've headed in the right direction. When I have, I've always arrived at my intended destination: godly living.
The few times when I've taken a detour, I've found myself involved in pursuits and relationships that I should have left alone. Direction determines destination. But when I consulted my life map, God faithfully returned me to the route that led me back to my intended objective.
Heaven is my ultimate destination, and each day brings me closer. I may make a few more unintended detours, but God assures me that I'll arrive safely. My heavenly guide is better than any app that I could download. He always gets me where I need to go if I take His advice and follow His directions.
Let your life destination entail loving and serving God with all your being.
Prayer: Father, guide us to Your destination for our lives and give us the fortitude never to veer from the route. Amen.
Have you ever found yourself carrying on a private conversation — with yourself? Such internal dialogue is normal and often quite productive. My own thought life may sometimes seem to be aimless and fragmented, but I've also solved many a problem or planned many an event while I've simply been musing about something.
Many of the PresbyCan devotionals that I have written have started in the form of a seed thought that pops into my mind at random times. I may see something interesting on my neighbourhood walk, and a thought about a life lesson may then begin to form. I can then expand this thought into a cohesive reflection later on. Thoughts come to mind as I'm drifting off to sleep at night or as I'm slowly waking up in the morning. Sometimes, I've gotten out of bed to jot my fragmented thoughts down before they disappear like a vapour. I've even "written" devotionals while taking a shower. I just have to be sure to quickly transfer these thoughts to paper afterward, before I forget them.
My best thinking time, however, is when I'm simply spending some quiet time alone. I can be sitting in a coffee shop reading a book, when something I read prompts a thought that might develop into a devotional, so I quickly scribble descriptive words and phrases on a napkin before they fade into obscurity. Later, I transcribe my gibberish into meaningful thoughts as I piece together these scribbled thoughts and phrases.
My internal thinking as I have described it is often a productive activity. A free-flowing imagination may be basically harmless, and can, indeed, have a genuine upside. Nonetheless, we need to have guardrails in place to monitor our thought life.
The current expression, "garbage in/garbage out", gives us a good precaution for our thought life. If we fill our minds with trash from social media, television, movies, books, and other such outlets, we run the risk of creating a breeding ground for harmful, unguarded thoughts. What we put into our minds can then be reflected in our words and actions. "What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:45b NLT)
We need to stay on guard against unfiltered material that can be harmful to our thought life. The apostle Paul tells us:
Philippians 4:8b – Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (NLT)
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, our words and actions often reveal what is in our hearts and minds. Forgive us when we fall short. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Amen. (Psalm 19:14 NLT)
1 Peter 5:8 – Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (NLT)
Charlie got his start as a project. My daughter worked in a home for developmentally disabled adults and took an egg from one of our hens to incubate. The residents watched in amazement as the egg slowly hatched and out popped Charlie! He was cute and cuddly for a while, but Charlie soon turned into an unruly rooster that found himself back with us. The only problem was, Charlie didn't fit in with us either. He was always mad and would flog anything whether it moved or not. I observed him lash out at a sponge that we were using to wash the car. The concrete duck frequently became the object of Charlie's wrath, as well as anyone who dared to turn their back on him.
After a while, we appropriately changed his name to "Crazy Charlie". This feathered bundle of trouble didn't go by rules. He assumed that he knew best and would not go in at night with the rest of the chickens. What he didn't see was the danger that lingers in the dark. Coyotes roam around looking for such delicacies.
I wish I could have warned Charlie of the dangers out there. Since I didn't speak chicken, I was helpless. If only I could become a chicken for just a minute, I could explain to this stiff-necked "bird brain" how to keep himself from becoming a meal for some hungry varmint. But Charlie thought that he knew best.
My nightly ritual was to put him away, and I would often find him huddled in the dark. On more than one night, I forgot, and was relieved to hear him crow before dawn the next morning. Eventually, a hungry coyote heard that prideful crow as a call to supper. Poor Charlie was never to crow again.
Jesus loves us so much — even us "dumb clucks" — that He came to be one of us as a man so that He could talk with us, warn us of the devil's plans, and save us from the evil that lurks in the world. He came so that none of us would perish but have life eternal. We don't have to huddle in the darkness, because He said, "I am the light of the world." He desired to bring us into the new light of His salvation. Thank God that He didn't give up on this "chick"!
We all have a little "Charlie" in us. We strut around in our own pride, in our own strength, daring anyone to tell us that there is another way. Instead of crouching in our own darkness, becoming a sitting duck for the enemy, let us turn in repentance and humility, and accept God's offer of eternal safety in Christ.
Prayer: Father, we thank You that You can give us Your lessons — even through a crazy chicken. Help us to keep our lives free of pride and disobedience. Search our hearts daily for any bad and destructive ways. May we always be mindful of Your ways. Amen.
Recently, I spent time with my four-year old grandson. We played ball with the dog. I pushed him on a swing set with fits of glee and laughter. We took a walk to Locust Grove under a warm sun and blue sky. Yet, over the day hung a dark cloud from the mass shooting in our city that morning. It almost ruined the time that I had with my grandson. Almost.
Just because there is craziness, destruction, and evil in this world, it does not mean that we need to be part of it. We are in this world, but not of it. Of course, we want to leave the world a better place than we found it.
There are polls and surveys that tell us that people in North America are less religious. I am concerned about the vacuum, the emptiness, the amoral approach to life for young people growing up today. I'm also troubled by drugs — both legal and illegal — and what impact they have on the development of emotions, intellect, social togetherness, community life, and ultimately our spiritual growth or lack thereof.
Many Christians celebrate a seven-week "Easter season" until the day of Pentecost. This season carries with it a promise. Recall the risen Lord's conversation with His disciples who were hiding behind closed doors because of fear:
John 20:21a,22 – Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (ESV)
Jesus gives us His Spirit and — like grace — it is sufficient. His Spirit is all we need. He is enough. He keeps us going. He reveals our character and forms our convictions. With Him, life with God is lived to the fullest. And more importantly, it is through the Holy Spirit that we plant seeds and bear fruit. We leave this world less concerned about problems and more hopeful for the seeds that we have planted.
Life is about planting seeds. It is about trees under whose shade we will never sit. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23a NIV) The promise of Easter will not die but only grow from generation to generation, from what we produce.
Now is the time. It is not time to give up or throw in the towel or hide in fear. It is time, however, to trust God with all that we have and allow His Spirit to manifest Himself in the darkness of the tomb and in the brokenness of this world for future generations who will bear fruit in a world that is a better place tomorrow because of the seeds that we plant today.
Prayer: Risen Lord, fill us with Your Spirit, so that we may do the work that You have prepared for us to do with courage through Your grace. Help us to plant seeds and bear fruit always to Your honour and glory. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
Romans 15:13 – Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NKJV)
God has prepared for us things beyond our imagining. Our hope is for a renewed world and for fullness of life in the age to come. As Jesus taught us, we pray: "Thy kingdom come." – Living Faith 10.1) Charlie Brown is always having rough days in his young life — that's what makes the whole Peanuts comic strip work. Take, for example, this exchange with Lucy:
"Look at it this way, Charlie Brown," she consoles. "These are your bitter days. These are the days of your hardship and struggle, but if you just hold your head up high and keep on fighting, you'll triumph!"
"Do you really think so, Lucy?" Charlie asks hopefully.
As she walks away, Lucy says, "Frankly, no!"
Hope means more than just hanging on. It is the conscious decision to see the world in a different way than most others see it. To hope is to look through the eyes of faith to a future not determined by the oppressive circumstances of the present. To hope is to know that the present reality will not have the last word. It is to know, despite the pretentions and cruelties of idolatrous authorities, that God rules. It is God who will have the last word. We need more than resistance; we need hope and a positive vision of where we are going. We begin to live out new possibilities in our daily living. – Living in hope, Jim Wallis in Sojourners magazine I want us to see that God has a purpose and a plan for us that take us into God's future. Hope ties us to the future. Peruvian theologian, Gustavo Gutiérrez, writes, "To hope does not mean to know the future, but rather to be open, in an attitude of spiritual childhood, to accepting it as a gift."
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (NKJV)
Where others are hopeless, let us see hope in Christ!
Prayer: Lord, our hope is founded and grounded and growing in Jesus Christ. Thanks be to You, our God. Amen.
Psalm 93:1 – The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. (NIV)
This coming Saturday, the world will be focused on the coronation of King Charles III. Television cameras from all over the world will broadcast this unique event live, and no doubt, many people will be amazed to see the coronation regalia, carriages, and parade that will take place in the United Kingdom. I will watch some of it, mainly to see the golden coronation coach which is used only for these special events. When I was a child in school, I won a special prize from my second-grade schoolteacher, which was a beautiful drawing of the coach. Ever since then, I've wanted to see it being driven on the streets of London.
For some folks, all the pomp and circumstance, as well as the massive expense, will be a major turn-off. Why we continue to support a medieval custom in the 21st century or to view a royal procession doesn't have any relevance for them, especially for some folks who seek to be independent of the British monarchy. I can sympathize with that, but it won't stop me from watching some of this unique historical event.
Rather than being captivated by it, however, the whole process will remind me of God's splendour and majesty, which a million coronations could never match. I serve a greater King than any sovereign that a royal family on earth could produce. I am a subject, first and foremost, of God's kingdom through Christ, which is more powerful, sacred, and everlasting than any monarchy or republic could ever establish. The King Who has my loyalty is robed with the righteousness of God's grace and coronated with a crown of thorns, worth so much more to me than any made of gold.
Point to ponder: If I believe that Christ is my King, how do I seek to serve Him with my life?
Prayer: Lord God, You are the King of glory and the Creator of the cosmos. May we serve You faithfully with our lives as subjects of Your kingdom. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (ESV)
Recently, I took my daughter to school to save her the "long" walk with her backpack and kit. It's not far. The car has an electric heater in the windscreen that clears away the frost, which is great on a frosty morning. On the way home, driving against the long queue of traffic, I noticed that I could not see the driver's face in one of the cars. The screen was still covered all over in opaque frost. This is a bit daft — driving without the ability to see. I wondered how, without seeing clearly what was in front of them, they had managed to get as far as they had! Presumably, like me, they had not travelled far. I consoled myself with the thought of the car being stuck in the queue: they were not able to go faster than at a walking pace!
We, too, sometimes rush on ahead to get the job done without taking the time to remove the things that obstruct our view and walk with God. Things get in the way.
Cleaning the window of our heart and mind is a continual process which is never completely done. I seek never to forsake my God, as we are sorely tempted to do in the world's draw of recognition, success, opposition, hurt, illness, and conquest. Neglecting God obscures my vision.
Thank God for the rational part of our brain that reminds us of the folly of not taking the time to clear our thoughts with God before stepping out into the day ahead. Prayer is a wonderful tool against the devil, desire, folly, and temptation from whatever quarter.
Here's the irony/paradox. As and when I do bother to read the Bible — to clean the heart's windscreen — I find that I am refreshed and de-stressed by the real presence of the Holy Spirit Who lifts me up once more and cleanses my soul's implanting, reminding me of truth, so that the "yes" to God outshines and outweighs any other voices, and so that I have a clearer vision of the day ahead. His light shines through to me, and I can see His path for me more clearly.
Cleaning our life's windscreen to let us see clearly and taking time before we start the day's journeying mean that we can move forward faster than at a walking pace. Through facing up to God and praising and thanking Him for who we are, what we have taken for granted, and what we are called to do, we find out where our faith really lies, and we can see the way ahead more clearly.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for saving us and cleaning the coldness of our vision. May Your light shine in to warn and warm us, clearing our thoughts and driving us forward. May we shine outwards, by Your grace, as we go with You into the day ahead. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Luke 8:4-8a – While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." (NIV)
Spring has sprung, and with it, my thoughts stray to gardening. As we will be living in a new home this spring, one without an established garden, I wonder what the soil will be like. I am hoping that it will be good soil, but I really have no idea.
The important thing, though, is that I know that poor, neglected, or bad soil can be made into good soil. With the proper cultivation, fertilization, water, and nutrients, what was not suitable for growing a good crop can be transformed into good soil that yields a wonderful harvest.
Our spiritual lives are similar. They can range anywhere from rocky, hard, dry, and weed infested, to good. It all depends on what we are cultivating and adding to them. Do the habits that I already have or that I am considering adding to my life improve and grow my desires for God and my relationship with Him, or do they foster worldly views and actions? What is my daily routine like? Does it set aside time for the spiritual: Bible study, prayer, fellowship with other Christians, and positive practices like healthy exercise and good eating choices?
What we put into the soil of the earth makes a huge difference as to whether or not that soil is being built up to produce healthy vegetation and crops. What we put into the soil of our spiritual lives does likewise. It either grows our relationship with God or it takes away from it.
For good soil to remain good, it must also be carefully tended year by year, as the growing of crops and weather conditions can easily deplete the soil, turning the soil from good to mediocre or even useless.
Our spiritual soil must also be cared for to ensure that it not only remains good but also gets even better year by year. So, let's keep a close check on our spiritual lives. Let's remember to cultivate, feed, water, and enrich them with the nourishment of God's Word, fellowship with other Christians, prayer, study, and taking time to appreciate the beauty of the created world around us, giving glory and praise to the One Who has blessed us with such delights.
Prayer: Father God, thank You that each one of us can be good soil — the kind of soil that produces a rich harvest for the blessing of others as well as for Your eternal kingdom. Help us to remember to feed our spiritual lives daily by cultivating truth and goodness into them. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Little children are just amazing. I've always loved being around them. I've watched them learn to walk, and I've seen the joy and delight in their faces as they play and learn. I've seen how they live in the moment and experience new things with wonder. Jesus used the simple sincerity of a child to describe those in the kingdom of God. A little child is dependent, trusting, needy, and anxious to grow and learn and love. A little child awakening to see a new day doesn't need to look at the clock, check the calendar, or get coffee or the latest news. The little sleepyhead wakes up just trusting that the day will be good.
Matthew 18:2-3 – [Jesus] called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (NIV)
Many years ago, I learned a simple song to teach a little child. Often, the simplest things are the most profound! It has only four lines, and yet it acknowledges so much of Who God is and who we are.
Good morning, God,
This is Your day,
I am Your child
Show me Your way!
How can a grown-up person who has experienced 80-plus years of life change and become more like a little child? How about setting aside all the accumulated opinions and pride of knowledge and learning and ego-filled assumptions? Add to this list just going back to square one and reviewing the basics.
My pastor encouraged me to begin a simple daily discipline: start my day at the very beginning awareness of the morning by praying the Lord's Prayer deliberately and slowly, meditating on every word. Jesus taught us to pray these words. I'm realizing that the purpose of prayer is not to get what we want, but to learn what God wants. I need to remind myself of Who God is. He is my Father. I am His child. His name is hallowed and holy. I want His kingdom to come, and I want His will to be done here on earth, just the same way that it is done in heaven. I humbly ask for and depend on Him to give me today's bread, and I ask for forgiveness and for His strength to help me to forgive everyone who owes me or who stepped over the line with me. I need to be pulled away from things that are bad for me, and I need powerful protection from the evil powers surrounding me, because the kingdom belongs to our God, Who is all-powerful and full of glory today and forever! Amen.
Dear friends, today is the time to rejoice and be glad like a little child and to realize anew this fact:
Psalm 118:24 – This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (NIV)
Prayer: Our dear heavenly Father, thank You for creating this new day and for giving us the life to live in it. Thank You for re-making us as Your little children and for patiently feeding us, lovingly forgiving us, constantly teaching us, and carefully leading us in the way everlasting. Amen.
Psalm 119:139 – I am overwhelmed with indignation, for my enemies have disregarded your words. (NLT)
Listening to the evening news is enough to make anyone mad at sin.
Consider these reports: A police officer intentionally shooting and killing a man. A man shooting his parents and then going to a local business to kill his ex-girlfriend, too. A woman discarding her unwanted child in the trash dumpster. Tons of pollution ascending into the air that people breathe or descending into fresh water sources that people drink. Radical religious sects beheading individuals just because they're from another religious tradition. A local animal shelter displaying pictures of cats and dogs severely abused by their owners, especially kittens and puppies that can't fend for themselves.
In biblical times, the nation of Israel had any number of enemies who wanted to subdue her, rule over her, and steal her treasures: Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Syrians, Edomites, Philistines. They surrounded her with a web of evil and couldn't wait to draw her in, roll her up, and administer the death sting. Like Goliath with David, they wanted to feed her flesh to the birds of the air.
Sin causes us anguish because it infringes on our rights, the rights of others, and on the good plan that God has for His earth. While the earth itself has been affected by sin, it is the sinful people who live here that infest it with sinful practices.
But sin, rather than the sinner, is what must be the object of our anger. Jesus didn't get mad at people; He got angry over the sinful deeds that they committed. He loved criminals, prostitutes, thieves, the religious left, and the religious right. He extended to all the privilege of becoming God's children and of having their sinful actions and attitudes transformed into godly ones. And He still does.
Sin should anger us, but we should never get angry at the one sinning. Except for the grace of God, we might be walking in their shoes. Do you hate sin but love the sinner?
Prayer: Father, enable us to get angry over sin but at the same time to love the sinner. Amen.
Matthew 15:27-28 – She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. (ESV)
I have started to learn French. I use an app that has a competitive edge to it. I have been doing it for over a month now, and already, I am up in the Emerald League and fifth from the top of the leader board.
Unwittingly, I seem to have given up any daily sitting still and having a quiet time with God, as it has been supplanted by the challenge to win, to succeed at learning French via this app.
Anyone who has an addictive and inquisitive nature will know how easy it is to become overly fixated. My email address is out on the web database, so I find that I get disgusting emails advertising local free sex, or I am invited to look at pornography, which arrives unsolicited in my spam filter. Experience has taught me not to be clicking out of curiosity to find out what they may contain. I block them unopened and delete them from my spam folder, but they still return to tempt me when I am tired, curious, or willful. Avoidance of engaging even with the thought of these emails is the only way forward.
I am a part of a small group of intercessors that meets every week. For me, it is a spiritual oasis, akin to a counselling meeting as God sits with us. Fortunately, others in the group are better than I at reverence and worship that glorifies God and draws us into His presence in due time. We pray as we believe that we are being led. This takes time as we wait upon God, and we are rewarded by peace, encouragement, and sometimes, words of knowledge and prophecy.
Today, our dog, Daisy, was lingering in the kitchen at breakfast scrounging for crumbs. She has FOMOFF (Fear Of Missing Out on Free Food). Wherever food is, she can be found attempting to receive.
I missed this week's meeting of intercessors, so through witnessing my dog's FOMOFF, I suddenly became aware that I, in turn, was in need of being fed for myself, not by guilt but by hunger — to gather up whatever crumbs that God might be willing to share with me. Then, today's Scripture came to mind, so French has had to wait!
How about you? What has been taking the place of quiet reflection before God today? It's not too late. Join with me to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to the table where we can once more gather God's life-giving crumbs.
Prayer: Lord, we come now ready to hear and receive from You today. In Your mercy, bring to us Your table and highlight the crumbs that we may gather to cleanse, heal, deliver, and restore in Jesus' name. Amen.
In our fast-paced, ambitious society, we are tempted by the latest thing, the newest product to test drive, and the exclusive access "by invitation only". At times, I feel that my life is static and that I'm really missing out on something big. Where is that elusive supplement, the recently published self-help book, or the guru who is going to show me the way to success? Sometimes, I even feel this way about how I experience life at my church. Is anything exciting happening there? Am I discontented with the teaching, the worship, or the music?
If I'm honest, this has more to do with my pride and desire for control. Hebrews 13 offers the guidance that I need.
Hebrews 13:7-9a,13 – Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace. … Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. (NKJV)
As I consider the lives and conduct of godly leaders, past and present, I am inspired to follow in faith those whose lives have been transformed by Jesus' power. He uses changed people, not some snazzy new theology, to guide us all forward. It's tempting to be sidetracked by dramatic teaching, but teaching must always measure up to Jesus' person and teaching, the same yesterday, today, and forever. My pride and desire to measure my own progress leads me away from Him, my sure foundation and hope, but it is by God's grace alone that I am accepted — not by ticking off a list of religious accomplishments. He has great things planned for my life in Him, but I can get in the way of that by trying to keep myself saved, apart from His grace.
Listening to the clamour for political correctness can actually make me ashamed of my faith. Who wants to stand out for believing in one holy God? But "outside the camp" is where Jesus is. The Jewish Christians were often rejected for not conforming and not abiding by the religious rules. We have a new altar now, that is, His cross, the centre of the gospel and of the understanding of His ministry. "God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship — a different kind of 'sacrifice' — that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets." (Hebrews 13:16b MSG)
Where will our attention be focused? Will we be distracted by what society offers, appealing to our pride and desire for control? Lord Jesus is the head of the church, and in Him is the stability and direction for which we are looking. Let us come "outside the camp" to life in Him, being willing to carry the reproach that He bears, living in hope and faith for the great city in heaven to come.
Prayer: We thank You, Lord Jesus, that in You and Your body, the church, we can find the contentment and direction for which we are searching. We worship You, the One Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever! We offer You the sacrifice of praise from our lips, giving thanks to Your name. Amen.
"You need the right documentation," I was told after my healthcare request was denied. That episode last year reminded me of similar episodes where I didn't have the "right documentation", even though I had sufficient evidence to qualify.
It's a common experience, isn't it? Oh, how much of our energy is consumed with getting the "right documentation". It can be frustrating. We may feel robbed of our time, money, and peace. Meanwhile, we may actually possess everything we need.
That hit home for me while watching the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz. In the story, Dorothy and three companions embark on a pilgrimage down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City where each one hopes to receive what's missing in their life. Scarecrow wants a brain; Tin Man wants a heart; Cowardly Lion wants courage; and Dorothy wants to go home to Kansas.
Finally, after overcoming many trials, the sojourners arrive at the magnificent Emerald City. They eagerly expect the "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" to grant their desires. But he doesn't. He admits that he's merely a humbug. Yet, he's not entirely pathetic. He can see that the travellers received their wishes through their journeying. He presents them each an achievement award: a diploma for Scarecrow, a heart-shaped watch for Tin Man, and a medal of courage for Lion. They are thrilled. Yet the wizard provided nothing more than symbols of validation — like the "right documentation".
While watching The Wizard of Oz, it occurred to me that, through God's providence over the years, I already possessed what I needed — without the "right documentation". God was sufficient for me.
Thankfully, our God is not constrained by mere "humbugs". Neither are we. He can provide in ways that we can't even fathom.
2 Peter 1:3 – His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (NIV)
The Wizard of Oz concludes with Dorothy receiving her wish, but not through the pitiful humbug. He fails her. She would instead use the magic shoes provided at the beginning of her trip. She simply needed to click her heels together and she'd be home in Kansas.
Dorothy hadn't considered that provision earlier because it wasn't the right timing. She wasn't ready to go home. She first had to surrender her dream of a magic place "somewhere over the rainbow". She had to forgive her Aunt Em and accept her humble Kansas home — which really was all she needed.
I see a lesson here. Our desire may not be fulfilled as we expect, or when we expect. Time and experience may be needed to prepare us to accept a different means. Perhaps what's needed is a change of thinking, and then, we are able to see how we actually have "everything we need". That's how it worked for me.
Perhaps you'd like to offer this personal prayer to God:
Prayer: Lord, may my current unmet need (whatever that is) be my opportunity to discover Your surprising provision. Amen.
"Can you come over? The sewing machine that you loaned me isn't working right." My neighbour was frustrated. It was a new machine that had been used only a few times. What could go wrong?
My first attempt to fix it didn't work. I tried everything: changing the needle, changing the bobbin, rethreading it. Nothing worked. I looked through the manual and couldn't find anything else. "I'm sorry, but I can't see why it isn't working. Let me think about it and do some research."
A few days later, I returned for one more try; then, I checked the troubleshooting guide in the manual and discovered the answer that I hadn't seen before: a switch was out of place. I moved it and the machine worked like it was supposed to.
Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (NKJV)
As believers, we have the ultimate manual: God's Word, the Bible. Like my attempt to fix that machine, sometimes, we have to return to the Bible several times before we absorb and understand and are ready to implement what we have read about a particular problem.
While the Bible may not provide exact instructions for every situation in life, there are guidelines and principles that we can apply to every situation. Here are just a few:
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How do I interact with the people in my family, my neighbourhood, my church, etc.? "And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8b NKJV) Those three actions should cover most situations.
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What kind of attitude should I have as I go about my day? "Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." (Colossians 3:12b-14 NKJV). Can you imagine what the world would be like if we all acted that way?
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How can I have an abundant life? "I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10b NKJV) That doesn't mean that we won't have any problems, but we will have peace and joy in the midst of whatever we're facing.
The Bible is the only manual that provides guidelines for living a fruitful and fulfilling life. It must be part of our daily lives, something that we read often, refer to in any situation, and meditate upon as we go through our day. In order to understand God's instruction manual rightly, we must read it prayerfully, carefully, and with ever-increasing understanding, asking the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction for our lives.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good. (CEB)
Prayer: Lord, help us to commit to daily study and communication with You through Your Word. Amen.
Psalm 139:1-3 – O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. (NLT)
When I was very young, I would feel threatened when meeting new people or being in a new situation, so I would resort to an escape technique. Elbow up, I would put my whole arm in front of my face. Under the cover of my arm, I could hide; no one could see me — so I thought.
Hagar, Sarai's servant, resorted to a different escape technique. Pregnant with Abram's child, she scorned and mocked Sarai, whose idea it was to have a child through her servant. Sarai retaliated by treating Hagar so harshly that she ran away from her mistress. In the wilderness, the Lord knew all about her predicament, and advised her to return to her mistress and submit to her.
Genesis 16:13 – Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, "You are the God who sees me." [in Hebrew El-roi] She also said, "Have I truly seen the One who sees me?" (NLT)
Just as the people surrounding me really could see me when I hid under my arm, so the Lord saw Hagar when she thought that she was alone in her trouble.
Later, God changed Sarai's name to Sarah, and Abram's name to Abraham, reflecting the covenant that God had made with him.
Although God is always watching over us, we often fail to see Him working in our lives. At the Youth With a Mission (YWAM) base in Belize in the fall of 2016, one of my assigned tasks was baking, a challenge in a tropical climate. I had made several recipes with the wrong kind of shortening, and the cookies spread all over the baking sheet. One day, as I again perused the shelves of the store room, my eye landed on a can of Crisco®, a vegetable-based lard substitute that stays solid at room temperature. It had been there the whole time! Crisco is not an ingredient that I had ever baked with, but when I tried it, the results were fantastic! Blinded by my inadequacies, I hadn't seen God's provision.
Hagar's story shows that she didn't see God's provision, either. The troublesome relationship between Hagar and Sarah returned after God gave Sarah and Abraham a son in their old age. Under pressure from Sarah, Abraham regretfully sent away Hagar and her son, Ishmael. Again, she wandered in the desert. When her water was gone, Hagar resigned herself to her son's death. Blinded by her tears, she saw no way out of her plight. Again, the Lord was watching over her. He opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. This moment was a turning point for her and Ishmael. He didn't die, but grew up to be a skilled archer in the wilderness, and his descendants became a great nation.
El-roi always sees us and knows our needs; we just need to look up and see His provision.
Prayer: El-roi, the God Who sees us, may we open our eyes and look up to see Your work on our behalf. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
One hot summer day, I watched our Blue Healer, Rocky, saunter across the field and walk into the neighbour's pond. With the sun behind him, he looked rather handsome as he emerged from the refreshing water and walked through the tall grass. As is typical of wet dogs, he shook himself, starting at his nose and ending at the very tip of his tail. Water danced in all directions, with the sunlight reflecting on each drop. Then, Rocky did something that ruined the serene scene. He trotted his wet self to the nearest dirt hole, lowered his shoulder, then his entire body, into the dirt, and proceeded to roll from side to side, not missing a square inch.
As I watched in amazement, I was reminded of myself. No, I don't roll in the dirt after a dip in the pool, but there have been times when I did something similar. Some of the most wonderful, refreshing times that I have ever had with the Lord, to my dismay, have been followed with a good roll in the dirt.
I remember wonderful times when I have praised God, enjoyed His presence, and fallen in love with Him all over again, only to come home and find myself losing my temper, gossiping, grumbling, or totally blowing it in some way or another. Unlike my furry friend, I didn't mean to roll in the dirt, but I did. I could not understand how this could happen. But I know that I am not the only one who has experienced this disappointment. Read what the apostle Paul says:
Romans 7:15 – I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (NIV)
I am not a theologian, but I think that the enemy, the devil, hates for us to enjoy the Lord's presence. He cringes as we praise Him, and he loves to see us innocently waltz out of the refreshing living water, only to find ourselves rolling in the dirt.
I prayed with a young woman who cried as she told me how she had been so close to God, but then, she found herself doing what she did not want to do. My heart broke for her as well as for myself, because I have been there many times in my life.
How do we avoid the dreaded dirt hole? We need to be ready for the attack and then remember the truths that we have stored in our hearts. Put on the whole armour of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)
Jesus is ever willing to forgive us, and He sends His Holy Spirit when we are tempted to lower our shoulders into a pit of sin and doubt. Each morning, may we be reminded of His unfailing love for us, even when we bathe in His glory but head for the nearest mud hole!
Prayer: Lord, we praise You for those times when we are moved by Your Spirit and are touched by the beauty of Your creation. Our Father, deliver us from evil, since Your enemy does not want us to be blessed by Your grace and goodness and tries everything he can to get us off track. Save us from those dirt holes of negativity and discontentment. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Quite recently, I visited my leader from the church who was quite sick. You must know that I wasn't aware that the sickness was something severe until I saw him looking quite wasted. I also didn't know that he would die the next day. I went there with both of my younger brothers, and when his wife asked him for our names, he remembered mine alone. He had seen them recently, but he hadn't seen me in over two years. The sickness had eaten at him, but with bright eyes and whispering voice, he said, "John." I was surprised that he remembered my name even in that condition, especially as he didn't seem to know my brothers any more. It was heartbreaking to hear that he had passed away the next day.
That incident reminded of Jesus and the fact that He knows our names.
Jeremiah 1:5 – Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (KJV)
God knows each and every one of us, even if we left Him a long time ago. When the prodigal son returned to his father, "when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." (Luke 15:20b KJV) That Man is God; He never forgets us.
If you have strayed far away from His sheltering hands; if you have broken the hedge and the serpent has bitten you (Ecclesiastes 10:8); if you had a bad experience and you thought that God doesn't care; if you have left the umbrella of His love; if it's been so long since you stepped into the church, and longer still since you have prayed; if you have run so far that you feel that you have escaped the watchful eyes of the Maker, I just want to tell you that God knows your name. Even before you were conceived, He has known and loved you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).
Luke 19:5b – Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. (KJV)
Jesus knew Zacchaeus's name even before meeting him for the first time. He even knew which tree to look up into to find him. Today, He is looking at you and saying, "I know your name. I want to abide with you."
I just want you to know that you are not alone; God loves you. Just talk to Him and tell Him that you are ready to come back home.
Prayer: Lord, help me to come to the realization of Your ever-abiding knowledge of my existence. Amen.
It has been more than a year since the start of the war in Ukraine, and I'm sure that thousands of people, if not millions, pray every day that it will soon be over. The complete devastation of infrastructure, the loss of thousands of lives, and the hardship on local people as well as the families of soldiers on both sides of the conflict are overwhelming. I have thought about and wondered why God does not answer our prayers and speak to the hearts of those who have the ability to stop this war.
I discussed this with some people, and there were different opinions. One believed that everything in life is predestined, and therefore, it was bound to happen and will stop at the appointed time. Another felt that God has given us human beings the ability to make decisions, so those who decided to start this war will also be the ones to end it. One doubted that God is actually listening to our prayers, while another believed that God has wise and loving purposes in mind that we know nothing about. But we all wonder how long this terrible situation will continue.
I'm sure that the Israelites of old, enslaved by the Egyptians, also wondered if their prayers were heard by God. They toiled from day to day, living under terrible conditions. I'm sure that they prayed every day that they would be freed and able to return to the land of their ancestors. I'm sure that they wondered every day why their prayers were not being answered, but then, the Bible tells us that God remembered them.
Exodus 2:23-25 – During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them. (NIV)
It appears that God finally remembered His agreement with their ancestors, and He saw that His people were suffering and answered their prayers.
Jesus told a parable about how we should always keep on praying and not lose heart. The widow in this parable had been mistreated, and she went to see a judge about her problem, but he would not listen to her.
Luke 18:4-5 – For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, "Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming." (NIV)
There are times when we, too, feel that our prayers are in vain, times when we despair about situations nearby or far away. Sometimes, we, too, may feel that God is not listening, but the Bible tells us what our attitude should be:
Romans 12:12 – Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. (NKJV)
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we ask that You would speak to the hearts of those who have the ability to bring peace to those places where wars rage. In the meantime, encourage us to continue to pray for an end to hostility. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Psalm 16:5a – Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. (NLT)
In early May, we will be relocating to a lovely acreage in the Tawatinaw Valley, Alberta, Canada. As I think upon all that such a move will entail, I become more and more aware of what will need to be packed and what will need to find a new home before we leave. For when we move about this earth, we take things with us — a wide variety of possessions: clothes and shoes, beds and bedding, dishes and cutlery, shovels and hoes, wheelbarrows and toys, books and files, and a multitude of much more, including children and pets, and trailers and even livestock. It is a really big deal for most of us to make an earthly move.
So, when I read today's verse, I was reminded about another move — our last move on this earth that takes us to our heavenly home. When we die, we take nothing at all with us to our new home, other than our souls. Yet, when we arrive, we will have everything, for the Lord is our inheritance!
Romans 8:16-17 – The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may share in his glory. (NIV)
Jesus is our cup of blessing, not only here as we walk and move upon this earth, but forever in heaven when we make that final move to be with Him eternally. In Christ, we have all things. We will need nothing more. He has gone ahead to prepare a place for us — a place where our hearts will overflow with joy and thanksgiving at an inheritance that we cannot now even begin to grasp or understand, for we will have the privilege of never coming to the end of knowing God, Who Himself is never ending.
May we thus, if we have not already done so, trust in Christ as our Lord and Saviour, forgiver of our sins and restorer of our fellowship with God our Father, so that when the time comes for our final move, we shall have no fear, only the peace that passes understanding that all shall be ready for our coming.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are our inheritance, You are our cup of blessing. Thank You that we are heirs of God, co-heirs with You to share in Your glory forever. May each of our hearts be prepared and ready for our final move from this earth to the place that You have prepared for us. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 119:125 – Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand your laws. (NLT)
The five senses are great, but it's beautiful when we use the sixth sense.
I enjoy all of my senses. I remember when my eye doctor told me that I was a candidate for glaucoma. Fortunately, the cornea specialist said that it wasn't as bad as it initially appeared. With a regimen of daily drops, I can see fine, and the nerve damage has been limited.
I also enjoy tasting almost anything and eating an abundance of it. Hearing is also pleasurable. Listening to the birds sing as the first rays of light appear is exhilarating. Smell is pleasant, too. It's perhaps the most powerful and can resurrect memories that we thought were long buried. And, of course, it's nice to feel what I touch. This, along with smell, clues me in to important matters — such as when my dog needs a bath.
With my five senses, I discern colours, distance, pleasant aromas, faint noises, and a warm fuzzy blanket. But what about the first impression about someone I've just been introduced to? I get a feeling that I can't explain. Or, I'm in an area and suddenly get an unexplainable sense of dread. Everything appears safe, but all that I can think about is getting away. Perhaps, it's the thirty-year mortgage that I'm considering assuming. A feeling inside is telling me not to sign the papers, even though the interest rate is low and the house is just what I've always wanted.
I attribute my sixth sense to God. It's the sense that scientists can't identify, because the workings of this sense aren't repeatable. I know that I have it, but I can't prove it to anyone other than by giving them my word.
When we program our minds with God's Word, we can trust these unexplainable warnings. We can also proceed with confidence in directions that appear senseless to others. All that God requires for us to receive this sense is a faith relationship with His Son. Having it means that we can live every day with confidence. Our sixth sense can be our trusted guide.
Do you have that sixth sense guiding you in the right direction and to the best decisions?
Prayer: Father, thank You for giving us the spiritual sense that is beyond our physical senses. Amen.
Psalm 119:11 – Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, that I may not sin against You. (AMP)
Recently, I purchased a book with a title that included Bible verses to "know by heart". That phrase, to "know by heart" jumped out at me. I wondered what important things I actually do know by heart. I have many hidden helps in my head — among them my social security numbers, my medical patient IDs, passwords for online access to bank accounts, and the directions to find my home. All these bits of information, and more, are necessary for me to manage life on a regular basis.
As children, we may have experienced various ways of learning. Remember flash cards? They helped us to recognize many things by looking often at them. Frequent repetition is a proven method of learning. Singing the alphabet song is often a proud accomplishment for toddlers. The rote memorization of times tables was a useful tool long into my adulthood before a calculator was on my cell phone. Playing piano exercises over and over taught my fingers how to find the keys and work together. All of this repetition takes time, effort, and dedication. God designed our brains to lay down pathways to use in this way. This dedication results in storing resources within us. Our hearts work this way, too.
Long ago, an acquaintance encouraged me to begin a method of Bible memorization using small printed cards with Bible verses that were kept in a handy little pocket packet. I was to use bits of time to review and repeat the verses over and over until they could be recalled without looking at the cards. By using both idle time and concentrated time, I discovered that the verses began to store up in my mind and then in my heart. There are times even now in my old age when one of those verses will come to mind in a moment of life. It will remind me of God's truth, and instruct, encourage, or correct me. The Holy Spirit flashes those words before the eyes of my heart to remind me of God's eternal truths and to help me to be obedient to them. They are passwords into a full life!
Psalm 119:9 – Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (KJV)
Matthew 4:4 – Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (NIV)
Psalm 119:114 – You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. (NLT)
Today, even as an older person, I want to "take heed" and review and refresh these verses in my memory bank in the same way as I might open up a storage box and look through it to remind myself of what is in there. What verses are in your set of flash cards? Can you recall what is there? Maybe it's time for some review, and time to store away some newly found verses, as well. I'm sure that it will be a refreshing exercise for our hearts.
Prayer: Our Father, holy is Your name. Thank You for Your Word. Forgive us for our frequent inattention to Your Word. Help us, Your beloved children, to be more diligent in continuing to memorize Your Word in our hearts. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 111:10a – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (ESV)
Recently, I had to bring my mother-in-law, Dora, to our home from 150 miles up the motorways of England. Due to strikes, the trains were presently unpredictable so car transport was the only possible way.
At the start, to be on the safe side, I always say a quick prayer for an uneventful trip. My wife, Caroline, says that I overthink everything, and I don't mind that aspersion because it means that I endeavour with God's help to be rarely caught out by life's little curveballs.
This particular Saturday, with very few lorries on the way, I had an exceptional journey north, so I managed to arrive to collect Dora for the return visit an hour earlier than I had expected. She was not yet packed because I was early, so I went for my usual walk in the local park to clear my head, to rest my eyes, and to reflect upon life and God.
Sadly, after the long journey, and in my tiredness, I had completely neglected to consider what I was wearing on my feet. My smooth driving shoes were totally inappropriate for walking down a wet, muddy track to a stream.
After I had slid violently down the path for the third time, I decided that now would be a good time to get off the mud, but too late. I jerked sideways and slipped. This triggered my fight-or-flight response, and adrenaline flooded my brain cells.
The effect was that my mind speeded up to react. It was as if time had slowed down! In the expanded time before impacting the path, I accepted my fate and reflected upon the pain that the fall was about to impart. This was followed by the thought of driving 150 miles with muddy clothes and the mess that it would make of the car seat from when I fell, splat!
As I waited for the impact, I didn't fall. Suddenly, I stopped. It was as if something were holding me up! It was as if Jesus had said, "It's okay — I gotcha!"
I was so grateful that I did not have to drive home all covered in mud. It was with a very real sense of relief that I understood that God was with me in that expanded moment. He had heard my cry for help. Many of God's unseen and unasked-for actions are hidden in the noise of doing everyday life, such as shaving an hour off my journey north, which I had accepted without a thought!
Let us give praise for receiving His kingdom, for all the times when God has helped us but has been with us out of sight, for the times when we asked for His help to save us, and more so for the times when we did not and He did!
Prayer: Lord, You hold us in the palm of Your hands. We marvel at Your faithfulness toward us sinners who stray and take You for granted. We say thank You, Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 11:28-29 – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (NIV)
Our fingers can be very useful parts of our body. Winston Churchill, and many others since, displayed two fingers shaped like a "V" to indicate victory. It is common to show our fingers across our chest or forehead as a salute. Sometimes, a finger pointing skyward indicates a commitment to God.
But I think that one of the most interesting ways of communicating is when we curl our index finger in a way that says, "Come to me."
Approximately half a century ago, I reluctantly agreed to coach our church's hockey team. They played in a men's league with half a dozen other teams from our churches in Toronto, Canada. They were enthusiastic, but without a coach, they had gone for a year and half without winning a single game. I don't claim any great hockey skills, but with diligent weekly practices, we won the league championship two years later!
They were enthusiastic players, and there was always a tendency to get involved in altercations. However, I tried to enforce strictly the fact that they would never score a goal when sitting in the penalty box!
Teddy, one of our big, tough players, was very enthusiastic and always seemed to be getting in the middle of everything. I recall one game when a melee looked like it was going to develop into a fighting session. As usual, Teddy quickly skated to the corner of the rink to be in the middle of the fight. However, he glanced across the rink to me as the coach on the bench. I just beckoned "Come to me", and Teddy skated away from the fight to stand beside me. Teddy remembered the strict rule that I tried to enforce!
As you read this, I am sure that you can think of many situations when you have either called or been the called, as indicated by the beckoning finger. It is a common use of our hand.
Interestingly, I was not able to force Teddy to obey my command or request. He had to choose to obey, and in doing so, surprised many on the rink. Indeed, in most situations where we are called, we must voluntarily obey, although, as children, sometimes there were physical consequences if we didn't.
When we are called, as in the words of Jesus in today's verses, God could force us to obey and follow. In His wisdom, however, He has chosen to give us the free will to make the choice. The choice to accept the coach's directions led to victory for Teddy and his fellow hockey players. How much more important it is that we choose to follow God's call in the game of life!
Prayer: Dear God, thank You for showing us the way to follow You by sending Jesus to be our example. Help us always to make the right choice. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
In the 1980s, my friends and I enjoyed the music of Canadian singer and songwriter Bruce Cockburn. One of my favourite hits of 1985 was People See Through You, perhaps because I thought that one day, justice would be satisfied over cruel and manipulative people who are "big, bad, and scary", as the lyrics go. I've known people like that, who scheme behind closed doors, damaging those who can't defend themselves. "I can see right through you" has the connotation of detecting evil intent, but my hope is that people will see right through me and see the Lord, in the ways that I act and speak as I follow Him. The writer of Hebrews gives us a list of practical ways of following Him, as He directs our lives.
Hebrews 13:1-6 – Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them — those who are mistreated — since you yourselves are in the body also. Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (NKJV)
As we practise in our lives the faith that we have in God's truth, won't people see clearly through us and perceive the Lord? If Christians love each other like family, with deep friendship and brotherly love, being kind to strangers and showing hearts sympathetic to those in trouble, it's a remarkable witness to a suspicious and defensive society. Sexual purity is mocked, and ambition becomes a fancy word for covetousness, so concern for personal integrity and the honour of married life make us stand out as radically different. What will people think when they see through us and find believers who act as if God is always present and the foundation of our contentment? That kind of deep contentment in the Lord has no place for fear, doubt, or sadness. We can boldly say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
As we draw nearer to Jesus and learn to see people as He does, we will look for ways to act as He did and invite them into the fellowship of the church, His body.
What will people see, when they see through you? Will your attitude and actions allow them to see God? Let us pray that our lives will be channels of His peace.
Prayer: We thank You, Lord, that You Yourself showed us how to be vessels for service in Your kingdom. Thank You for Your church, where others can come and see what Jesus looks like, through the love and service of the brothers and sisters who worship together. Amen.
The phone rang; it was the chairman of our annual quilt show. "Sharon, we have to cancel tomorrow's show." This was a really big deal! The quilt club at my recreational vehicle park has been having these shows for many years. We have over 90 members, resulting in 300-400 items on display all over the huge main building. People come from all over the area; in recent years, we've had close to 500 visitors.
Unfortunately, several members had contracted COVID-19 earlier in the week, and management required us to cancel the show to protect our club, our park residents, and community members. We quickly notified all our members and park residents. We cancelled vendors and tried our best to get the word out to the community. Cancelling the quilt show wasn't something that we wanted to do, but it was the right decision for that moment.
We make multiple decisions every day, some simple, some complicated. How do we know the right choice in each decision? Charles Stanley shares practical advice with his acronym H.A.L.T., standing for "hungry, angry, lonely, tired". If you're feeling any one of these while needing to make an important decision, wait until a more favourable time. I'm a perfect example: five years ago, I bought a car in a hurry when my other one broke down 250 miles from home and I'd been up till 2 a.m. the night before getting it towed home. I still have that car, but, for a variety of reasons, I wish that I'd rested, waited, and asked God for wisdom before I bought a car.
We can turn to God's Word for the best advice:
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Our own judgement is affected by too many outside influences – "With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgement. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow." (Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV)
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Wise and godly friends can help us make good decisions – "Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days." (Proverbs 19:20 NKJV)
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Decisions that are in line with God's plans will work out, but not necessarily as we envisioned – "Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed." (Proverbs 16:3 NLT)
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All our decisions are covered in the Lord's mercy. We can let go of what has passed, use wisdom for today, and not worry about tomorrow – "Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." (Lamentations 3:23 NLT)
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If we love God, involve Him in our decision-making, and live according to His plan for our lives, something good will be the result – "We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan." (Romans 8:28 VOICE)
Prayer: As we are faced with hard decisions, Lord, we seek You first, knowing that You will put all the pieces into place. We trust You, Father, to lead us in the way that we should go. Amen.
Luke 17:11-18 – Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him — and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (NIV)
When we are children, some of the first words that we are taught are "please" and "thank you", in some families even simplified as "ta-ta". Our children listen to our words and watch our actions, repeating what they see and hear as we adults interact with those around us.
Saying "thank you" is a kind gesture of appreciation for something done for us. When I was a child, I was prompted to say "thank you", and it was important to write thank-you notes, sharing what gifts or visits meant to me. Now with the ability to email and text, it is even easier to take a moment to say "thank you".
When I document minutes for meetings and then type and send those minutes out to members, the chairperson will send me a note of thanks for my efforts, each and every time I do this task. This is so encouraging! How good it feels to have someone show appreciation for our time and effort! But when we do something special for someone and they don't even acknowledge it, how disappointing and deflating it can be!
After Jesus responded with healing to the ten men who had the horrible leprosy disease, He expressed His surprise that only one out of the ten returned to thank Him for this healing. Jesus must have been disappointed that His efforts were not recognized and appreciated. How sad, maybe even upsetting this must have been for Jesus. This was a life-changing healing that was granted by Jesus. Once shunned and forced to live in isolation and poverty due to having this disease, they now had a chance to live, work, and socialize with friends and family. How much rejoicing this would bring, but only one returned to say "thank you" to Jesus.
God is constantly giving us gifts: life, health, strength, jobs, rain, sunshine, crops, food, and so on, as well as the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in Christ. How discouraging it must be for God when people do not recognize and thank Him as the source of these benefits each day.
Do we remember to thank God, in our prayers, for the daily blessings in our lives?
Prayer: Dear God, thank You for loving us, blessing us, and supporting us in so many ways each day. Amen.
Luke 19:3-6 – And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. (KJV)
When coming out from the church one day, I met a man who was both deaf and mute. We had never had any personal interaction before, and I don't know how to communicate in sign language. But he smiled at me. I smiled back and he smiled again. That was one of the most beautiful sights that I had ever seen. It was a sincere and joyful smile without words. It broke communication barriers.
That event reminded me of a sincere man in the Bible, Zacchaeus. He was a small man with a big heart — a heart that was willing to accommodate God. Also, I can never forget Jesus, Who senses the heart, treats everyone with equal love, and is not discriminatory or judgmental.
Zacchaeus had the right attitude and was a typical example of the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover." When I was in the university, there was a girl in my hostel who was highly troublesome. Others complained about her, and she openly flouted the rules of the lodge. But the most amazing thing was how obedient she was after she was corrected. So, I studied her and found out that she was a lovely young lady who just despised rules.
Zacchaeus must have been like that. He was never encouraged by the hypocritical Pharisees, but he wanted to see the Man Who ate with publicans and "sinners". When Christ saw him, He called him, and the Bible says that he came down, and received Him joyfully.
Rules aren't bad, but Christians can display that attitude that is not discriminatory or judgmental. It's an attitude that looks beyond the common public opinions of people. If it doesn't see a smile, it gives one, and if it sees a smile, it returns it. It receives others joyfully. That is the attitude of a true Christian. Are you a Christian with "that attitude"?
There is a wonderful song by John W. Peterson that says:
Show a little bit of love and kindness
Never go along with hatred's blindness,
Take a little time to reach for joy and wear a happy face,
Sing a little bit when the days are dreary,
Give a little help to a friend that's weary,
That's the way to make the world a happy place
This is the Christian's anthem!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, put Your love in us, show us how to love, and help us to display that attitude of true love to those around us. Amen.
1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (NIV)
My neighbour recently dropped by for a visit. She had never been over to our place, even though we lived across the street from one another. As she and her little boy walked up our driveway, she was astounded at the amount of light that our house was receiving. Later on, as we visited inside, she once again remarked on how light our dwelling was in comparison to her home, which she likened to living in a cave.
Our home is built on a small rise, so it stands above a lot of the trees on the property. It also has huge windows throughout, both upstairs and downstairs. In comparison, her property sits lower, has few and small windows, is surrounded by towering trees, and has a low roof that shades the few windows that she does have. They are two houses on the same street, one that receives an abundance of light and one that dwells in darkness.
These two houses had no say in where or how they would be constructed. The builders made those decisions. But the people who eventually bought the houses did have a choice as to the way that they wanted to reside: with light or without it.
Likewise, we have a choice concerning how we wish to live spiritually. We may choose the light of God's love through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus died upon a cross of shame so that by the shedding of His life's blood, atonement could be made for all of our wrongdoings, and so that the relationship between God and all who truly believe could be restored for eternity. By embracing this choice, we become children of light. Paul wrote this to the believers in Thessalonica:
1 Thessalonians 5:4a,5 – But you, brothers, are not in darkness … . You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. (NIV)
Or we may choose to reject the One Who has stated, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12b NIV)
"The light of Christ," writes John Piper, "is the brightness of God shining on the retina of the human soul." Life can be wonderful on earth, but not fully complete without Jesus. We are all created to crave the Creator, our Father, and only through a relationship with our Savior, Jesus, can the dark parts of our hearts brighten. – Meg Bucher My physical house is filled with light, as is my spiritual house — my heart and my mind — for I have chosen the light of the world, Jesus, and the dark parts of my heart have been brightened, for which I am truly thankful.
Where, however, will you choose to reside spiritually? In the darkness or in the light? I hope and pray that it may be within the light of the love of Jesus, a decision which I know that you will never regret.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that Jesus, the light of the world, is available to all who choose to believe. Bless many today with open hearts to choose to move into His light and love, to have their sins forgiven, and to have the dark parts of their hearts brightened for eternity. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Matthew 28:5-7 – But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." (NRSV)
It was to be a very special Easter morning. We had already been to the ocean to greet the rising sun and were back in time for the early morning service followed by a congregational breakfast — a full day to be sure. But now came the Easter communion service with two congregations, one Korean and the other my congregation of St. David's, making for a packed church and amazing choirs.
Pastor Lee and I were to share the Easter message, and we had worked hard to ensure that we complemented one another. He began and shared a wonderful message on the meaning of resurrection. As I stepped into the pulpit, I made an interesting discovery: when Pastor Lee had left, he had picked up his notes — and mine!
An empty pulpit greeted me.
It was one of the most terrifying — and liberating — moments of my ministry. Unencumbered with notes and having no need for the prop of the pulpit, I was able to enter and embrace the congregation, and to express what Easter meant to me on a personal level, using the points of the text that I had just read from Matthew 28:5-7.
This is my message for you:
- Don't be afraid;
- He is risen;
- Come and see;
- Go and tell;
- He is going ahead of you;
- There you will see Him.
Easter is a personal experience with your name written large in the story: "This is my message for you."
I invite you during the Easter season to embrace the story and find the message given personally to you. There is no need to be afraid when you don't have notes or props. It is as simple as Come and see; go and tell.
A blessed Easter to one and all!
Prayer: God of resurrection, enable us to proclaim the good news that He is risen; He is going ahead of us; there we will see Him! Amen.
One day in March, I got a phone call from one of our grandsons. He told me that he was in deep trouble, and that he had a bad cold and intestinal problems. He asked me not to tell anybody, but he was being held by the police. A friend of his was going to get some medication for him and had borrowed his brother's car, which turned out to be stolen, with fake license plates and drugs in the trunk. As this friend was on a mission to help the caller, he was also detained as being involved, and he begged me to help him. If I could just put up a bond, he would be allowed to go home. He said that I could talk to the policeman if I wanted to. I decided not to, and I hung up.
The next day, there were reports on the radio that these kinds of scams are very prevalent these days, and older people are usually the victims. Some fall for it; others don't.
There were scammers and thieves in Jesus' day, too. In His preaching, Jesus liked to use examples that people could relate to, and He knew that talking about sheep and shepherds would be easy for most to understand. There were a lot of sheep in Israel, and they were quite often put in large pens with stone walls and an opening to let the sheep in and out. In some cases, there was a door with a doorkeeper who guarded all the sheep. In the morning, the shepherds would go to the pen to get their sheep.
John 10:1-3 – Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (NKJV)
There are so many strange things going on in the world these days, so many thieves and robbers. Some are very obvious; they break and enter stores or houses and steal items of value. Others try to scam unsuspecting folks out of money by lying and cheating. Jesus warns us to avoid these people and not to listen to them, but always to listen to Him.
John 10:10 – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJV)
The scammers sound so convincing, and there are many other voices which are so enticing, voices which try to lead people astray. But we should pray for discernment and listen only to Jesus as He talks to us through the words of Scripture.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, as the words of liars and cheaters try to lead people astray, we pray that all will listen only to Your words of truth. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Luke 23:44-47 – It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!" (ESV)
Good Friday is the most sombre day of the Christian year. Jesus died on the cross. It is a day when we can sing, "O come and mourn with me awhile".
It was my first time leading a Good Friday service. The centrepiece in the sanctuary was an eight-foot cross, not shiny and polished, but rough, with seven nails protruding from it. At a certain point in the service, I was going to invite all in the congregation to write their names on a bulletin insert that said, "I, ________, declare that Jesus Christ suffered and died for my sins." Each was then to come forward and place their name on one of the nails.
Before the service began, the organist came into the church with her gown on. She told me that she had put on some old clothes which were somewhat dirty and tattered. It did not matter, as her gown would cover them up.
The service began, and we sang the traditional hymns of crucifixion. Following the sermon, it was time to come to the cross. I invited my parishioners to come forward and spend time at the cross and put their names on it. Before I completed the instructions, the organist threw her gown to the floor and was the first one on her knees before the cross. With tears in her eyes, she placed her name on one of the nails and prayed.
I will never forget that moment. It did not matter what she looked like, or what others might think of her choice of clothing that day. What mattered was that she came before her crucified Lord and acknowledged that He died for her.
We may think that we are too dirty inside to come to the cross of Jesus. We may think that the cross is for really bad people, and we don't need to bow down before our crucified Lord. But Jesus died for everyone. He died for you and for me. We are all sinners. We need to confess our sins before Him and receive the forgiveness that He offers. God so loved the world; He so loves us that His act of selfless love will change our lives forever.
Attend the church of your choice today. Bow before the cross of Jesus Christ and experience the sacrifice and pain that He endured for your salvation.
O come and mourn with me awhile;
O come ye to the Saviour's side;
O come, together let us mourn;
Jesus, our Lord, is crucified.
– Frederick William Faber
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I lay my sins at the foot of Your cross. Forgive me and set me free to love and serve You. Amen.
A couple of years ago when our family was together, my daughter Christa decided that we should have a mani/pedi party. That is an occasion when we all give each other a manicure and a pedicure. She came in with all the equipment that she needed to get the party going. She had nail clippers, nail files, and the not-to-be-forgotten nail polish. She plugged in the foot massager filled with warm water and started the festivities. We first sat down with our feet in the water, which was heavenly in itself, but then, she pulled her chair up with a towel on her lap, took each foot and used her special lotions to make us feel like royalty. It started with just us girls, but then, the guys got in line, too. Foot by foot, she worked her magic. Foot by foot, oohs and ahs were uttered. She gave a gift that only someone with a servant's heart could give.
As I look at each day of this Passion Week, with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem and chasing the money changers from the temple, we now come to what is called Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday. Most would recognize this day as the Last Supper of our Lord. The Bible tells us that after they had eaten the Passover feast, Jesus got up and washed the feet of His disciples.
John 13:3-5 – Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. (NLT)
As I read the Scripture, I discovered something that I had not noticed before. It says in effect that Jesus knew where He stood with God the Father, so He became a servant and got up and began to wash the feet of His disciples. Did you get that? Jesus was confident enough in Who He was in God's plan, to lower Himself to serve. Are we confident enough to be servants or do we go by some other measurement? The Pharisees of that time were more knowledgeable than anyone about the Scriptures, but would they have bent a knee to wash the feet of this motley crew? No! The disciples themselves were jockeying for a special place in the kingdom, but would they have offered to fill a basin and wash the feet of their brothers? Probably not! Sometimes, we serve with our knees bent, along with our elbows, patting ourselves on the back. We all tend to look at who we are in the eyes of the world instead of in the eyes of our Lord.
Ouch, that hurts! As I go into Easter, my fervent prayer is to be so confident of my place in God's plan that I will move ego and pride aside and have a servant's heart. Who am I? I am a child of the King, I am one for whom God made plans even before I was conceived, and God sent His Son to die on the cross for the likes of me. I think that should give me the security that I need to serve others.
John 13:34-35 – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we are overwhelmed every time we read this account in the Bible. Our God, Creator, and Saviour, we praise You as You lovingly wash our feet. You clean the dust of the world off and bid us, as believers, to make disciples of all people. We praise Your holy name. Amen.
John 18:11a – Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away!" (NIV)
I've been thinking about Peter's experience that night in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was betrayed. Suddenly, a crowd of well-armed military and religious authorities appears. Who wouldn't be intimidated by that formidable display of might and power! Peter impulsively swings his sword; Jesus makes him put it away — wisely. Peter's swing is pathetic. He misses the man's head and slices off an ear. Jesus quickly restores it, preventing needless retaliation.
What about our own swords, those weapons that we deploy when we feel a challenge to our cause, whatever that may be? I don't mean literal weapons, but literary weapons: our words. We might deploy words which are combative or vindictive, or we might use wise and persuasive words. Our words may quote genuine authorities, or, at least, they may reinforce our position. Yet, our verbal efforts may be as useless as Peter's pathetic sword. They do little more than cut off ears, and our words go unheard. The dividing walls remain and are possibly reinforced.
Isn't that what we're witnessing in our increasingly polarized society? Divisiveness pervades our lives; we're constantly urged to take sides. The endless verbal combatting merely leaves a trail of collateral damage which neither sword nor word can restore.
On that night of betrayal, Jesus deployed neither, yet He had a remarkable influence on His captors:
John 18:6 – When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. (NIV)
Imagine the commotion! Yet, to me, Jesus' healing miracle was more remarkable, even if it were barely noticed. By restoring the severed ear of the high priest's servant, Jesus reversed the damage inflicted by His own follower! Jesus didn't take sides; He was good to His enemy.
Romans 12:21 – Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NIV)
Peter's sword failed to do good! He was overcome with fear, as were all of the disciples.
I recognize some of that "Peter" in me. Perhaps, you see some in yourself, too. Thankfully, as for Peter, trials and temptations help us to accept the futility of our pathetic swords and the wisdom of Christ's command. We can hear Him saying, "My child, put down your sword. My cause is not advanced through human victories, but through a demonstration of the Spirit's power."
Zechariah 4:6b – "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord Almighty. (NIV)
The Spirit empowered Jesus to heal the ear. How amazing! What a surprise for that man who came expecting confrontation with a dissonant rebel. Perhaps that night, his spiritual ears began to open. I wonder if fifty days later, at Pentecost, he encountered Jesus again — as the exalted One Who forgives sin. I wonder if he encountered Peter again, wielding a different sword — not his pathetic sword, but God's: the sword of the Spirit.
God's Spirit: He is our only hope!
Prayer: Lord, train us to appreciate opposition as Your providential means of maturing our trust in You. Teach us to wait on Your Spirit. Prepare us to be instruments of Your forgiveness through Christ — to demolish dividing walls and heal wounds, including those inflicted through our own pathetic swords. Amen.
Joe slumped to the floor, the life choked out of him, a victim of a terrible game young people play called the Choking Game or Blackout Challenge. The act of intentionally cutting off the source of oxygen to the brain to induce a temporary loss of consciousness and euphoria had backfired on him. Joe died through a tragic accident.
"I'm not going to live to see thirty," he had rashly told his best childhood friend, my oldest son. Was that why he was such a risk taker? I don't think that he meant to die just yet; he was happy to start a new job as a flag person on the highways the following week in the area near New Denver, British Columbia, Canada, where he lived, twenty-six years ago now. His parents had earlier described him as "doing well". You could say that he was betrayed, deceived by his desire to seek a thrill. Of course, no one will ever know for sure.
Jesus, too, was betrayed, but by one of His disciples.
Mark 14:18-21 – As [the disciples] were at the table eating, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me." Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, "Am I the one?" He replied, "It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!" (NLT)
Psalm 41:9 – Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me. (NLT)
Judas intentionally made the choice to betray Jesus. Why? How could a friend do that? Perhaps, he finally realized that Jesus was not going to establish an earthly kingdom, and that he and the other disciples would not have the important positions that he thought that they would have. In charge of the disciples' funds, Judas often dipped into them for himself (John 12:4-6). He was greedy, not only for money, but for status, and sought the favour of the religious leaders by offering to betray Jesus to them.
Later, Judas was torn by remorse, but it seemed too late to reverse his action. The leading priests were not interested in his attempt to return the thirty pieces of silver, the price for Jesus' betrayal (Matthew 27:4-5). Instead of putting his trust in the Lord Jesus and in His plan for a spiritual kingdom, he put his trust in things of a temporal nature. Judas could have sought forgiveness for betraying Jesus, but instead, he rushed off and hanged himself.
It's so easy to put our trust in a passing fad, in our feelings, in other people, or in our circumstances. We can be so easily deceived and betrayed by things of a fleeting nature. Instead, let's put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only One Who will never betray us.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, may we always keep our trust in You, and not in the fleeting things of this world. Help us to be alert, so as not to be deceived and betrayed. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
When it comes to my memory, on more than one occasion, I have been accused of being able to hide my own Easter eggs. Most of the time this indictment is not a good thing, but on occasion, it is quite helpful, since I am able to read books that I have already read and really enjoy them. One such book has been Jesus by Beth Moore. Each year, I save the last few chapters to read in the week leading up to Easter. She leads readers carefully through the Bible's account of Jesus' last days, and I never fail to be blessed.
I love this book because it is not just the author that leads me, but the holy Word of God reads like a story of love. In chapter 21, the gospel of Matthew starts to trace the last days of our Lord, starting with the triumphal entry.
If it had been me, if I had known that I was going to die in a week, I would have just sat down and waited and felt sorry for myself. But as I read on, Christ did many miracles in that week and told parables to help the people understand. He told the disciples that they could say to a mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea", and it would be done if they just believed. He showed the Pharisees and the money changers His authority in the temple. He told a parable about a wedding banquet; He discussed politics, taxes, and marriage. He gave us the greatest commandment, which is "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39 NKJV) He tells of the seven woes and the ten virgins, not to mention the signs that we should look for at the end of the age. Not forgetting our animal friends, He even tells of the sheep and the goats. Whew! Are you getting the picture that this was not a restful or reflective week for the Son of God? Can you see that this is not a boring story that can be read just once?
Then, you need to listen to the sounds! The sounds of the angry crowd, shouting "Crucify Him!" You need to hear the brutal whip as it slashes through His flesh as He is beaten, and the sounds as soldiers spit upon His holy face. Hear the sounds as He strains to carry His own cross up to Golgotha. Shudder at the sound of the hammer hitting the nails that sink into His hands and feet. Listen closely and you will hear the air being forced out of His lungs as the old cross is heaved heavenward and jolted into place. "I thirst," He says. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He says through parched lips. Be amazed when hearing these words that come from the lips of the Great I AM, "Forgive them, Father, because they don't know what they are doing"! Can you see it now? the Messiah, King of kings and Lord of lords using His last earthly breath to give us such rich words of hope! And then … "It is finished"!
Now the good part, the part that I could and do read over and over! He arose from the grave!
Though my memory leaves a lot to be desired, and I could truly hide my own Easter eggs, I could never forget what Christ did for us on the cross that Friday so many centuries ago. Even more importantly, I never want to forget that He did not stay in that grave but is risen to receive us with the Father in heaven.
Prayer: Jesus, our Saviour, Redeemer, and Friend, always cause us to remember Your love in dying on the cross for our sins. You paid our debt and we went free! But the best news is that You didn't stay in the grave but rose on the third day and sit on the right hand of the Father. How could we not love You? How could we ever forget? Amen.
Luke 19:30-31 – Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, "Why are you untying it?" you shall say this: "The Lord has need of it." (ESV)
Many years ago, when finances were always tight, I was perusing the Sears catalogue and came across an absolutely perfect bathing suit in a stunning orange. I really needed a new suit, and this was my colour. It was also priced affordably. I could manage this.
As I was preparing to phone in my order, however, the Lord spoke to me, and I felt Him leading me to forego that marvellous suit in favour of sending the money to a specific cause that He brought to my mind.
Mmmm, this was not something that I wanted to do. With two young children at home and an income that barely made ends meet, I was very seldom able to purchase anything new for myself. And I really wanted that swimsuit. However, I could not afford to buy that suit and give the money as well.
After taking some time to think and pray about the situation, however, I decided to do what God had laid upon my heart, and to do it with a good attitude. In other words, I gave up my colt because the Lord had need of it.
I have often thought about the people who owned the colt that Jesus had need of. Perhaps it was their only colt. Did they know that they would get him back? What were their feelings about Jesus? Did they believe in Him, or did they let the colt go out of fear? Was it an easy decision or a difficult one to let the colt go? Did they see Jesus riding their colt in His triumphal entry and rejoice, or did they feel resentful that their colt had been taken by His disciples?
These are things that we do not know, although one day, we will. But in the meantime, I still think about them and those words, "The Lord has need of it," words which I believe He still speaks to each and every one of us daily. They sound something like this: "I, the Lord, have need of your helping hand today to encourage and care for the downtrodden. I need your thoughts and words to be kind and generous in spite of the difficult situation that you are in. I need your money and talents to further My kingdom worldwide. I need your time for prayer and fasting and study, that you might grow and become even more successful for Me here, where you are in this world but not of it. In other words, I have need of your 'colt'."
And what will be our response? Will we hold tight and refuse to untie it, or by faith, hand it over gladly, for the Lord has need of it?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You have need of our "colts". Thank You that we have the opportunity to offer them up to You and to reap the blessings of obedience and humble service. Empower us today to untie and gladly give over to You whatever we have that You have need of. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Luke 21:1-4 – As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." (NIV)
My son loves waffles. He enjoys them each day as an after-school snack. However, this year during the Lenten season, he decided to forgo this treat. One afternoon, as we drove home from school, we discussed the meaning of the season, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, and what we were each giving up. "Mama," he said, "I feel like my sacrifice is small compared to the big sacrifice of Jesus."
I encouraged him that his sacrifice was important because he was doing it for the love and honour of Jesus, not because it was a big gesture.
The widow woman placed her two small coins into the offering at the temple. Jesus noticed her gift and praised her because she gave all from her heart. She gave with humility, unlike the Pharisees and religious leaders who merely gave to receive lavish attention.
We can bring our offerings to God with complete trust that our Father sees us. He understands that sometimes, we may have capacity for bigger gifts, while other times our giving will seem small. The Father simply seeks generous hearts and humble spirits.
As we anticipate Resurrection Sunday, our sacrifices are a heartfelt response to Jesus' ultimate sacrifice of Himself on the cross for our sins. He was our humble example, giving Himself for the salvation of the world.
Whether we forgo eating our favourite food, or give a generous financial gift, or abstain from other forms of personal gratification, we honour His sacrifice. We offer Him our gratitude, and we live sacrificially towards others with thanksgiving.
Prayer: Father, we bring our offerings to You with praise for what Jesus has done for us. Thank You for accepting our sacrifices, no matter how small. We are grateful for Jesus' work on the cross and the redemption given to us by it. In His name, we pray. Amen.
My sister-in-law and I are classical music aficionados. For a number of years, we had season tickets to the Oregon Symphony and greatly enjoyed meeting in downtown Portland for each of the concerts in our season's package. This long-time tradition fed our souls as we enjoyed the beautiful music together and deepened our relationship as sisters-in-law.
Then came COVID-19, with all the worldwide upheaval that ensued. As life began to resume its normal patterns, one of the ticketing options that the Symphony offered was watching the concerts by livestream. I loved being able to enjoy the concerts from the comfort of my own home. No more driving and parking downtown and then walking to the concert hall in the rain or darkness.
Then one day, we were notified without warning that the livestream programming had to be suspended immediately. This was a great disappointment, so I sat down and wrote a heartfelt letter to the president and CEO of the Symphony. I told him how much we had enjoyed the livestream concerts and expressed our hope that the livestream option would resume sometime in the future.
To my amazement, a short time later, I received a lengthy, handwritten reply from the CEO's executive assistant, explaining that livestreaming was very expensive and had originally been funded by a generous grant. The grant had since run out, however, and the Symphony was no longer able to offer the livestream option.
This personal response from the CEO's executive assistant with her sympathetic clarification fully answered my question and laid my disappointment to rest. This answer directly from the top made all the difference.
We all have many disappointments and unanswered questions in life, but we also have the privilege of taking our concerns directly "to the top" — to our loving heavenly Father, Who is also the Creator and King of the universe.
Hebrews 10:19 – And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. (NLT)
We don't always get the answers to life's problems and disappointments that we want. The Symphony made their livestreaming decision based on information that they alone needed to know, although they were courteous in informing me of the reason. Similarly, God is never obligated to reveal His plans to us, though He may occasionally graciously give us a glimpse of the greater picture as it touches our lives. If I could have trusted the Symphony's decision without ever writing my letter, how much more should we be able to trust our loving, kind, wise God to be working for our good! Even when we wonder if He has heard our prayers, we can trust Him and leave our burdens with Him, knowing that He cares for us.
1 Peter 5:7 – Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT)
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, may we fully trust You with our questions and Your answers — whether or not we ever see or understand the outcome. We know that You have everything in control. Amen.
Isaiah 55:2b-3a – Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live. (ESV)
I'm old enough to remember hearing popular radio program announcers say things like "Don't touch that dial" and "Stay tuned" and "Tune in again next time" that would keep the attention of the listeners during station breaks. I was reminded of that recently when I was driving alone and listening to my car radio. I have some pre-set FM stations that I can find easily with just the touch of my finger on the screen. I've chosen a station for weather, news, and traffic, another for classical music, another for interesting interviews, and one with Christian music and messages. I've pre-selected them because they are what I trust to be informative or uplifting. However, there is another button that is used less often, to scan across all radio stations giving a few seconds of unfiltered hearing of whatever is being broadcast. In a moment of boredom, I touched that screen option, and my ears were blasted with surprising and distasteful noises full of language in song lyrics that I would have thought were banned. It was as though I had turned into a dark, dead-end alley full of dangerous dwellers. I had not "stayed tuned". Look what my boredom had done! The words in the hymn, "Come Thou fount of every blessing" by Robert Robinson, "prone to wander, Lord, I feel it" came to my mind. It was time for me to return to the stations that were pre-set to provide what was good for me.
In the account of Martha and Mary entertaining Jesus in Luke 10:38-42 (NIV), we read that Mary had pre-set her priorities and "sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made." Jesus reminded Martha about her priorities: "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Perhaps pre-setting our priorities is something to consider in these days before us. What distracting messages are influencing our attentions and causing us to wander when we are either bored or anxious?
Deuteronomy 11:18 – Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. (NIV)
Prayer: Our gracious Father, You are the fount of every blessing. Tune our hearts to sing Your grace as we listen with great attention at Your feet. May Your Holy Spirit use Your Word to pre-set our hearts and incline our ears to listen only to You. Amen.
Psalm 119:116 – Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed. (NLT)
We sat in a small group and talked about appointments and disappointment, and how, when hope is crushed, we experience frustration.
When I have an appointment, someone has agreed to meet me at a particular time, or I've agreed to meet them. Disappointment is the difference between my expectations and what happens.
If my doctor's appointment is cancelled when I really need to see him, I'm disappointed. If I expect my children to succeed in school and college and they don't, I'm disappointed. If I'm looking for a pay increase and don't get one, I'm disappointed. When I do everything that I should to promote good health, only to find out that I have a terminal illness, I'm disappointed.
Disappointment and crushed hope have been friends of mine quite a few times. They showed up when my son decided to quit school. They walked in when a spouse walked out. They came when my drooling over a new car was sopped up by the salesman who said that my credit rating wasn't high enough for a loan. Again they appeared when I was told that someone else had been hired for the job.
For a shepherd, disappointments might be different. Perhaps the sheep didn't produce as much wool as he had hoped. Or a wild animal killed a few of his prize animals. Maybe one wandered too close to the edge of the mountain and fell to its death — or ate poisonous weeds.
If I'm not careful, bitterness can stroll in when my hopes are crushed. Unfortunately, there are few things in life that I can control. The forces of nature or the actions of others control everything else. I can, however, remember that God is in control no matter how bleak my circumstances appear.
God is never disappointed — or surprised. He knows everything that's going to happen. He orchestrates world events and the situations in my life. Believing in His unconditional love helps us to navigate the disappointments of life without their crushing our hopes.
Don't let life's disappointments crush your hopes. Trust God for the best.
Prayer: Father, guide us to look to You when circumstances attempt to crush our hopes. Amen.
Perhaps you, like me, wonder at times how to manage those lengthy prayer request lists which come along. There are so many needs — for friends, family, leaders, nations. Some lists come as emails or letters from various organizations. It can feel overwhelming.
One morning, I simply uttered, "Dear God, where do I begin?" An unexpected idea entered my mind: "Start by praying for God." Of course! Pray for God! Jesus taught exactly that:
Matthew 6:9-10a – Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. (NLT)
There it is: the Lord's Prayer opens by praying for God. But why should God need our prayers for Him? He is God, after all, firmly established in the heavenly realms — His holy name, His kingdom plan, and His divine will. Why not skip past all that and get on with our list?
Through mulling over that question, I've made some surprising discoveries which I'm eager to share. I started with Jesus' lesson on prayer.
For His visual aid, Jesus had used some nearby religious authorities who were praying to be seen by others. They were not praying for God at all, but were seeking to exalt their own name. Through their habits, they had defiled God's name, degrading it into an image of themselves: unmerciful, distant, and unholy. In their religious zeal, they not only defamed God's reputation, but they also resisted His kingdom and His will. They blocked people from discovering God's merciful love through Christ.
Centuries earlier, God had expressed this same concern through his prophets:
Ezekiel 36:21 – I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone. (NIV)
Indisputably, that's God's concern today. His name has been diminished throughout western civilization, in all our institutions, including our churches and among ourselves. The various troubles that we experience as a result provide an effective incentive to pray for God — that His name, kingdom, and will may shine into the darkness of sin and evil.
Really, when we pray for God, we are praying for His treasured love: humanity.
When we pray for God, we are also praying for ourselves, because we personally play a role. For example, through trusting Him for our daily bread, His forgiveness, and His protection from evil powers, we portray a trustworthy God Who remains true to His name.
Praying for God is actually an act of repentance: we are surrendering our own will and turning to Him. We are humbly trusting Him to be truly God — for ourselves and our broken world.
Finally, we're eager to pray first for our Lord because He truly is our first love. His love is the flame that sparks all our prayers. That's what we want for ourselves, others, and our world — all for His glorious name.
Prayer: Our heavenly Father, may the beauty of Your holy name endure and shine abroad, that people on earth everywhere may be blessed through You and call You blessed. Amen.
Years ago, Larry and I were chaperones on a teen trip that left us sleeping in many different abodes. If my memory serves me, we slept at a hostel, in beautiful college dorms on Lake Michigan, and in many campsites. But the most memorable place took us down a very long road late at night. Imagine our surprise when the lights of that old church bus flashed on rickety old cabins, when we had been promised luxurious accommodations. There was no electricity, running water, or bathrooms, and only mattresses on the floor to sleep on. We had no cell phone back then to call the owners to complain, and it was too far to get in the bus and escape this desolation, so we decided to stick it out. Some of the guys ended up in the kitchen sleeping anywhere they could throw their sleeping bags — including on the tables, The girls and I slept in the dilapidated old cabins, but there was no sleeping as we were not sure what might be crawling around on those old mattresses.
We were all glad to see morning come. While breakfast was being prepared over a campfire, some of the guys took a tour of our supposedly luxurious surroundings. They found a much-needed outhouse, but as they went further down the road, they found a beautiful new facility. We had spent a miserable night at the old one. We had stopped short of the new!
Isaiah 46:4 – I will be your God throughout your lifetime — until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. (NLT)
I thought of that experience as I read about a woman who was bemoaning her 50th birthday. May I just say that she is only a youngster. I have stuff in my refrigerator older than that, but I felt her pain. She wondered if that was the end for her. What could she do for the Lord at that ripe old age?
I have wondered the same thing. Like me, she could not see the new thing that God had in store for her. Right then, she was fumbling around in the dark, just seeing old ahead of her, but around the bend, God still had new plans for her if she would just be patient and not stop short. I see nothing in Scripture that says that we are washed up as we grow older. In fact, I see that God has used older people many times to do His work.
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT)
I read a quote the other day: "In order to be old and wise you must first be young and stupid." Could it be that we who are older are called to show the way to those fumbling in the dark? How can we offer our wisdom and experiences to those around us and lead them to Christ?
Prayer: Lord, help us to wait on You, for You are never too late and never too soon. Thank You that You will be with us even in our old age. Amen.
Romans 11:34-36 – "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (ESV)
Recently, I fixed the shower by attaching a new shower head to the flexible hose that comes from the taps. This was no big deal as I am a practical-minded person.
More recently, however, I noticed that the screw-fit connector to the pipe was a bit leaky, so to make the connection water-tight I used thin, white tape that plumbers wrap around threaded fittings as a sealant.
It stopped the shower handle from leaking, so, off I went. But over the next few days, I sensed that the water pressure in the shower was definitely less than it used to be. When I investigated the cause, I found that a piece of the white tape had found its way over the end of the handle obstructing the flow of water inside. This was fixed easily, but to my chagrin, I found that the water flow was still too slow for me to be content.
Some days later, when I had had enough of avoiding the issue, I discovered that the rubber restrictor, used to save water, had deformed and squashed up inside, becoming too effective in its role. So, armed with a hole-punch I enlarged the holes and now I have a proper jet-stream shower. Whoopee!
So, what is the point of my little vignette?
I was prompted to recognize that the shower head was an analogy for my life. I had allowed potentially good stuff to block and restrict the flow of God through my life. Now during Lent, I am attempting to allow God to remove the restrictors to allow His free flow in and through my life.
What is blocking your relationship and dialogue with Jesus today? Maybe nothing — maybe everything. Maybe it is time to sit still and ask God to bring His presence, peace, and comfort to release us from our preoccupations elsewhere and allow His grace to flow.
Prayer: Lord, You are our God, and we worship You. We claim the grace that You offer freely, and ask that You forgive us. May Your Holy Spirit move unhindered through us, unblocking any unhelpful, preconceived ideas of Who You are and what You are willing to do through us and with us. May we see and hear You more clearly to walk with You today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Luke 6:27-33 – To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more payback. Live generously. Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? (MSG)
Do you like tongue twisters? Here's an old favourite: "What noise annoys an oyster most? A noisy noise annoys an oyster most." I doubt that noise annoys oysters at all since they can't hear. But I do know what does annoy them the most, along with clams and mussels: sand!
My wife and I live near bountiful mussel beds. We canoe out past an island not far from our property, and within minutes, we have a feast fit for a king or queen, or anyone else who likes shellfish. We have grown fond of them served in many ways. One thing that we have to worry about is finding a pearl! It isn't pleasant biting down on a rock-hard pearl!
Bivalve mollusks can't get rid of a piece of sand very easily — though they find it very irritating — so they have come up with a unique solution. They excrete a fluid which encompasses the sand and then hardens. The end result of the irritation is a beautiful pearl. These pearls can be worth their weight in gold, and can be used as medicines, beauty treatments, and a host of other beneficial things.
When we face irritation, two recourses are open to us: to get rid of the irritation in any way we can, or to surround the irritation with beauty, like the mussel, clam, or oyster. It's really the same with people who irritate us. We can find ways of avoiding them, rejecting them, and, if worse comes to worst, ignoring them. Or we can do it Jesus' way.
Jesus says that there are people out there who will consider themselves our sworn enemies no matter what happens. I don't know if we can win them over or not, but we can transform our attitude of irritation and bring about something new. What to do with the enemy? Jesus says to try an extra big dose of love — the kind of love that loves no matter what response is received, and goes right on loving no matter what are the outward circumstances. Christ-followers should be the first in line to show mercy, because those of us who have been forgiven much, love much. "If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal." (Luke 7:47b MSG)
Luke 6:30 – If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more payback. Live generously. (MSG)
Prayer: God, I wish that I knew how to love as You do — but I don't — so I need Your help to offer this prayer. Lord, I ask You to bless those I find most irritating, realizing that many may find that I can be just as maddening at times. Pour out Your grace upon them, and fill their hearts with a deep desire to love and serve You. Teach me to love others as You do. Amen.
Matthew 6:19-21 – Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)
In 2013, my husband and I retired and bought a two-and-a-half-storey brick house in Durham, Ontario, Canada. Our seven-year-old granddaughter said, "Grandma, it looks like a haunted house." It did. But the real estate agent called it "a grand old lady in need of being grand again". The "old lady" is in her glory now, having been restored, and I love living in her. It is God's gift. A while ago, I was pondering our age and wondering how much longer we would be able to keep living here. I was talking to the Lord and was not surprised to hear a word from Him. It was a question: "What do you have now that you will not one day lose?" I was stunned! "Yes, Lord," I replied. It was a deep question, and I have been thinking about it ever since.
What do I have now that I will not one day lose? It could be a depressing answer: everything! My husband suggested faith, but I said, "When we die, we won't need faith, because we will have what we hope for. So, what, then? My relationship with God! I suddenly realized how precious that is, and I was ashamed at how little time that I had really invested in it. How amazing it is that I can lose everything and still have everything that I need, because in Him is my strength, my supply. How liberating, especially because I am in a time of loss: my mobility, my independence, my strength, and the activities that I enjoy — although I am hoping that surgery will restore most of those things. I was managing. And then, my laptop crashed with no way to recover the photos and files. So much of my life was gone in a flash. I felt crushed. It was the last straw!
Then, that word triggered a Word: "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair." (2 Corinthians 4:8 ESV). Yes! How blessed that we are to have such a loving heavenly Father Who embraces us in our struggles and comforts our sorrows. Then He reminded me about treasures: the other things that we won't lose that are stored up in heaven for us. So, I am comforted! How great is our God! The things that I have lost are trifles compared to what I have gained through Him!
If you are in a period of loss or of having to let go, may these words encourage you: Earthly things are precious but godly things are eternal. Reflect on what you have now that you will not one day lose. Have you stored up treasures in heaven? It is not too late to start, or to add to what is there. Pray with me:
Prayer: Lord God, my Father, thank You for calling me Your child and for supplying all my need. Thank You for the treasures that I have with You and in You. May I yet add to those treasures today and every day. Glory be to You, O Lord most high. Amen and Amen!
Denver, my ninety-five-pound dog, has a habit. He routinely stands beside the dog food bin licking its outside. Day in and day out, the same old, same old: lick, lick, lick. By his behaviour, you would think that I starved him, even though he is anything but skinny.
Day in and day out, the same old, same old happens: nothing. The food within never makes its way through the bin walls into his mouth. The bin never wears thin and collapses, allowing him to gobble up its entire contents. The only thing that happens is that he eventually goes away unfulfilled, and once again, I have to wipe down the outside of the bin once he's finished with his futile endeavour.
As I have watched him exercise this habit for years now, I am reminded of the quotation usually attributed to Albert Einstein: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
Yet, how often we are guilty of doing exactly that! We get into a routine, a habit, and we just keep sticking to it, even if it never changes anything. Marriages and relationships fall apart because people are unwilling to change or to do things differently. We hate our job, but we refuse to go back to school or to look for another one, because we keep thinking that things will change or we are simply too afraid to do things differently. We complain about our weight or our lack of being in shape, and yet we keep doing the same old thing the same old way, and we never experience change. Why? Why? Why?
This is something that we need to consider consciously and take the time to sincerely pray over. We need to discern what is at the root of our behaviour.
Proverbs 18:15 – The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. (NIV)
To discern is to perceive or recognize something — something that God is able to open our eyes to if we make and take the time to seek Him out and allow Him to do it for us.
Today, let us choose not to be a Denver — doing the same old, same old and never getting anywhere. Rather, let us choose to be like the great leader Joshua, whom God commanded, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 NIV) Let us stop doing the same old, same old and allow God to do a brand-new thing in our lives, wherever we may need it. Let us not mimic insanity by our futile behaviour, but embrace a renewed mind in Jesus Christ and become more than conquerors.
Prayer: Father God, reveal to each of us today where we may be following the definition of insanity in our lives. Open our hearts to discern knowledge from You, and open our ears to hear Your wisdom, that our lives will not follow habits of futility but embrace the victory of positive change in Christ, in Whose name we pray. Amen.
Who would have thought that I would welcome the pounding and thudding up on my roof? Yet, at last, the long-anticipated and dreaded day had arrived! Our condo association board had been preparing us for several months for this reality. It was — unavoidably — time to replace the roof. What a massive undertaking this would be for our facility of a large central building and 25 cottages scattered around the grounds.
This project wasn't to be done in a day! Oh, no: first came a tear-off crew to remove the old shingles and underlayment. Then, the workers who replaced the shingles and gutters came later. Trim work and touch-up were then done at the end. The crews could work in the rain, but not in ice or snow, so work in mid-winter was iffy. Nonetheless, this was an essential project, and the work was eventually completed, and the result was satisfying.
Can you think of essential tasks that you'd much rather skip? How about going to the dentist, or figuring your taxes? How about washing the windows or changing the oil in your car? There are many things in life that we wish would go away, but we just have to power through them, like it or not. There's no way around regular chores, so dragging our feet doesn't make them go away.
Our innate dislike of the unpleasant has a spinoff that can become a serious problem — complaining. Every day, I hear people around me complaining about ways that they feel mistreated or put upon. They have little empathy or consideration for service providers, and they simply want what they want — now! This discontent spreads like a cancer to others until it is pervasive.
One way to better deal with these unpleasantries in life is to adopt a more optimistic frame of mind. I often try to lessen negativity around me by offering a compliment or pointing out something good to counterbalance the complaint. Looking at the positive outcome or result of unpleasant tasks makes the drudgery seem more bearable. Such inner change in attitudes, however, is not easy or automatic. It can come only through God's power.
Romans 12:2a – Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (NLT)
We would do well to emulate Paul's attitude: "I have learned how to be content with whatever I have" (Philippians 4:11b NLT) and "Be thankful in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18a NLT). Let's trust God to enable us to react positively to the challenges and hardships in our lives. In addition, let's try to look for the good that will come through this perseverance.
Prayer: Dear Father, You have given us so much for which to be thankful. Rather than habitually focusing on the negative and inconvenient, may we stop to look for the good in people and things around us. Amen.
Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. (NLT)
Camping in the mountains without light for the path can be disastrous.
When my brother, my children, and I backpacked in the mountains, we wanted our packs to be as light as possible. But a flashlight wasn't one of the things that I chose to omit. Additionally, I'd carry extra batteries — especially if we were camping in the winter months. Flashlights came in handy when preparing a meal before daylight, making a bathroom trip during the night, looking for something in my tent, and reading before I fell asleep. Camping in the mountains without some type of light would have been unthinkable.
My life path is just as tenuous, or more so, as the dark paths that I've walked in the mountains or the campsites that I've fumbled around in after dark. Without a light, I could stumble over roots, fall, and injure a body part. Trying to find my Bible in a dark tent isn't fun, either. Nor is trying to fix a stuck zipper on my sleeping bag or cooking supper during the winter months.
I sometimes feel like I'm fumbling around in the dark in life. Darkness descends when a family member dies, when a trusted friend betrays us, or when a spouse walks out the door never to return. Darkness happens when the boss delivers the pink slip, when the doctor delivers bad news, or when the professor stamps C in our grade slot when we tried so hard for an A. Darkness surrounds us when depression sets in and happiness steps out.
Whatever the darkness, God's Word provides a lamp for our way, shining brightly so that we can determine where we need to step to avoid falling and injuring ourselves. It will shine the light of peace on our troubled situations and illuminate happiness where sadness has settled. God's Word reminds us Who's in control, that life does have meaning, and that a vibrant relationship with Christ is the way to experience peace in spite of our circumstances.
What are you using to light your path?
Prayer: Father, may we trust You to guide us along the dark paths of life. Amen.
The city of Ottawa, Canada, where I live, is on an active seismic fault line, and we occasionally experience earth tremors. As a college dorm student, years ago, one such tremor at night woke us all up by shaking our bunk beds, and at breakfast next morning, we all laughed at the stories of roommates telling each other to stop shaking the bed! Of course, a full-on earthquake is no laughing matter: recently, the people in Turkey and northern Syria have suffered terrible loss of life, injury, and devastation from a powerful quake. The people of the Middle East have experienced earthquakes and tremors for many centuries.
The writer to the Hebrews used the imagery of an earthquake to describe God's shaking of His people.
Hebrews 12:25-29 – See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. (NKJV)
I like how The Message puts "yet once more" as "one last shaking". It means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered. At Mount Sinai, God shook the earth with His voice, but the new covenant with Jesus has shaken earth and heaven, too! Like sifting a bowl of flour for lumps, He shakes our lives to remove everything that can't stand the test: the reliance on what we own and our efforts to save ourselves. Compared to all that is unstable in our world, Jesus' kingdom cannot be shaken, neither here on earth nor in the realm of heaven eternal. We see some of His rescuing power at work in our lives today, but it is nothing compared to that awe-inspiring day when we will arrive in His eternal kingdom where we are citizens.
God's shaking clears away all that is temporary and outside of His perfect will. What's left in our lives will really last, leaving us to rejoice now and forever in His kingdom.
How do you respond to this shaking up of your life? How do you live now, in the presence of a loving, powerful God? Today, don't miss the gift of God's grace and His approval won for us by His Son Jesus, all of which cannot be shaken! Since gratitude leads us to grace, be thankful for what He has done, and worship our mighty God with reverence,
Prayer: Praise, my soul, the King of heaven! We come to You in gratitude today, dear Father, for Your salvation and acceptance into Your kingdom here on earth and Your greater one in heaven. Amen.
I grew up in the church. My father was a pastor and I was the dutiful first child, so I was at church every time the door opened. That meant Sunday School, Sunday morning church service, Training Union (helping church members grow in their faith), Sunday evening church service, and Wednesday Bible study. Then there was youth group, Vacation Bible School, summer camps, Women's Missionary Union, and so on. Throughout the years, I've continued this pattern. If I count just the Sundays, that's close to 4,000 days I've been in church.
That should get me into heaven, right? Wrong!
Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV)
What counts is that when I was five, I asked Jesus into my heart and became His child. While I'm sure that God is pleased that I've wanted to be in His house and with His people all these years, when it comes to my salvation, all my good works (like my faithful attendance at church) are like "filthy rags" in His sight. (Isaiah 64:6 CEV)
Contrast my story with that of my husband's brother, David. He also grew up in the church, but left in his teens and was adamant about having nothing to do with the Lord. Even near the end of his life, when my husband tried to talk to him about salvation, David would turn up the television louder to drown out my husband's voice. But God arranged it so that just a few weeks before he died, he was put in a hospital room with a pastor. We soon received a jubilant phone call that David had asked Jesus into his heart. There was no time for good works, just an assurance that my husband would see his brother in heaven. Jesus verified this on the cross when He told the repentant thief, "Today you will be with me in paradise." In Jesus' parable of the labourers in the vineyard, the man who worked all day was paid the same as the one who worked for only an hour.
Does that mean we shouldn't do good works? Of course not. As children of God, we should want to serve Him by serving others. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15 ESV) Our good works are evidence of our love for Christ. "Faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:26b ESV)
Praise God that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that we can invite Him into our lives and live with Him forever. But let's be sure to show our gratitude for this marvellous gift by serving Him in love and encouraging those around us to come to Christ also.
Prayer: Father, we praise You for the gift of Your Son and for His death and resurrection. We want to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good works and give glory to You. Amen.
Matthew 18:3 – Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (NKJV)
Matthew 19:14 – But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (NKJV)
Last Sunday in church, a young father sat in front of me, holding his beautiful baby son. This little child is about nine months old. He is cherubic, with red hair, beautiful blue eyes, and the most wonderful smile. Throughout the service, I would glance at this little child and receive the most enormous smiles.
Reflecting on today's verses, I thought about what this little boy brought to church: smiles, giggles, and joy. Then, I turned my attention to what we adults sometimes bring to God's house: grumbling about the temperature in the sanctuary or the length or relevance of the service, anxiety about needing to catch someone after the service, complaining about the noise that the children make, or absenting our minds from the sermon while instead making mental to-do lists. These characteristics, discontentment, impatience, and sometimes dourness, are the exact opposite of what this precious boy brought.
Then, I thought about the incident where the disciples tried to prevent children from coming to Jesus, and He encouraged childlikness. There are many positive attributes which children possess. This little boy not only exuded joy, but spread this quality with his wonderful smiles. This young one was completely trusting of the security that he felt in his earthly father's arms. Children are like sponges soaking up new information. To them, learning new things is wonderful and exciting. Children are so resilient and adaptable. While disruptions in daily routines may temporarily induce crankiness, it is not long before children adapt to new situations.
How much more fulfilled we would be if we became like little children and brought to church:
- a joy that is spread to others,
- a trust in God's Word and guidance,
- an open attitude to learning, and
- a willingness to adapt to new ways of doing church.
Prayer: Dear God, forgive us when we mentally chastise children for speaking up in church. These precious members are both the present and the future of our congregations. Instead, help us to reflect on all the qualities that we sometimes let fall away from our lives. Help us instead to retrieve our own childlike qualities and especially to picture ourselves resting securely in Your arms. For, as You have said, if we do not become childlike, we will not enter Your kingdom. Amen.
This day in March always takes me back in time and makes me laugh at the memory of being a seventh grader. In my mind's eye, I can still see the old gym where we gathered when we were not in class. Those who were brave enough could take their shoes off and dance to the 1950s music in their socks on the gym floor. A sock hop like that naturally separated the boys from the girls. My seventh-grade friends and I were not brave enough to dance, so it seemed that mostly eighth-grade girls took to the floor. With unruly brown hair and teeth too big for my face, I felt so awkward, towering over most boys. Many of us just enjoyed watching the boys do hilarious things.
One day that March, my good friend and I went to the five-and-dime store, which had an impressive display of St. Patrick's Day items. There, we hatched what we thought was a brilliant plan. We had our heads together for several days leading up to this grand celebration, dreaming of the attention that we would receive with our gaudy getup. We planned just when to come in, how to blow our party horns, and just the right place to be seen. But the one thing that we didn't do was to check the calendar: March 17th fell on a Saturday that year! Suddenly, our shiny hats lost their beauty, no neckties would we wear, and the silver and green party horns seemed to mock us with their obnoxious sound. There we were, once again, just plain ole us, with no chance of catching the attention of the elusive males.
I revisited this time in my life as I thought of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who commanded everyone's attention by building a grand statue. The Bible doesn't say what it portrayed, but it stood 90 feet tall and nine feet wide and was made of gold.
Daniel 3:4-6 – Then a herald shouted out, "People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king's command! When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue. Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." (NLT)
Can you imagine the ego boost that the self-absorbed king got when everybody who was anybody bowed to his gaudy statue? God's people refused to bow, but He saved them when they were thrown in the fiery furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar was able to command everyone's attention and worship. My friends and I wanted the boys to notice us in our gaudy attire. But praise God, we don't have to wear a gaudy green hat to get God's attention. He loves us dearly and has great plans for our sins to be forgiven, and for us to be conformed to the image of His Son and to be considered one of many brothers and sisters in Christ. Could we ask for anything more?
If inwardly, we are like Christ, then outwardly, we need not be anything else. Yeah! Green was never my colour!
Prayer: Precious Lord, thank You that You can make us special just like You want us. May we never bow to anyone but You! Amen.
James 3:2-5 – Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. (NLT)
I learned a lesson the other day — don't throw around phrases that can hurt people. I don't mean the "sticks and stones may break my bones but names can never hurt me" kind of stuff (which really do hurt, by the way). I mean referring to people using words or phrases associated with disorders or diseases. My lesson was never to refer to another as "OCD" just because of something that they may have done. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic, long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, recurring thoughts, which become obsessions, and various forms of behaviour, which become compulsions. These obsessions and compulsions are repeated over and over again and can affect the quality of life of the person so afflicted.
Honesty has me confess that I referred to my wife as OCD for an activity that she was doing. Not five minutes later, a morning radio program had a story of the damage that was done to many people by using this phrase indiscriminately. The story of various peoples' lives was called The War Within: "These are the faces of OCD. They don't look any different on the outside. But inside, a daily war is waged for survival."
My apology to my wife was immediate and heartfelt.
The next time when we are about to make the mistake of using language loosely, let's ask for God's help so that our tongues will wait for our brains and no one will be hurt by careless labelling. Pray with me:
Prayer: God, sometimes when I feel these obsessions and compulsions in my life, I do not understand what I do, for what I want to do, I do not always do, but the things that I do not want to do, these I keep on doing. Help me to know the difference and to rely on You. Amen. (See Romans 7:15-20)
When the snow finally melts, the water from the tap in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, starts to taste terrible. It's brown and turbid from mud and silt stirred up by the now faster-flowing Red Deer River that intersects our city. Dead and decaying plant matter, like the previous year's leaves and grasses, adds to the mix. This state of affairs could last from three to six weeks, depending on the amount of snow that we've had during the winter.
During spring runoff, our water goes through extra treatment processes as it comes out of the river. Along with the usual chlorine, potassium permanganate and powdered activated charcoal are added to absorb some of the impurities and to control taste and odour. We're told that the water is safe to drink; it's just not what we'd like to drink.
God can use bad drinking water to teach valuable life lessons. For example, after the amazing deliverance of the people of Israel at the Red Sea, they complained that they could not drink the bitter water that they found in the desert at the oasis of Marah. God could have provided water along the way, but He deliberately led them in a certain direction to teach them aspects of His character. In contrast to the people's grumbling, Moses inquired of the Lord, and God provided the solution. He showed Moses a piece of wood to throw into the water, and like the substances added to our drinking water, the bitter water became good to drink.
The people's attitude towards their predicament was bitter. By grumbling and complaining against their leader, they revealed their resentment that their needs were not being met. They quickly forgot that God had delivered them in the not-so-distant past.
Exodus 15:26 – [God] said, "If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you." (NLT)
God was putting them to the test. To be healthy, all that the people had to do was to obey the commands and decrees laid out for their welfare.
The Israelites encountered God in a new way at the oasis of Marah: Yahweh Rophe, "the Lord Who heals". They learned that they needed to look to God only, and when they would trust Him, He would heal them, just as He healed the bitter waters.
In our world, the waters of life don't always taste good, and we have difficulties, especially after a triumph, but it is in the difficulties that God reveals Himself. Let's not cry out in despair like the Israelites, "What are we going to drink?" Instead, let's trust the Lord, Who healed the waters at Marah, and Who can certainly heal every situation when we turn to Him.
Prayer: Lord, our Healer, help us not to despair in times of difficulties and challenge, but to turn to You for healing. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Marshall, our goat, is a greedy goat. Whenever I throw scraps or take treats into the corral, he rushes ahead of everyone else and gobbles down as much as he can as quickly as he can. When Frank, the horse, and Lily and Agnes, our other two goats, arrive, he pushes and shoves them away, while still frantically gobbling tidbits. If I am not careful, he will not hesitate to bowl me over in his pursuit of what I may have in my pocket or hand. He never stops to consider the interests of the others in the corral. He only thinks of himself. But then again, he is a goat.
We, however, are not goats, and thus should not act like goats, greedy and concerned only about ourselves. Here is what God calls us to do:
Philippians 2:3-4 – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (NIV)
Mmmm, now that is really a truth worth thinking about, isn't it! For such a truth challenges us to take time each and every day to think of someone other than ourselves and to consider all that we may be doing and whom it is benefitting: ourselves and only ourselves? Or ourselves as well as others?
It even challenges us to consider others better than ourselves. Wow! Now there's a summons to stop us in our tracks. After all, who of us automatically considers that the views or ways of others might be better than our own views and ways of doing things?
Yet, this is what God calls us to do, every day. And the only way we can possibly do this is, as today's verse says, "but in humility …".
Humility stands back. Humility doesn't rush forward and assert itself to get the best for itself. Humility has enough faith to know that God will provide all our needs as we consider the needs of others first, just as Christ did, when He chose to humble Himself, leave the glories of heaven, and become obedient to death — even death on a cross — in service to fallen mankind: including you and me.
In the end, humility lifts us up. It lifts us up out of our sin when we trust Christ as our Saviour and Lord. It keeps lifting us up as we obey Him, for by doing so we become more like Him, which in turn transforms us to be able to consider not only our own interests but the interests of others, each day. Humility turns us from greedy goats into the sheep of God's pasture. As children of the King, we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, invite the stranger in, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit those in prison.
In the very end, when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all his angels with him, it leads us into the gates of eternity and the reward that awaits the humble of heart.
Prayer: Lord, continue to motivate each of us toward humility by spurning us on to obedience in You. Help us to offer our hearts and minds and wills afresh to You each and every morning, knowing that Your ways and thoughts are far superior to ours and are worthy of our humble obedience, which in turn transforms us to not only consider our own interests but the interests of others as well. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.
She was a vibrant young teenager who was faithful to the end.
Rachel Scott had a premonition that she'd never live to see twenty. She was popular at her high school, even though her witness for Christ wasn't always well received. Two students who hated her were Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris. She had talked to them and tried to persuade them to stop doing all the weird things that they were doing.
During the week of Easter, both boys entered Rachel's school and started shooting. Before approaching her, they killed another student who was witnessing about his faith. Then they shot Rachel in the leg and back. Realizing that she was still alive, Harris walked over to her and asked, "Do you still believe in God?"
Before Harris delivered the final shots that ended her life, Rachel said, "You know I do."
Psalm 119:90 – Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created. (NLT)
I'm not sure how old the psalmist was when he wrote this verse, but he obviously had lived long enough to observe God's faithfulness. I suppose that he must have read and heard about God's faithfulness as well. Most likely, his friends, parents, and grandparents had all experienced God's faithfulness and lived to tell him about it.
I, too, have a heritage of hearing about and experiencing God's faithfulness. I watched as both of my great-grandmothers witnessed of God's faithfulness. My grandparents also showed me God's faithfulness and told me many stories to support it. Both of my parents testified of God's faithfulness and lived out that belief daily. I did the same with my two children, and hopefully, they will do the same with their children.
I've read of God's faithfulness in the Bible's historical stories and other Christian literature. I've witnessed it in the lives of hundreds of others. God was faithful yesterday, He is today, and He will be forever — faithful to fulfill every one of the promises that He makes to His children in His Word. He has to be. Not to be would contradict His very nature.
Are you experiencing God's faithfulness in your life?
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to us. Enable us to be as faithful to You. Amen.
When I was eleven years old, I attended children's Bible camp where I committed my life to Jesus Christ. At thirteen years of age, a friend of our family gave me a copy of John Bunyan's novel, The Pilgrim's Progress, written in 1678. I tried to read it, but it was far beyond my comprehension of language and understanding of the allegory. Mother recognized my struggle and bought me Little Pilgrim's Progress, written by Helen Taylor in 1947. The story was the same but written so that children could grasp it and understand.
Pilgrim is travelling through life, hoping to get to heaven at the end, but he is carrying a huge load on his shoulders. Pilgrim meets different people who try to encourage him to let go of his burden. He is getting worn out from trying to lighten the load but to no avail.
By the end of his journey, Pilgrim understands that his burden is sin. He comes to the cross of Christ and realizes that only Jesus can forgive, but he must ask Him to do that. In His mercy and grace, God sent His only Son to die for our sin on Calvary.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (NIV)
Scripture calls the believer a child of God. As we live life, we do wrong, but the indwelling Holy Spirit helps us to understand Scripture and to admit our sin. If we repent and confess, God forgives.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)
Jesus not only died for our sins, but He also rose from the dead, defeating death, so that the believer need have no worry about life's end.
Hebrews 2:14-15 – Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (NIV)
We are secure in Jesus Christ. If you are still afraid of death, pray that God will release you from this slavery. If you are not afraid of death, thank God for your freedom!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help us to recognize when we do wrong and to ask for forgiveness. Help us to live free of the fear of death. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
I met Larry Nihiser when I was seventeen years old, and for me, it was love at first sight. He was a tall, blond young man with a beautiful head of hair that would rival any teen idol at the time. He proposed when I was twenty-one (almost a spinster). I decided that since we wanted a small wedding and I didn't want him to change his mind, I could pull it together pretty quickly. The wedding was two weeks later.
As you can imagine, I immediately started out to find a wedding dress that was within my rather meagre budget. I went to a local department store, and as I entered the massive, old doors, I went directly to the information desk that was located in the centre of the big entryway. I asked the lady at the desk where I could find wedding dresses. She directed me downstairs to the basement, where I found a rack of wedding dresses, surprisingly in my price range. I picked out a simple, long-sleeved mini-dress overlaid with lace and a short veil, all on sale at the big price of $50. Pleased with my choice, I went to the register and took my prize home.
As I told this story to a friend of mine, she said that she had bought her dress at the same store, but in the bridal suite, a luxurious department found on an upper floor. Up until this time, I had been pleased with my choice, but on hearing this, I realized that I would have liked the pampering given to the prospective brides. I would have greatly enjoyed and benefited from the advice of a trained bridal consultant, but I was directed to, and settled for the bargain basement. Probably, my budget could not have survived in the other setting, and maybe, I would have chosen the same dress, but I felt cheated because I hadn't pursued the better option. As it turned out, I was happy with my simple dress, and my simple wedding was just what I had planned. It's been 53 years now since I married my best friend.
2 Corinthians 11:2 – For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband — Christ. (NLT)
Many Scriptures liken the church to the bride of Christ. Sometimes, I feel as if I settle for the bargain basement in my spiritual life, when there is a bridal suite just waiting for me if only I would pursue it. I can stay in the basement, or I can pursue all that God has for me. How much peace do I forfeit because I do not trust? How many opportunities do I miss because I don't listen and obey the voice of the Lord? What do I not receive because I do not ask or pursue? These are good questions for us all to ask ourselves!
Prayer: Lord, I pray that You will find me in the bridal suite and not in the bargain basement! Amen.
At the end of January this year, we had a warm spell with brief flurries that deposited a thin mixture of snow and almost frozen water on the ground. Then, the temperature started to drop. That thin mixture was still a bit soft when we had a fresh skiff of snow overnight.
I had an early morning appointment. When I returned home, I discovered that our snow removal crew had blown the fresh snow off the patio. However, their wand-type snow blowers had not been able to remove the fresh white snow that my feet had pressed into the top of the now solidly frozen original layer. There were my footprints — clear evidence of my walk from the back door to the garage.
I'm old. One of the things that older people do is to think about and tell stories about their lives. As I thought about the footsteps on my path to the garage, I began remembering the many places where I had left my footsteps and the people with whom I had interacted in those places — literally all over the world. As I did so, I felt a deep gratitude towards those places and those people. I have been richly blessed by the opportunities that I have had to live out my call to ministry and to learn about our world and its people — God's people.
I experienced that call when I was about 16. After discussing this with my minister, I had a conversation with the session of our congregation. The session recommended me to presbytery for certification as a candidate for the ministry. Next, I met with the Students and Colleges Committee of the presbytery. They discerned that my call was indeed a gospel call and recommended me to the presbytery.
During the conversation with the committee, one of the topics was predestination.
Ephesians 1:5 – [God] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 13:12 – For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (NKJV)
After the committee had made its decision, a retired minister took me aside and said something like the following. "About predestination — I'd like you to know that we never know where we are going in response to God's call. It's like coming to an open door and deciding to go through it, and doing the same through successive doors. Then, when we get to a certain point and look back, we finally have a sense of what our life was predestined to be and will continue to be." That has been my experience. That has been the path that my feet have walked, and the footsteps that I have left behind bear witness to that walk.
As you read this, may you find here, and in what you are experiencing in your daily life, your call to deepened commitment, wise discernment, courage to walk through whatever doors open to you, and a life of faithful service.
Prayer: Loving God, we thank You that You have Your way of calling people to serve You as ministers and as faithful church members. Help us to find and follow Your call on our lives. Amen.
Psalm 55:4-8 – My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest — I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm." (NIV)
Does that sound like a panic attack to you? Many factors — including biology, heredity, temperament, stress, and the particular experiences of a situation — can contribute to panic attacks. This can be a serious medical condition and should never be taken lightly. It can also be a spiritual issue as the underlying issue involved is fear.
I know of only one such experience in my own life and I would never wish it on anyone. Yet I know a number of people who experience these debilitating attacks on a regular basis. My panic attack originated in being overwhelmed with the duties of convening Congress '96, a national event for The Presbyterian Church in Canada. It was an important occasion — the last Congress held after a 100-year history. The event entailed all the thematic, logistic, and personnel issues that can be overwhelming. Yes, it felt like a heart attack, and I had to take my leave of the meeting until I was able to calm my racing thoughts and heart. A moment in prayer, and I was back to the work of the committee, hoping never to experience anything like that again!
It took the psalmist awhile, just as it may take us awhile, but he was finally able to say, "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. But as for me, I will trust in you." (Psalm 55:22a,23b NIV)
Can we say the same?
Psalm 94:19 – When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. (NIV)
Prayer: Lord, we want to be free from anxiety. Help us today to put our trust in You and to let Your perfect love cast out our fear. Amen.
1 Corinthians 9:24 – Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (NIV)
A universe opens to me when I sit down with a good book. I especially like reading something about which I know little or nothing. A recent example was a book called The Perfect Mile by Neal Bascomb. I learned that during the early 1950s, two of the world's top middle-distance runners, Roger Bannister of Great Britain and John Landy of Australia, were chasing the same elusive goal: breaking the four-minute mile. As the world watched and waited, both runners were tantalizingly close to this feat which had once been deemed impossible for a human to achieve.
It was the British medical student, Roger Bannister, who finally achieved this remarkable feat on May 6, 1954, running the race in 3:59.4 minutes. Seven weeks later, Landy broke that record, running it in 3:57.9 minutes.
As a medical student, Bannister's world revolved around nothing other than studies and running. He spent years in relentless training that was so gruelling that he often considered giving up. But competitive racing is a combination of both individual effort and teamwork. He relied on his coach for technical assistance and support, and on other runners, who served as invaluable pacesetters to gauge when he needed to make the final kick into the home stretch. During Bannister's record-setting race, it was two of his own teammates who sacrificed their own race to set the pace that would allow him to squeeze out his final needed seconds and strides. These pacesetters put their own egos and aspirations aside as they helped Bannister reach his highest potential.
There are parallels and lessons galore to be drawn between the world of the runner and our life of faith. The Christian life may at times seem to be a long, gruelling race, coming with pain and sacrifice. Yet the final prize for having lived a life pleasing to God is worth it all.
Sometimes, we are the pacesetters as we help and encourage our fellow believers along the way. Other times, we are the ones in need of that bit of assistance. We have pastors and teachers who serve as coaches as they teach and train us in godly ways. We, in turn, may be the ones who train our own children and others in the faith. Whatever our role, may we be able to say with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." (2 Timothy 4:7 NLT)
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, our life's race is often gruelling and monotonous, but we desire to finish the course well. Give us strength and courage to be faithful to the end. Amen.
Genesis 12:1 – The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." (NIV)
The Tarahne is an historical boat in dry dock on the shores of Atlin Lake in the town of Atlin, British Columbia, Canada.
Once upon a time, she sailed upon the waters of the lake, full of tourists, and being useful as she delivered goods to the town's people.
Now, however, she sits in dry dock, her times of sailing upon the waters over. Her usefulness, however, is not.
When God called Abram to leave his country, his people, and his father's household to go to another land, He also made promises to Abram. The usefulness that Abram had experienced in the land of his father had not come to an end; it just changed according to God's plan.
Likewise, the Tarahne's location and usefulness have also changed. She still entertains tourists regularly. She just doesn't sail upon the water to do so. Marriages, photographic sessions, fundraisers, and historical talks all take place upon her decks. Even though her life's circumstances have changed, her usefulness continues and will continue for many years yet to come.
The same goes for us. Our lives are constantly in flux. God places us in one position of usefulness, but then, much like Abram, He may call us to something new. Our health, our job, our family, our finances change, and with any one of these changes, our position of usefulness changes as well. But with these upheavals also come God's promises, which, when we trust and lean upon them, will change our new situation into something glorious for us, as well as for His kingdom, promises such as:
Exodus 14:14 – The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. (NIV)
Isaiah 40:31 – But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV)
James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (NIV)
Jeremiah 29:11 – "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)
Philippians 4:19 – And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Prayer: Father God, our lives are at Your disposal. Bless us with the strength and attitude of Your servant Abram to follow as You call, knowing that with Your Spirit within us, our service to Your kingdom and our inner joy may continue to be a blessing to You as well as to everyone around us. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.
I have been to the west coast of Mexico a few times, and the approach to Puerta Vallarta is always memorable. The airplane arcs over the grey dragon-spine of the Sierra Madre Mountains and circles over the sparkling sea to make its landing at the airport. It's awe-inspiring and delightful, a sight not to be forgotten. Mountains have been objects of awe and fascination over the centuries; no wonder the Scriptures speak of them to inspire and wonder!
Psalm 121:1-2 – I will lift up my eyes to the hills — from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. (NKJV)
The writer of Hebrews draws on the mountain imagery to illustrate the new covenant with God.
Hebrews 12:18-20a,22-24 – For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. For they could not endure what was commanded. … But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. (NKJV)
The revelation of God at Mount Sinai was central to the formation of Israel's worship of God, known as the old covenant. As the people approached the mountain, it was a scene of terror: a "no trespassing" sign, thunder, lightning, clouds of smoke, ear-splitting trumpet blasts, and earthquakes. The reaction, of course, was fear! Yet, none of these sights and sounds was enough to inspire holiness among God's people. Forty days later, they were worshipping a golden calf idol.
The other mountain, Zion, is a vastly different panorama. It's the beautiful city of God, of His heaven, not of laws or desolation, but for all of God's redeemed believers. The living God is described as the God and Judge of all, and Jesus as the Mediator of the new covenant, made possible because His sacrificial death satisfied the justice of God, making those who believe in Him holy and perfect before Him. The vision of Zion is not about "no trespassing", but a glorious invitation into fellowship with God.
Perhaps the idea of personal holiness seems foreign to you, as you have tried to earn and deserve acceptance from God. Have you drifted away because you decided that you could never be good enough to be accepted by Him? The truth is that His arms are open wide, inviting you to the mountain, the city of the living God, where Jesus has paid the price for you to be a welcome and honoured pilgrim. I pray that you will turn to Him today, accept His invitation, and live for Him.
Prayer: We praise Your holy name today, Lord, for the vision of Your heaven, which is open to us by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Zion. May we come to You with joy and adoration for the welcome that we find there. Amen.
Isaiah 30:21b – Right behind you a voice will say, "This is the way you should go," whether to the right or to the left. (NLT)
A diversity of choices can make us ask, "How do I decide?"
My wife is the queen of slow when deciding what to wear. Very conscientious of how she looks, she spends more time in a closet in one morning looking at clothes than I do in an entire week. She carefully takes the pieces of her prospective outfit down from the rack and hangs them together to see how they look. This process may go on several times before deciding on an outfit that she likes. Occasionally, she will ask, "How do you think this looks together?" My opinion doesn't matter, but I suppose that it makes her feel better to ask.
The ancient nation of Israel had a bad habit of listening to the wrong voices when making decisions. This habit cost them numerous defeats at the hands of their enemies, as well as other forms of discipline from God. Isaiah the prophet reminded them that there was a better way to make decisions — one that still works today.
As believers, the first question that we must consider when faced with a decision is whether or not it's sinful. There is never a time when it's acceptable for us to decide to do something that will lead us down a sinful path. When those times come, we don't even have to pray about what God would want us to do. He always wants us to say "No."
Making decisions based on feelings is not ordinarily wise either. Sinful choices — as well as other choices — can feel right but be very wrong. Sin often feels right. This is how Satan designs it. If it felt wrong, no one would sin — or at least not as often. We must learn to trump feelings with fact and truth.
I've been known to ask others' opinions when faced with life-changing decisions. Consulting others is acceptable as long as we can trust them individually and as long as their views are based on scriptural truth.
Faith makes the best decisions. When we exercise faith, we base our decisions on what God's Word says. The truth of God's Word trumps our feelings and the opinions of others and will never lead us down a sinful course.
On what basis are you making your decisions?
Prayer: Father, thank You for the guiding power of Your Spirit when the time comes for us to make decisions. Amen.
When we first moved to Arizona, USA, we attended a church that was searching for a new pastor. One fine spring Sunday, a candidate and spouse from Alabama came in view of a call. After the Sunday morning service, they decided to drive around the area. It's hard to get lost around here. I live on the eastern edge of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Of our streets, 95 percent are either straight north and south or east and west. Our eastern boundary is the Superstitions: sheer-sided, jagged, volcanic peaks and ridges separated by boulder-filled canyons. They are impossible to miss, rising almost straight up at the end of our valley. When in doubt, we always know to look for the mountains to see where we are.
But get lost they do. So, they pull into a convenience store and the pastor sends his wife in for directions. To picture this, you must remember that they are from the deep south, and his wife's southern accent is thick and rich — think Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle. She walks in and drawls, "Excuse me, but I'm lost." The clerk, realizing that she certainly isn't a local, promptly replies, "Ma'am, you're a long way from home!"
Sometimes, I feel like I'm a long way from home — my heavenly home: when the news tells of one more government decision that is so contrary to God's way of living, when I hear of yet one more gunman who decided to solve his own issues by killing others, when a close friend dies unexpectedly — far too early in his time on earth, or when my own life feels like it's collapsing for one reason or another. But thankfully, God assures me that "this world is not our permanent home" (Hebrews 13:14a NLT).
John 14:1-3 – Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (NLT)
Not only is this not my permanent home, but Jesus said that I have a better home awaiting, one that is so perfect and glorious that I can't even imagine what it will be like to live there. There is plenty of room, and best of all, He's coming to get me — and all who have trusted Him as Lord and Saviour — and we will always be with Him and His Father.
2 Corinthians 5:1 – For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. (NLT)
What lovely imagery: "when this earthly tent we live in is taken down". All of us who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ and surrendered our lives to Him will pack up our tent and go home to be with Him forever. Even though we never know when our earthly tent may be taken down, there's no need for us to fear death. In the meantime, let us take comfort from His promises as we struggle through our trials here on earth.
Prayer: Father, thank You that You have prepared a glorious home for us, a place where You will gather Your chosen ones. Thank You that we can be assured that our earthly home is temporary and that when our tent is taken down, we will be with You forever. Amen.
When I was a kid in the 1950s, there was unfortunately no air conditioning except in the dime store uptown to escape to and hide in until the onslaught of blistering temperatures subsided. So, when summer did not offer any relief from the sultry afternoons in central Illinois, carloads of people headed for "the spot", a fun destination on the lake near us where many people went swimming. Sitting on a blanket on the bank, parents kept a watchful eye on those they brought — usually their own kids as well as the neighbour's kids. Bobbing heads were everywhere, to the point that I'm sure that it was hard to keep track of everyone, and eyes strained to keep up.
I remember one such day in my life when I could well have been a casualty of this chaotic scene. I couldn't swim, but I walked happily to the warm water with the crowd that was already splashing about with great fun and laughter. Bobbing with the waves, I did not realize that I was getting out over my head. My little toes reached to touch the muddy bottom, but in vain. I realized that the safety of the shallower water was several feet toward the bank. Among so many, no one noticed that I could not keep my head above water or that I was in great danger of drowning. I kicked and sputtered to no avail for quite some time until my toes finally touched. I don't believe that I ever told anyone until now about that scary time in my childhood, but the movie reels in my head relive it once in a while when I see happy people bobbing in the water.
Sometimes, as we splash along in life, we are lured forward by the pull of worldly cares. As we head that way sometimes, we innocently drift, not paying attention to our attitudes changing or our good habits waning at the call of other things. Our head bobs under time and time again, threatening our spiritual well-being. As we struggle alone to touch the bottom to right ourselves, no one notices our struggle. Just one among many in the sea of humanity, we try desperately to get back to the shore from where we have drifted. If you're still drifting, know that Jesus is waiting with open arms for your return.
Peter found himself in just such a situation, when, to save his own life, he turned his back on Jesus and three times denied that he knew Him. Earlier that evening, our Saviour had predicted that Peter would do this very thing, but He added, "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." (Luke 22:32 NKJV)
If you have returned towards shore to the waiting arms of Jesus and rejoiced as your toes touched solid ground, then look around you, and strengthen a drifting brother or sister who is struggling alongside you.
Prayer: Precious Jesus, we know how easily we can drift away from Your amazing grace and loving arms. It can happen so gradually that we don't realize that we have lost You as our solid ground. May we be alert to the devil and wise to his tricks. Amen.
One day in November, 2007, our team of staff and teenaged students arrived early at a tiny, ramshackle building in downtown St. John's on the Caribbean island of Antigua. Our mission on this trip was to present the gospel to the elementary schools, and to leave a printed curriculum that the teachers could use as a follow-up. We targeted two or three bare-bones schools each day, but this small school seemed the most deprived of all.
As we huddled together in the small, fenced-in schoolyard waiting to be invited in, I happened to glance down at the ground. The imprint of a shell in a white rock lay imbedded in the black dirt. "It's a fossil!" I called out excitedly. One of our boys came rushing over to have a look, and helped me pry it out of the hard-packed ground. The principal of the little school gave us permission to keep it. Why did no one in this school care that there was a fossil in a rock on their playground? I wondered. Surely, they would want to dig it up and keep it. To me it was a treasure, a real fossilized shell, but the local students had just overlooked it.
How often we overlook something that is valuable, by not recognizing its worth. Something similar happened to Jacob when he was selecting a wife.
Genesis 29:16-18 – Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. There was no sparkle in Leah's eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, "I'll work for you for seven years if you'll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife." (NLT)
Jacob overlooked Leah because she had weak or dull eyes. He didn't know that God had great plans for Leah, who would become part of the lineage of Jesus through her son, Judah. Leah was the real treasure, used by God in an unexpected way to accomplish His purposes through her.
John 7:24 – Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly. (NLT)
The principal of our school in Canada shared how, with the working mother's permission, he would go right into the home of an unmotivated teenaged boy to haul him out of bed, as he tended to miss so much school. At the time of our mission trip, however, this student was a favourite, full of godly character, and was even labelled "team mascot" by one of the teams. The principal was able to discern that the student had real potential, a hidden treasure, and by persistence, dug him out of the dirt, so to speak.
Let's not be quick to judge people by their outward appearance, but in getting to know them, discover the real treasures that they are.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You look beneath the surface to see our worth. Help us not to judge others hastily, but to see the potential and worth in each person You put in our path. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Galatians 5:22-25 – By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. (NRSV)
Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (NRSV)
Her name was Louise. She died a month or two shy of 105 and shared half of that long life with me. She worked with my mother during World War II and they were the best of friends. She was there for my mother when she developed multiple sclerosis. She was my Sunday School teacher in grade four and watched from afar as my brothers and I grew up in a home that knew too much sickness. I spent a week at her home when my mother died. When my home life broke down, she was there again, and I spent grade twelve with her and her husband Russ. They were my biggest supporters throughout university, they stood proudly at my ordination, and they took the place of parents at my wedding.
Her faith was a constant inspiration to me, and I cherish the old Bible that had been her mother's and was given to me. Why is she one of the lives that guide my journey of faith alongside Nelson Mandala and Mother Theresa? Louise modelled everything that a Christian is meant to be: a teacher, a mentor, a counsellor, and the list goes on and on. The gifts of the Spirit were hers, and she lived her faith and shared it with me in so many ways. I am just so grateful to God for her!
So, do you have a story to tell of those who have mentored you in the faith? Why not rehearse that story right now, and maybe, just maybe, as God gives the opportunity, share that story with another. Maybe, just maybe, someone is telling your story right now and giving thanks to God … for you!
Prayer: Thank You, God, for guiding us on this uncertain journey of faith. Thank You, God, for lives that guide us, even when we feel uncertain about our faith and our future. Some comfort us, some challenge us, some inspire us, and most just find ways to love us. For all such people in our lives, we thank You, and especially for the One Who is the way, the truth, and the life. Amen.
The past three years have been like no other period of my life. As a younger person, I worked full-time while also juggling care of my home and family. I have been deeply involved in church and community work over the years. I also love spending time with friends and family. Travel, hobbies, sports, and outdoor activities have been pleasant diversions.
Then, with no warning, the world as we knew it came crashing to a halt. The pandemic changed all of our lives. Only now are we gradually resuming a normal life. Yet, even though the world around us is getting back to normal, my life remains quieter than it was before. A year and a half ago, I moved from my home to a 55+ condo community. Because we have about 80 residents living in close contact with one another, we have strict health protocols.
Living in a vulnerable senior community as I do means that my fun activities have been more curtailed than they would have been if I had been living alone. Nonetheless, with reasonable caution, I can still come and go.
No longer do I have a chock-full calendar. A blank spot on the calendar brings a sense of anticipation as I wonder what will happen to fill that day. I normally go for a walk, enjoy reading a book at my favourite coffee shop, and then — who knows what other adventures may come my way!
I do not have to justify my use of every hour of my day, but as I look ahead to a blank slate of a day, I can ask God to bring people into my path and bring thoughts to my mind of beneficial things to do.
Non-routine can be a good thing. It's been good for me to step back from my previously busy lifestyle. I know that these quiet, not-so-busy days may not last forever, so I am enjoying this peaceful period of life for now.
Rather than begrudging the things that I can't do, I focus on enjoying the simple, quiet life that I do have. Scripture gives us guidance on living a quiet, peaceful life.
Proverbs 19:23 – Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm. (NLT)
Philippians 4:11 – Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. (NLT)
1 Thessalonians 4:11 – Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. (NLT)
Can we learn the secret of living quiet, yet worthwhile, productive lives? We can trust God to use us for His purposes regardless of the stage of life in which we find ourselves.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, calm our spirits as we walk through our frenetic world. Give us peace as we rely on You to lead us and protect us. Amen.
Joel 2:1 – Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand. (KJV)
Activists so often move in a mass and carry placards, so that they can be seen and make their voices heard. They are persistent because they are fighting for something, and they won't give up until they get it.
In the story of Jesus' trial, the Pharisees whipped up the crowd to shout at Pilate, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" — the wrong gathering, the wrong outcry, for a terrible purpose. But Pilate gave in to their persistence.
Christians can emulate this persistence in preaching the gospel.
There were times when Jesus healed people and told them keep it to themselves. But at the time when He healed the man possessed with a legion of demons, He told the man to go and publicize it instead of following Him. Why? Possibly because the people of that community had sent Jesus away due to their fear, and He needed someone who could stand in the gap for Him to preach the Word.
Today, Christ is not physically with us any more, so He is looking for those who can proclaim the Word today.
For that same reason, God sent Jonah to Nineveh to tell the people that there would be judgment if they did not repent. They turned their hearts to God, and the city was saved. Today, as believers sleep, sinners are dying every day. What can we do?
Sleeping Christians need to wake up! The time of silence is over! We have given sin too much space to grow. It's time for those in our neighbourhoods, offices, schools, and communities to know that they need to repent and turn to God, for the day of the Lord is coming.
Prayer: Father, give us the boldness, the strength, the persistence, and the grace to spread the good news of Your mercy far and wide. Amen.
Proverbs 16:32 – Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. (NIV)
I crochet many blankets for babies. Recently, I had just begun one when it occurred to me how well this particular colour went with my décor. I thus decided to pick up more yarn and increase the size of the piece. I now have a lovely warm throw for those drafty winter evenings.
Like knitting, one of the main skills when crocheting is to keep an even and consistent tension to the stitches. When this is achieved, the finished product is something to be proud of, as it lies and looks beautiful, and retains its shape forever.
Likewise, learning to keep an even tension in regard to our attitudes and temper amidst our everyday lives is a skill worth cultivating. A friend of mine, when she begins to lose her temper or sees the children becoming impatient or angry, is very fond of saying that patience is a virtue. I have heard her utter this so frequently that I now find myself quoting it out loud when my temper is wearing thin. Jack Wellman, in a biblical definition of the word virtue, describes it this way: "The word virtue has a lot of meaning and means many different things but can be a trait or disposition of character that leads to good behavior."
Learning to control our temper, our annoyance, and our bad attitudes by practicing the virtue of patience thus brings great reward to our lives, as the tensions that we all have to deal with each day and our reactions to them become much more even and balanced. Our behaviour and witness for Christ through our words and actions become much steadier and more consistent. This is something that I expect all of us would like to see within ourselves.
Proverbs 29:11 – A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. (NIV)
Today, we will be faced with various issues and problems, some small, some large, that may test and try our patience. Amidst the tension of them, we will also have a choice: to be foolish, or to be wise, keeping ourselves under control. I pray that we may all choose wisely.
Proverbs 25:28 – Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. (NIV)
Prayer: Father God, help each of us today to look to You amidst the various tensions of our day, that through Your guidance, we may choose wisely, be patient and consistent in our attitude and temper, and therefore build up our witness to others rather than tearing it down. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Exodus 34:7b – I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected — even children in the third and fourth generations. (NLT)
Sin's fallout effects are never pleasant.
My wife and I pass a particular church's parking lot each Sunday on the way to our church. We were once affiliated with this church. Then, the parking lot was full, and so were most of the seats inside. The music was excellent, and so was the preaching. New people joined regularly, and excitement filled the air.
But for a time, things differed. The auditorium became only half-filled, and there was an air of despondency. It was not because of anything that the current members had done but because of sin's fallout. A leader in the church — and a few members — had chosen to delve into a sinful lifestyle, and the entire church felt the impact.
I once thought that today's verse was confusing — even unfair. Why should children and their children suffer for something that they didn't do? Then, I discovered a better interpretation. God isn't saying that they are responsible for their relatives' sins, but that they will feel the fallout from them.
Though we're responsible to God for our sins, they are rarely private in that they affect only us. Thousands of children suffer physical and emotional ailments because their moms chose to use dangerous substances while they were pregnant or because their parents decided to criticize them with emotionally damaging messages. Numerous spouses have irreparably ruined credit records due to poor decisions by an ex-spouse. Many reputations suffer when the person had no control over a bad situation.
Since we're involved with others in some fashion, our closest associates will feel the effects of our decisions. Choosing to sin is never just about us. Not only will our sinful choices take us where we don't want to go — even though we think we might — we'll carry others with us who don't want to go but are unwillingly carried along by association. We'll then keep them — and ourselves — longer than any of us want to stay. And the cost might be astronomical.
While confessing sin is crucial, it rarely removes the consequences of our decisions. Consequences are God's reminders. Better yet is our commitment to live a pure life and walk in the power of the new nature that God has given us. When we do this, we'll experience less of sin's fallout effect — and so will others close to us.
What can we do to prevent sin's fallout effect in our lives?
Prayer: Father, remind us that our bodies are temples of Your Spirit and that we are to present them as pure and holy sacrifices to You. Amen.
I shared the workplace lunchroom one day with a co-worker who held very little hope about society's future, and declared that he would never bring children into this world. A little later, he discussed his upcoming wedding plans. As I mused on this, it seemed odd that he doubted a better future, but also wanted to marry and enjoy a good life and family. I once heard a sportscaster say, after reporting on a serious injury, that an athlete "had his future ruined". How can anyone accurately predict that? Only God holds the future, and that attitude of fatalism can land someone in a puddle of discouragement.
The writer to the Hebrews addresses just such a gloomy spirit of pessimism and discouragement, and gives many ways to gain courage and not despair about the future.
Hebrews 12:12-15 – Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame might not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. (NKJV)
I'm personally inspired by Canadians like Terry Fox, a cancer survivor, who ran a marathon of hope in the 1980s to raise awareness for cancer research, and Hélène Campbell, an organ donation activist who encourages people to donate organs to others upon death, so that others might live, even as she herself received two double-lung replacements.
I'm not suggesting that heroic self-sacrifice is the duty of all believers, but we are instructed to be actively involved in Jesus' kingdom by not giving in to discouragement and by not being careless about personal holiness and loving relationships. The Scripture emphasizes that holiness is essential for a close relationship with God. It's a growing desire to know Him and to be more like Him each day. This isn't a return to a set of religious rules to follow, but a vital inner life of prayer and trust in the Lord. Discouragement and bitterness can't survive in such an environment! As we remember God's grace extended to us, we can extend that grace to others also.
God's grace is an active thing; it surpasses the pain and hurts of yesterday, and we also need to be spiritually active. Are you feeling pessimistic about the future, where nothing can change and personal holiness doesn't matter? I urge you to seek God, to strengthen the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, and with His grace, to look forward to the year ahead with joy and praise.
Prayer: Dear Lord, may we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Hour by hour and day by day, may we do our utmost to be humble, honest, and true, and to extend Your grace to all people. Amen.
Years ago, I put tabs in my Bible, the kind that are attached to the page with clear pieces of plastic that have very sticky — and permanent — glue on them. One piece goes on the front side of the page and the other on the back, so the tab that identifies the book of the Bible sticks out from the edge.
One morning, my daily devotional reading sent me to the little book of Obadiah. It's one of those books that we don't often read — just one chapter, tucked in among the minor prophets between Amos and Jonah. I ran my fingers down the tabs and when I found it, I was dismayed to see that I had attached the tab around two pages, not just one. So, I could read only the introductory material that my Bible provides and the few verses at the end of the chapter that weren't hidden between those glued-together pages. Since the glue on those tabs is so permanent, my only option was to cut carefully around the edges of the piece, leaving a rectangular notch and releasing the top page so that I could read the main part of the book.
I had a temporary problem — most of the text of Obadiah was hidden from me. But for hundreds of years before Christ, the glorious news of the gospel was hidden from God's people.
Romans 16:25b-26 – This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him. (NLT)
The Israelites saw only glimpses through prophetic utterances, the occasional pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus, and promises of hope given throughout the Old Testament. Now, as believers, we have access, through the cross of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, to God's deep secrets, "a plan kept secret from the beginning of time", so that we "might believe and obey him".
1 Corinthians 2:9b-10 – "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. (NLT)
Praise God for this revelation! Otherwise, how could we, in our human hearts, understand what God did when He sent His Son to die for us? How could we, on our own, understand the incredible gift that God gave us and the tremendous love and grace bestowed on us through Jesus' sacrifice?
God continues to reveal His deep secrets as we study His Word and learn more about Him. This revelation was "prepared for those who love him". Do we love Him enough to live for Him, to honour Him with our lives and our actions, to take time to read and study His Word, and to share this wonderful revelation with others?
Prayer: Father, thank You for loving us enough to send Your Son to die for us. Thank You for choosing us and revealing to us Your deep secrets and Your message. Lead us to even deeper understanding as we study Your Word. Amen.
Throughout my time in the church, I spent most of my service in children's ministries. I cuddled the babies, sang to 3-year-olds, and taught Bible lessons in Sunday school and children's church. I remember teaching the words and movements to "Deep and wide" and "Zaccheus was a wee little man". I can recall the stories that I told to the kids using flannel boards with little flannel-backed figures. I remember the giggles that I got as I passed out treats, and I can still see little heads bowed as we prayed. Sometimes, I felt well prepared with visuals to display the great stories of David and Goliath or Jonah and the great fish, but sometimes, I had barely made it to church with my own car full of kids. I'm sure that my harried appearance was apparent even to the youngest of them.
Very seldom did I ever know what lasting effect my teaching might have had, and sometimes, I was discouraged about it. But God assures us that He still has a plan, so I kept on. I remember reading the story of a missionary family who went for years without a single convert, but at great price to themselves, they continued through their trials. They claimed God's promise:
Isaiah 55:11 – So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)
As I checked out Facebook one morning, I noticed that I had a friend request. Since I can use all the friends I can get, I clicked and found that a woman named Susan wanted to be my friend. I remembered her as a shy little girl from a great family of the church. She was very well behaved and much quieter than her fellow students. The next day, I was delighted to get the sweetest message from her. She caught me up on her parents and a bit of her own life, but then, she told me something that blesses me even now as I write this. She said that she accepted the Lord as her Saviour one Sunday morning in my Sunday school class, as I asked the children to bow their heads and pray. I wondered briefly if it was one of my organized days or one of my disheveled days. But right out of the silence, I faintly heard the applause of angels — not for me — but for this one who came to the Lord. On that morning, I knew that God's Word never comes back without doing what it was sent to do. It was definitely worth those harried days, with those rowdy kids hiding under the table as I gave my lesson!
Just remember the Lord's promise when you feel discouraged about serving Him.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the blessing of serving, and thank You for sending ones to share Your impact in their lives at just the right time. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Ephesians 3:16-19 – I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (NIV)
During a recent appointment with an occupational therapist for my injured hand, I was interested to observe the various tools used to measure the mobility and movements of my hand and fingers. One of the tools was a device that had a handle with a meter attached that precisely measured grip strength. I squeezed as hard as possible and was surprised at the lack of strength in the injured hand as compared with the other one. I left the appointment with some prescribed exercises that I know I must follow in order to regain strength to grasp with the weak hand.
Some dictionary definitions for the word "grasp" are "to seize and hold by clasping with the fingers", or "to seize upon, hold firmly", or "to get hold of mentally, comprehend; understand". Sometimes, I've said, "I just don't get it" when trying to understand some new concept.
The words of today's hymn written by Samuel Trevor Francis, "O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free", always cause me to ponder. I do want to comprehend this love more and more and to increase spiritual strength in my inner being. I learn from Paul's prayer in today's passage from Ephesians how that is to occur. It does not happen by my own strength. It is all from God's riches through His Spirit. When Christ dwells in our hearts by God's gift of faith, we become rooted and established in love. That is where Christ increases our strength. Only then will we be given the power to even begin to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ! It is simply not in us to do it on our own.
My brothers and sisters, let us all ask God to deepen our faith and strengthen our comprehension of the love of Christ.
Prayer: Dear Father, thank You that You desire for us to grasp hold of the great expanses of Your amazing love for us. Thank You for Your holy Word. Thank You for the power of Your Holy Spirit Who reveals Your truth in Your Word to our hearts. Thank You for strengthening us in this way so that we can be filled together to glorify Your name forever. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
It was October, 1970, and Canada was under a serious terrorist threat. A reporter had asked the Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, how far he would go in dealing with the crisis. "Just watch me!" Trudeau responded. He subsequently ordered the War Measures Act. It was a drastic measure, fitting for the crisis. Thereafter, those words, "Just watch me!" have become enshrined in Canadian history.
Lately, those three words have also become enshrined in my prayer life — I'd say, by God Himself. That's right. The Spirit sometimes interrupts my prayers with that famous quotation, "Just watch Me!" The effect has been startling.
I'd be mulling over a burden. Then suddenly, those words would grab my attention. Instantly, my focus shifted from myself to God. It was as if He had just pushed me out of the ditch. Suddenly, I'd find myself eagerly expecting something down the road, something that God would do. It seems that God is training me to be on the lookout for His activities.
"Just watch Me!" That's what God has repeatedly been telling His people, especially during times of crisis. The ancient nation of Judah received this alert when besieged by a terrifying army. They heard those three words this way:
2 Chronicles 20:15b,17a – Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. (NIV)
For me, the words, "Just watch Me!" sound like a dare, as if God were confronting my silent skepticism. He probes my dimness, saying, "So you think I'm not up to anything remarkable! Well, My child, just lift up your eyes! You just watch what I'll do!"
That happened to the prophet Habakkuk. He saw his nation being destroyed by violence and oppression. God answered his complaint with that dare, "Just watch Me!" — expressed this way:
Habakkuk 1:5 – Look at the nations and watch — and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. (NIV)
I've discovered that God can use any situation — good or bad — to alert us to His potential. We may hear it while burdened over a personal crisis or over a global crisis. We may hear it through the actions or words of others. Perhaps, it's through a gentle nudge by a caring friend concerned that we're getting stuck over a past offense. Perhaps, it's through the cold shoulder of a heartless individual who dismisses our concern altogether. God may draw our attention through a relaxing documentary, or conversely, through anxious media hype. The context is irrelevant. What matters is somehow hearing God's daring call, "Just watch Me!" Let's learn to wait expectantly, always on the lookout for the unfolding of His plan.
Prayer: Lord, open our ears to hear Your call, "Just watch Me!" Open our eyes that we may recognize Your hand at work in whatever life situation is on our mind. Amen.
Thirteen years ago, in the early spring, my husband and I surveyed with satisfaction our recent purchase, a 22-foot travel trailer. After we retired from teaching, we planned to use it to go south, where the winters would be warmer, and to take part in volunteer projects.
We were pleased with our purchase, but by itself, it wouldn't be any use to us. We had to equip it so that we could use it for our winter plans, and then connect it to our big sport utility vehicle.
My husband checked all the connections, filled the propane tanks, bought extra sewer hose, and made sure that we had an extra external battery for an additional power source.
I organized the inside, buying small quantities of non-perishable staples, preparing meals to put into the tiny freezer, and selecting and packing clothes and linens. I gathered pots, cutlery, and Mom's lightweight dinnerware, and tried to fit stuff into appropriate spaces. Finally, our trailer was equipped, and we were ready to embark on our new adventure.
Just as we had to equip our trailer, God had to equip Moses with what he needed to free the Hebrew people, already enslaved for 400 long years. Moses protested to the Lord when He told him to confront Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, and demand that he free them.
Exodus 4:1-2 – But Moses protested again, "What if they won't believe me or listen to me? What if they say 'The Lord never appeared to you'?" Then the Lord asked him, "What is that in your hand?" "A shepherd's staff," Moses replied. (NLT)
A shepherd's staff would not be useful in itself to free the Hebrews. But God imbued it with miraculous power, turning it into a snake to impress the Pharaoh, and later enabling Moses to use his staff to part the waters of the Red Sea and to strike a rock to get drinking water. In the same way, God empowers us to do what He wants us to do, but we must connect with His power.
Hebrews 13:20-21a – Now may the God of peace — who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood — may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. (NLT)
Romans 12:6a – In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. (NLT)
It is God Who gives each of us the capability to do what He wants to accomplish through us. To be effective to do what pleases Him, we have to realize that it is God Who has endowed us, and that through His giftings, we can do what we do best. We need to be willing to use our gifts wholeheartedly in His service. We can do that, because it is He Who puts in our hand whatever equips us to serve Him. What is that in your hand?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping us through Your power to do what pleases You. Help us to use the capabilities that You give us to serve You. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.
John 15:9-10 – As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (ESV)
We have a dog called Daisy. She is the sweetest, fluffiest, cuddliest dog that anyone could ever wish to have. I tend to be the one who feeds and does the necessary when called upon to keep everything shipshape, and I appear to be the boss in her world.
She is fussed over by the rest of the family, which, in truth, is rather gratifying. She certainly has had a marked influence for the better on our family's state of mind and is a pleasant distraction from the world that daily touches, as a source of stress, upon our existence.
She often reminds me of myself. I delight in being in the eternal family of God, knowing that I am cared for, safe, loved, and accepted. In my independence, I know that Jesus is my Master, Who is there to clear up my mess. I recognize His voice, especially when I am spiritually hungry or in need of His provision via the Holy Spirit.
Show Daisy the opportunity to chase small rodents, cats, birds, and moving balls on her territory, however, and her terrier-ness is revealed. She is off like a leopard, feet hardly touching the ground as she bounces at speed towards the target. Like flicking on a switch, she goes from cuddly-ball-of-fluff to chase-and-subdue: bang! This is often followed by barking to declare her territory. Sadly, I, too, am often enticed into running towards life's temptations. Each one of us has our own predilections for being tempted. We declare our rights to have stuff. Praise God for His voice that calls us back into the fold.
Typically for a Westie, Daisy has selective hearing and an independent mind that comes to the fore whenever we want her to comply, maybe to come in out of the cold or rain. She is also a very intelligent dog. As soon as my back is turned, she has an annoying habit of returning to something that I have told her not to do. She does this because she wants her own way to enjoy herself. God's back is never turned, however, but ours often is — and that disobedience can lead to sin.
On the upside, treats are her Achilles heel, when her hearing abruptly returns and she runs straight back into the house on the prospect of a tasty morsel. Being the biggest in the litter of pups, I guess that she liked her food, for which I am thankful. The weakness that draws me back to God is remembering that I am saved, loved, and accepted by Him.
Jesus, the Shepherd, calls us to come inside the safety of His presence, His realm of peace and love, the kingdom of God. We, who have acquired selective hearing, need to hear, run back, to gain a blessing when we have sometimes found ourselves suckered into the preoccupations of the world. He knows our heart, our gifts, and the territory that we have been given. Today, under His kingdom rule, we can declare His love where we stand.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your love. May we hear Your voice and be blessed, and in turn be a blessing to those with whom You set us today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Recently, I was sitting on my couch thinking about my upcoming fiftieth birthday and what we would do to celebrate it. I recently moved from Canada to the Netherlands, and I was missing my own family and friends. I now have a new loving family and wonderful friends surrounding me, I am safe and living in a beautiful country, and I have a beautiful garden where some of God's creatures visit me daily — the birds, the stray cats, the hedgehog, the butterflies, and the bees — and I thought, Wow! I am blessed. I am grateful!
But then, I started to reflect: What have I accomplished in my five decades? That got me thinking about the contrast between my paltry achievements and the effect that Jesus had in only thirty-three years.
Matthew 9:35-36 – Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (NIV)
What can we do to make a lasting impact in our lifetime in this world, preparing us for our eternal world? Can we have compassion for others? Can we take time to speak to people we meet and spread the good news of our Lord? Can we take time out of our day to speak to Him and pray to Him? Jesus was always busy with many things, teaching people, praying with them, healing them, eating with them, and being with them.
Let us try to be more like Jesus daily and realize that it's not the number of years that we have in this world, but it's the impact that we leave on it as we prepare ourselves for eternity. Let us be good to others and kind to God's creation, so that those who follow us can enjoy all that we accomplished while they are here on earth.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to humble ourselves daily, not thinking only of ourselves, but of all those around us. Help us to make their lives better. Help us daily to prepare, knowing that in the end, we will be with You, our eternal Father, in Your glorious house where the beauty and splendour is unimaginable. Amen.
Ephesians 3:17b-19 – And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (NIV)
We all noticed that Frank, my horse, had been coming out of the barn less and less. He needed to be moved out of his comfort zone, so I put a lead rope on his halter and insisted that he move out into the yard. But I realized immediately that something was very wrong. He was walking gingerly, slowly, and painfully. My heart sank as the dreaded word "founder" raced across my mind.
Founder (or laminitis) in horses is a serious condition of the foot that causes extremely painful lameness. In some cases, it may be necessary to put the animal down.
My farrier, Dani, has had a lot of experience with this problem and knew exactly how to reshape the toe of Frank's hooves to take as much pressure as possible off the front of the foot. Obesity is a major cause of founder, and we discovered that Frank had put on a lot of weight. This year's hay crop may have been extremely high in nutrients, so I have reduced his rations. I also started him on a dose of anti-inflammatory drugs. Now, we just have to pray, be consistent in our treatment, and hope that he makes a full recovery.
Sometimes, God needs to move His people out of our comfort zone, too.
As creatures of habit, we often find a routine that we like, and we stick to it. We don't like or want change. We get comfortable as Christians with the way that we think and act, and we are happy to stay that way. But as God's people, He challenges us to keep moving ahead and growing, to keep grasping to understand and know and live out the power of His love, until we are full to overflowing with it. This means change, which can come as we pray and are open to the power of the Holy Spirit, Who is able to teach us and guide us into all truth. Change may reveal a spiritual problem that needs to be addressed so that we may continue to grow and be healthy in Christ.
We may not like God seeking to move us out of our comfort zone any more than Frank did, but remember that whatever God does is always for our good. So, let's co-operate and allow Him to keep moving us forward day by day, that we may live as healthy and full-to-overflowing a Christian life as possible.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You love us enough to seek to move us out of our comfort zone when it becomes necessary. Thank You for the power of Your Holy Spirit, Who is able to keep us growing and knowing You more fully as we respond to His gentle nudging and direction. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
When I was in high school, English literature, history, and languages were exciting and pleasant in which to immerse myself. Math and chemistry were a different matter! I had an English teacher who saw in me a love for writing and reading, as one who was fully engaged, unlike others who were daydreaming or doodling to pass the time. Once, I failed to hand in an assignment on time, and to my dismay, he chastened me in front of the class, which he did to his students from time to time. Why didn't I finish that assignment on time? I took advantage of his pleasure in a good pupil, and behaved like one who didn't care. My pride was bruised, but now, I know that he cared for me, the one who copied poetry and who was really ready to dive into the subject.
"Chastening" isn't a word often used these days, but it was used by the writer to the Hebrews, who spoke to Christians undergoing persecution.
Hebrews 12:3-8 – For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives". If you endure chastening, God deals with you as sons, for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. (NKJV)
What does "chasten" mean? Some similar words are to subdue, humble, deflate, penalize, admonish, afflict, berate, and chide. None of these carry the meaning of chasten in these verses. I see chastening as direction and disciplining to turn us back onto the right path. God can use difficult periods in our lives to do this, perhaps because we have forgotten the basics of Christian faith, or we have left it behind and made wrong choices. By chastening us, He brings us back to Himself, and shows His justice and rightness. The Hebrews writer emphasizes that chastening is a sign of good parenting, not rejection. This loving correction trains us spiritually. God doesn't punish us for sinning, as Jesus took on our punishment for all time at the cross. God's chastening is led by His love, not by anger.
My English teacher corrected me because my learning mattered. God corrects us, too, from time to time. None of us is exempt from God's correction. Being straightened out is the sign of being loved by a good Father. Have you gone through a difficult time in life and experienced being chastened? Let us each look to our good Father in heaven, Who wants us to return to Him, and Who loves us more than we will ever know this side of heaven.
Prayer: We come before You now, with no cover for our faces, no masks. You alone are our hearts' desire, and we come to worship You. There is peace in Your presence, and we reach for Your healing touch in this moment. Amen.
John 10:10 – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (NKJV)
My husband Larry was about five years older than his sister, Carol. When she was a teenager, one Valentine's Day, she received a box of candy from her latest beau. Not wanting to disturb the beautiful heart-shaped box, she set it up in her room unopened with the cellophane still intact. Larry and his brother, Dave, cut a candy-sized hole in the bottom and shook all the candy out, piece by piece. It was months before his sister realized that the sweet treats were all gone.
Many times, our marriages work in the same way! We set what is so precious on a shelf, not wanting to disturb the memory of the love and romance that we had once shared. We glance at it occasionally and admire it there on the shelf, as we wait to get the kids raised and make a successful career. As years go by, it still looks okay, but inside slowly but surely it becomes empty and a shell of what it was. Sadly, when we finally have time, we find that the box is hardly recognizable. The thief has struck!
Once we began our family, Larry and I took to parenting like ducks to water. We seldom got a babysitter because we just enjoyed having the kids with us. I remember one wedding anniversary when the kids were small, having the waitress bring us three high chairs. Between cutting up food, wiping messy mouths, and cleaning up spilled milk, romance flew out the door. Reality finally hit one evening when we got a sitter to watch the kids while we did something alone. As we pulled away by ourselves, I suddenly felt at a loss for words. I was so used to centring our conversations around the kids that I had forgotten how to talk to my husband. The lesson that I learned that evening was that if there were to be an "us" after the kids left, it was not going to happen accidentally. From that night on, I began to give more thought to the future and to what kind of relationship I wanted to have with the man I married. There were more alone times — not always big flashy dates, but times when he and I could talk. We took walks to catch up on each other, and now and then, a weekend away gave us time to regroup and refresh.
As I watch the hectic lives of families today, I know that time spent alone is nearly impossible, especially with small children. I believe that the "thief", the devil, likes it that way and uses every opportunity to steal away those sweet morsels. I thank God for the sweet morsels of life that we have enjoyed together and the memories of raising a family, but I look forward to more days of laughter and love with the love of my life.
Stand guard over what God has given you, so that the thief doesn't steal the love that you have for one another. Happy Valentine's Day!
Prayer: You, O Lord, are the One Who gave us the love that husband and wife share in marriage. Help us to cherish and protect it all our lives. Amen.
Luke 4:16 – And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. (KJV)
I once saw a funny cartoon of a man with a placard that said something like "What if Jesus had died on the cross online?" I can't recollect the words exactly, but the point was that people seem to prefer online gathering to physical gathering.
In today's verse, we see that Jesus went to the synagogue "as his custom was". It's a well-known fact that He came to die for us, but it wasn't compulsory for Him to go to the synagogue. Christ made it a personal custom. He could have sat on Simon Peter's boat during the Sabbath and the multitudes would have flocked to Him for healing and the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.
Hebrews 10:25 – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (KJV)
There are situations that may necessitate connecting to services online, but outside of those circumstances, we should aim to make it a habit to gather together. Scripture tells us, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17 KJV) But if we worship God alone, how can iron sharpen iron? How can we display those Christian virtues of love, temperance, and long-suffering towards one another? How can we draw those lost in the world to the light of Christ? Faith in God cannot be just a personal thing. Service to God is to be to brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as to unbelievers.
Christians, let all who are able come out from our isolation and gather together where we can worship God in spirit and in truth. Those who are in an environment isolated from fellow believers, or where persecution is rife, can create a place of fellowship in their homes. Fellowship is important to us and to God.
Acts 2:44,46-47 – And all that believed were together, and had all things common. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (KJV)
Prayer: Father, may we find our places in the gathering of believers. Amen.
Do you ever feel as though your life is an endless cycle of one step forward, two steps back, despite your greatest efforts? To be sure, there are stretches when things run smoothly for a while, but then, there inevitably comes a bump in the road that upsets things again.
We're in good company. The Bible contains many stories of people who had a rough time following God, even when they desired to do it. Sometimes, they were strong and fervent in their faith, and then, something would cause them to stumble in disgrace.
Adam and Eve, coming straight from the hand of God, couldn't blame their downfall on poor parenting or bad role models. Yet, how quickly they fell into disobedience of God's direct command to stay away from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
God said of King David, the mightiest king of Israel and forebear of the Messiah, "I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart." (Acts 13:22b NLT) Yet, he stumbled mightily in his sin with Bathsheba.
Even the entire nation of Israel, God's chosen, covenant people, seemed to be in a constant state of flux. Falling into a state of apostasy and disobedience, they would feel the sting of God's discipline, yet He promised repeatedly throughout their history to bless them bountifully if they would repent and return to His ways.
We can almost see the great apostle Paul wringing his hands in despair as he laments, "I want to do what is right, but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway." (Romans 7:18b-19 NLT)
I know that I, too, can be consistently inconsistent in my daily choices and actions. This constant swinging in the wind, going from sin to obedience, right to wrong, good to bad, seems to be a hopeless state. We know that even when we turn our lives over to God, we still can't live a sinless life.
Yet, there is hope. Paul tells us:
Romans 8:2 – And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. (NLT)
We have the power of God to rely on, and it is far greater than our own strength — or that of Satan.
When we feel discouraged by our own inconsistency and failures, let's be heartened by the fact that we have God's help to carry us through. Sincere repentance is necessary when we sin, but how encouraging it is, then, to know that we can turn away from sin and continue on as we faithfully seek to follow in His ways.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, You know our weaknesses and failures. How thankful we are that You forgive us when we confess our sin, and You give us strength to continue on in our life's journey. Amen.
Psalm 22:12a – My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls. (NLT)
In life, we often feel as if we're under attack.
Tradition says that the running of the bulls began in northeastern Spain during the fourteenth century. Why people would want to run down a crowded street with angry bulls chasing them is beyond me. The thought of being trampled or gored isn't appealing. Even though goring happens, people still do it. I've also watched wolves, wild dogs, and coyotes attack their prey. With teeth bared and mouths salivating, they circle, blindside, and eventually pounce on their victims.
Whether he was or not, the psalmist felt surrounded by enemies. His words were prophetic of how Jesus would later feel when His enemies eventually called for His death. In many countries, even our own, Christians are under attack. The attack may involve jail time, beatings, or even death. Or it may be more subtle: assemblies for prayer being forbidden in schools, displays of the ten commandments being removed from public places, media ridiculing those who take a stand based on faith, or the promotion of immoral ways as a norm for living.
When under attack for our faith, we often overreact. We can spew hateful words against those who attack us or promote ungodly lifestyles. We can act as if we are better than they, and walk around with our religious noses in the air. Or we can withdraw like hermits and refuse to associate with anyone but our kind. There are, though, better responses.
Praying for strength to endure is crucial. God never promises to take persecution away. In fact, He tells believers that they will be persecuted. After all, Jesus was. He will, however, give strength to endure. Searching for God's will in how to react to the attacks is also essential. However we choose to respond, it should be with love.
We can have confidence when we're under attack. We've read the end of the Book. Good wins over evil. Believers triumph. Knowing that is not an excuse for a haughty attitude, but knowing it does help us respond to faith attacks with a different outlook.
Being attacked for our faith also gives us a reason to praise God. Such attacks on the exercise of faith are a witness for Him. If others are not attacking us in some manner, perhaps we're not as verbal about our faith as we should be.
How do you respond when under attack for your faith?
Prayer: Father, give us the strength to stand when we come under attack for our faith. Amen.
Mark 3:20-21 – Then he went home, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind." (NRSV)
1 Corinthians 1:25 – For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. (NRSV)
There is a Peanuts cartoon in which Lucy is telling her brother Linus to get involved. Linus stands sucking his thumb and hanging onto his security blanket, and Lucy says, "You can't drift along forever. You have to direct your thinking. For instance, you have to decide whether you are going to be a liberal or a conservative. You have to take some sort of stand. You have to associate yourself with some sort of cause." Linus pulls his thumb out of his mouth, drops his security blanket, and asks Lucy, "Are there any openings in the lunatic fringe?"
Today's first Scripture passage is a gospel episode in which Jesus is looked upon as a member of the lunatic fringe, not only by His enemies, but also by His family and friends. Whether we realize it or not, it is just as true that some of Jesus' friends still look upon Him as a member of the lunatic fringe, especially on Sundays when they come to church and listen to what Jesus is saying in the Gospels about God's grace. God's grace often is a shocker! And that grace turns the world upside down — our economics, our social system, our politics, and our religion.
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"Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe." – Theodore Roosevelt.
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"You sometimes find something good in the lunatic fringe. In fact, we have got as part of our social and economic government today a whole lot of things which in my boyhood were considered lunatic fringe, and yet they are now part of everyday life." – Franklin D. Roosevelt
To the world, we Christians who believe in God's "foolishness" might seem as part of the lunatic fringe when we follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Care to give it a try today?
Prayer: We thank You for Your foolishness that is wiser than human wisdom, and for Your weakness that is stronger than human strength. Amen.
For the last few weeks, I've been having electrical problems. The ceiling light in my craft room started flickering wildly, causing anything that was plugged into that circuit to turn off. Consequently, my computer suddenly shut down in the middle of whatever I was working on, and my sewing machine stopped in mid-stitch. The power would quickly return, but then shut off again. I called an electrician, who fixed the problem, and all was well.
Four days later, my washing machine stopped mid-cycle. It's on the same circuit as a small bathroom, the dryer, and an outlet behind the dryer, into which I plug a power bar for my iron and lamp. Frustrated, I checked the breakers; that didn't help. I unplugged the power cords and tested them on an extension cord plugged in elsewhere. They worked, so it wasn't the cords. Then, I remembered the button in the bathroom that pops when the circuit is overloaded. Sure enough, it had popped. I pushed in the button and plugged in my iron to test the power — nothing — and no lights on the washing machine. Now, I was really frustrated. Not sure what to do, I worked on something else for a while, then walked back into the room to discover that the cords for both the power bar and the washing machine were lying on top of the ironing board — I hadn't plugged them back in! Thanking God for showing me what was wrong, I connected the cords and was delighted to see that everything worked. I had power.
How often in our lives we find ourselves personally out of power — tired, depressed, anxious, worried about health or family issues! Sometimes, we search around for answers or solutions, frustrated, as I was, when we can't figure out what to do. Then, we realize that the answer was there all the time, like my unplugged power cords. We just need to reach out and plug in to our personal source of power — God the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 147:4-5 – He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! (NLT)
God created everything — He knows His world so intimately that He even calls the stars by name. We can't begin to comprehend the power that He has and the power that is available to us through the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 3:20 – Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (NLT)
2 Peter 1:3a – By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. (NLT)
Let's remember to make a conscious decision to trust God and rely on His power whenever we feel like we're "unplugged". When we're filled with doubt, worry, or fear, let's remember God's promise to walk alongside us when we call upon Him.
Prayer: Father, we pray that we will be strengthened with all Your glorious power so that we will have all the endurance and patience that we need. Help us to remain in You instead of in the world as we rely on Your glorious power. Amen.
Leviticus 19:33-34 – When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. (NIV)
I have dogs. My daughter has cats. We each have our own house, but we share the same property. My dogs have thus not grown up with her cats, and her cats have not grown up with my dogs. So, when the dogs go up to the big house with me from time to time, there is bound to be a little excitement.
The dogs know that the cats are in the house, as they have seen them through the windows. They are therefore immediately on high alert looking for them. The cats, being cats, have no intention of allowing these interlopers to be boss in their territory. In the end, a chase is the inevitable result. One of the dogs will begin to chase one or more of the cats, but then, the cats will often turn on the dogs and go after them. There is a lot of barking and hissing and even some snapping from a distance, because each creature is afraid of the other ones. They see each other as posing a threat to their existence as they know it, for they are different from one another, and they find this disconcerting.
I have learned from experience, however, that when cats and dogs spend enough time together, they not only get to know one another, but they also discover that they have nothing to fear, and they usually become great friends, even protectors of each other.
Similarly, when new people move into our neighbourhoods, towns, and nations, taking the time to get to know them is very important. God calls us to treat strangers well. We are not to seek to chase them away by means of our words or actions, but to love them as God loves.
We are to love them as ourselves. We are to welcome them and make them feel at home. Their culture, customs, and language, even their skin and looks, may vary greatly from our own. This may even be disconcerting at first, but we are all people created in the image of God. We are all people whom Christ loves and died for so that we could become one body of believers, reconciled to God, and living in peace one with another.
Whom might God be encouraging you to welcome into your life today?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that mankind, each and every one of us, has been created in Your image. Help us to love one another as You have loved us through Christ Jesus our Lord, that our world may live more and more at peace one with another as You desire us to be. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.
Not always hearing clearly or correctly, I often ask people to repeat what they have said. I need to know if what I thought that I heard is actually what they said. If there is something new to learn, I've needed it repeated several times to grasp it and try to understand it. Repetition is a good way to make sure that I have remembered something important. I sometimes even find myself repeating to myself a simple thing that I need to fetch from another room so that I don't get distracted with another thought.
When I was young, I was encouraged by a person with the Navigators to memorize Scripture by repetition. I was given a pocket-sized packet of Bible verses to carry, and I was challenged to spend time during little moments reading and reviewing and reading aloud again until I could recite them to myself. I still recall those verses that are stored away for the Holy Spirit to bring to mind again just when needed.
Psalm 119:11 – I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (NIV)
Being forgetful can be very costly, especially in our daily encounters, with so many mixed messages shouting in our ears about who we are and what or who we can trust. Some messages are retold again and again. Children often hear an exasperated parent express something like, "How many times do I have to tell you?" In contrast, our heavenly Father has expressed and shown us in His Word, over and over and again and again, how His heart longs for us to understand His everlasting love. David's writing in the Psalms expresses a heart that is full of praise because he experienced God's amazing and everlasting love.
Psalm 117:2 – For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. (NIV)
Psalm 118:1-4 – Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let Israel say: "His love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever." Let those who fear the Lord say: "His love endures forever." (NIV)
If you didn't get the message in these verses, read Psalm 136, and you'll see it repeated twenty-six times! This is the good news that we all need to hear again and again, over and over. It is never old. It is full of joy for the world. Jesus came to deliver this enduring love to the world and to enter into our world and hearts as Emmanuel. Repeat the sounding joy! Our hearts thrill to hearing the old, old story of Jesus and His love whenever we hear the gospel repeated.
Can we repeat that story to others and share the excitement of this love that endures forever? That love provides us with a sure foundation for our life.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that Your faithfulness endures forever. Thank You for Your Word that is full of records of Your faithfulness to all generations. This is amazingly good news to hear over and over. Help us to repeat this news to those around us. We know that we can trust You in all things. You never fail us. Please strengthen our faith as we daily give all our cares into Your hands. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
I am not a systematic house cleaner. I tend to clean as I go, or set time aside for a larger task. Sometimes, finding an unexpected cobwebbed corner will push me into action, but it's a not a favourite activity. Cleaning up my spiritual house may seem even more daunting, but it's needed to make real change. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews urges us to "clean house" so that we can do what God has set out for us.
Hebrews 12:1-2 – Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us set aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NKJV)
What needs to change in your life, that is worth making the difficult choices? Today's passage compares the Christian life to an athletic race. What is slowing you down as a spiritual runner? Maybe it's the practical need of a healthy body, which means making better food choices and being more active. Is a healthier mind what you need? Does that mean avoiding certain television shows or Internet feeds, and limiting your screen time? Does your daily list of duties need a dusting? By eliminating certain activities and deciding what's most important, you can narrow in on what means the most.
David, the psalmist, asked God, "Create in me a clean heart" (Psalm 51:10a NKJV). Let's spend that cleaning time in prayer, asking God what needs to be confessed, and then doing it. It's no easy task, but we will be spotting the cobwebbed corners of sins that lead to the unhealthy actions and decisions that we make. Just as the house needs a regular cleanup, let's keep asking God to show us the spiritual areas that need work. We can be assured that He will be with us, so get out the broom!
Prayer: Father, we want our lives to be clean and pure before You, so that we can say, "Hosanna! In the mighty halls, or alone in my room, Your praises cross the earth, for only You can atone, from utter east to the final west. Those who love You gather before the throne; in one voice we shout, Hosanna! If we are silent, cries would come from the very stones." Amen.
As we were walking along one day, my middle-school-aged grandson picked something up off the ground.
"What did you find?" I asked him.
"A pull tab. Our school is collecting them," he answered. "They make wheelchairs out of them." I smiled to myself, considering with amusement the urban legends about the value of pull tabs. Unfortunately, there is no facility that melts down aluminum pull tabs from soda cans and makes wheelchairs out of them. A pound of pull tabs — 1267 of them — recycles for 15 cents, but a million of them brings $118 for charity.
For decades, people have believed that pull tabs (or pop tabs) are valuable. Several organizations, such as March of Dimes Canada, have redeemed the situation by facilitating the collection of pull tabs for a good cause. They receive bags full of them, collected by schools, churches, and youth organizations, and sell them to recycling centres. The proceeds are used to buy mobility equipment, like wheelchairs, for needy people. That's the real truth.
Just as my grandson's perception was limited, so is the understanding of those who rely on human wisdom rather than on wisdom revealed by the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 – People who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. (NLT)
Anything spiritual doesn't make sense to unbelievers. Merely spouting words when sharing the good news with them is like a child believing that wheelchairs can be built from melted-down pull-tabs. Like the child, unbelievers don't perceive the real truth. They just don't get it.
How do we, who are Christians, go about explaining God's wonderful good news to those who can't take it in?
The process starts with prayer.
- Jude 1:20b – Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. (NLT)
- Luke 18:1b – Always pray and never give up. (NLT)
- Hosea 10:12b – Plow up the hard ground of your hearts. (NLT)
We must continually pray that the Spirit would illuminate the minds of unbelievers, plowing up the hard ground of their hearts, so that they, too, can be born again and be able to appreciate the wonderful things that God wants to give them.
1 Corinthians 2:13 – When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. (NLT)
Preparing in prayer equips us to speak the Spirit's words, so that unbelievers' hearts can receive the truth. When we have the mind of Christ, the words that we speak can give birth to spiritual results. Let's remember to prepare the hearts of our unbelieving friends and family members by praying for them, before we attempt to explain God's truth to them.
Prayer: Help us, Lord, to remember to pray for those with whom we want to share the gospel. Plow up the soil of their hearts, so that they will be ready to receive the wonderful truth of salvation through Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
In late February or early March of the year when I was about ten, my dad took me fishing with him. It was cold, rainy, and miserable, which, to my dad, was perfect timing. After we started catching catfish, which my dad described as pan-sized, we soon forgot the uncomfortable conditions. My dad's bobber was the first to go down, and up came the first catch of the day, a beautiful fish with a golden belly and horns that I was told not to touch. Feeling a little envious of his catch, I watched my bobber even more closely. We didn't sit there too long until my dad and I both got a bite, and I yanked for all I was worth. As my cane pole bent under the pulling of the whale on my hook, I told my dad, who was busy with his own fish, "I think it's a big one." I pulled and pulled until my dad said something that astonished me: "Let go!" What was this? I finally get a bite, and he says, "Let go!" Evidently, he didn't know what I knew about the big fish pulling on my line. With that, I planted my little feet firmly and pulled all the harder! After much prompting, he finally was laughing so hard that he could hardly get the words out, "Let go. You are pulling against me." We had both hooked the same fish!
Many times, I hang onto things and situations, while all the time, my heavenly Father is saying, "Let go and let Me take over." Just as many times, I dig my feet in and say, "No way. This is all mine. I know best." When I have a problem, I pull for all I am worth. God says, "Give it to Me. I'll take your burden." But I give it another yank until I am worn out from the struggle. "I've got this one, God," I say with my actions. "Thanks anyway!" Somehow, I think that if I worry, fret, and use my own strength, I can pull it off. Finally, I have to say, "Okay, God, I give it to You. I am not accomplishing a thing with my worry, nor are my puny efforts getting me anywhere. I will let go so that You can accomplish what I cannot. Take over, Lord!"
Psalm 68:19 – May the Lord be praised! Day after day He bears our burdens; God is our salvation. (HCSB)
Do you have a burden so big that you are bent from the weight of it? Are you reluctant to let go for fear that God can't really see how important it is or maybe won't handle it in the way that you had planned? God still tells us, "Let go! Let Me take over. It may not turn out like you want, but it will turn out better, My child!"
Prayer: Father God, give us the courage to let go and trust You. You give us abundantly more than we think or imagine. We praise You! Amen.
I have had the opportunity to do some sightseeing in Europe. We travelled to Drielandpunt in Vaals. This is a three-country point, where the borders of Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany meet at a small monument marking this geographical place. I stood there in wonder and awe and asked myself how it is possible to be standing in one spot but to be in three countries all at once. I hugged the marker and took a picture to share my wonder with friends and family.
Later, someone pointed out that Christians stand at the intersection of three spiritual countries. Let me explain.
Firstly, although we live in this world, the real homeland of Christians is in heaven; we are only passing through here. We are in the world, but not of the world, and our real home country is heaven.
John 15:19 – If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (NIV)
John 14:2-3 – In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (NIV)
Secondly, God's kingdom is wherever people obey Him as King. So, the challenge that we have is to live fully obedient to God, while we have one foot planted in the territory of this world.
Thirdly, when we become Christians, Jesus transfers our citizenship from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.
Colossians 1:13 – For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. (NLT)
When we obey the Lord, we stand in the territory of light, but when we disobey Him, we are in the territory of darkness. So again, we stand at the intersection of three spiritual countries, with one foot in the territory of this world and the other in either the world of light or the world of darkness.
How can we prepare ourselves for our real home in God's country?
- Are we kind to God's creation?
- Do we speak God's glorious name, praise Him, and sings songs to Him?
- Do we pray with others and help them to prepare for their place in the house of God?
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help us in our everyday journey on this earth to prepare ourselves and help others to prepare for our final home with You. May we live lives worthy of such a glorious place. Amen.
Psalm 34:4 – I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. (NIV)
We live in anxious times, and I suspect that many of us, including me, are just glad to get through each day. There's so much uncertainty in the world, and it's affecting each one of us. We don't know what lies ahead, and after three years of instability, we may wonder if things will ever change for the better. It's been a tough time to endure, and we're weary, even in the church.
When I came across today's verse in my daily readings, it reminded me to seek God in order to cope with my fears. Far too often, when I'm faced with difficulties, I offer up a rocket flare of a prayer, asking God to give strength to sustain me, as well as a timely solution to my problems. It's not an ideal way to build any solid relationship with God, for it causes me to treat Him as my personal spiritual paramedic and individual problem solver. In other words, I'm using God only for special emergencies.
Seeking God, on the other hand, takes time. It requires me to stop what I'm doing in order to have a deep conversation with God. I get so used to rushing my prayers that I forget Whom I'm actually addressing. However, when I intentionally set aside my busyness or anxiety, and patiently explain to God what I feel or fear, then I humbly listen for His counsel, wisdom, and teaching. Because I focus on God and not on me, my fears subside and my anxieties diminish.
I think that this is why Jesus invites all of us to come to Him when we're weary or burdened. It takes time, as well as personal intent, to respond to such an invitation. Christ means us to use it as a relationship builder with Him, and not as a problem solver for us. He wants us to seek Him, to be given His answer, and then to be delivered from all our fears.
Points to ponder: What is currently making me most anxious? Am I willing to seek the Lord and to take time to talk to Him about it?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know us so well, and You are fully aware of what is presently troubling us. You're waiting for us to set aside time to let You know how we feel, so that You can embrace us in the midst of our fears, hearken to our issues, and offer Your counsel. Teach us to pray again and to trust You completely. Amen.
Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (NKJV)
One Sunday recently, our minister spoke on the passage in the Sermon on the Mount that begins, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life …" (Matthew 6:25 NKJV) and the topic was worry. The message was very much about the things over which we worry. What to do? Turn to God in prayer. It was a good message.
Later, I was meditating on "worry". It's really fear. I am no stranger to fear — I have fears, and they limit me in all kinds of ways. Things happen in our lives. Life is scary. We can get hurt. We can lose things. I lost my mother, suddenly, when I was six. There's a root of fear right there. Fear often makes us do and say crazy things. It can stall our brains, too. The enemy of our souls uses fear as a weapon against us. He raises fears in our minds and stampedes us into panic. So many people suffer from anxiety these days! Wow! Fear.
So, there's some work to do to go back and find the roots of fear in our minds and hearts, and to re-define ourselves and our lives, not seeing ourselves as weak and helpless to cope with life's problems, but in terms of what we are in Christ: I am a child of God. I am precious in His sight. I am forgiven and redeemed from the enemy's hand. Though the enemy may do his worst, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37 NKJV) We need to stop and look fear in the face and say, "Oh no you don't! I am in Christ and 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'" (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)
If I find myself awake in the night stressing about something, I ask myself, What's the worst that can happen? Can I live through that? Has God got this? Yes. Okay then! This past year, I had breast cancer, COVID-19, and a hysterectomy. God said, I've got this, and I wasn't afraid. I didn't worry. This year, I will have back surgery — hopefully soon. God's got this!
To help raise your faith, there's a great song to listen to:
I raise a hallelujah
In the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah
Louder than the unbelief
– Jonathan David Helser and Melissa Helser
Prayer: Lord God our Father, thank You for giving us victory through Your Son Jesus. Teach us to walk in strength and victory each day, defeating the power of darkness and fear over us. Amen!
Have you faced storms in your life? I think that I could safely ask who of us has not! Now the question is, do we react like a turkey or an eagle?
A turkey and an eagle react differently to the threat of a storm. A turkey reacts by running under the barn, hoping the storm won't come near. On the other hand, an eagle leaves the security of its nest and spreads its wings to ride the air currents of the approaching storm, knowing they will carry it higher in the sky than it could soar on its own. Based on your reaction to the storms of life, which are you? A turkey or an eagle? – Anne Graham Lotz Almost four years ago, when my husband, Bob, died of a sudden heart attack as the cruise ship on which we were sailing was entering the first port stop of San Juan, Puerto Rico, I had never faced a storm like it! Burying my head or hiding out from the experience were not options for me. Of course, there is the certain brain fog that descends on one who has just experienced such a trauma. But through it all, the texts, online messages, and important FaceTime sessions with family back in Canada certainly helped me to experience God's tangible love. Even strangers were answers to prayers offered on my behalf! They all helped me to spread my wings to ride the air currents higher than I could have possibly soared on my own.
I thank God for bringing me this far in my journey. Even though tears still flow sometimes, waves of grief have lessened, and they are not like a tsunami threatening to knock me down. I am stronger than before this experience, as I have reached out to God regularly in prayer. I find that I call out to Him whenever and wherever, because I know that He hears and He cares. I know that He's with me at all times and in all places! Thanks be to God for His steadfast love!
I urge you to join me in depending on Him throughout our life experiences, even when storms threaten.
A chorus, based on Isaiah 40:31, has such meaning to me!
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings as eagles.
They shall run and not be weary.
They shall walk and not faint.
Teach me, Lord, teach me, Lord, to wait!
– Arthur B. Whiting, 1903
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing love, Your closeness, and Your strength that help us, especially when we face the storms of life. You are a great God and greatly to be praised! In Jesus' precious name, we pray. Amen!
Isaiah 55:10-11 – As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)
Some time ago, a reader of the PresbyCan devotional responded this way to a devotional of mine that had appeared: "Thanks for continuing to put the world back together, one inspired thought at a time."
As I read her words, God really spoke to me concerning the truth of them. For when God inspires and prompts people to write devotionals or to read them, His Word goes forth from His heart to our hearts, and it accomplishes His purpose. It does what He desires and achieves the purpose for which He sent it. It waters our souls, our beings, which in turn puts the world back together just a little bit more, because that is what God does. The chaos which the sin within us and around us creates, He turns into order — His good and perfect order.
After all, consider how many times you have read a PresbyCan devotional and God has spoken to your heart by giving you an answer that you were searching for, or by lifting up your discouraged or depressed spirit. How many times has a devotional set things right for you that day? How many times have you been prompted to forward a devotional to someone who came to mind as you read it? Only God knows how many times that action has brought others just that much closer to Him, because that's what God's Word does. It goes about His business, putting the world back together one inspired thought at a time.
So, the next time when we feel a nudge from the Holy Spirit, let's pay attention and follow what He is saying to us, for this is God speaking to us. This is His Word through His Spirit. When we pay attention and do as He instructs, each one of us will be continuing to put the world back together again one inspired thought at a time, because that's what God does in and through those who listen and obey. It's quite awe-inspiring when you think about it, isn't it?!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Word that does not return to You empty but accomplishes what You desire and achieves the purpose for which You sent it. Grant us sensitive ears and hearts to hear Your Word through Your Holy Spirit that we might act upon it and continue to put the world back together again one inspired thought at a time. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 8:2 – Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. (ESV)
Bianca, a staff member at my residence, sent me a picture of her baby, Emma, who arrived early in November, 2022. Even though Emma was sleeping only two hours at a time, her mother told me how wonderful she was, and that Emma's father was thrilled to see his baby every time he came home from work. Emma is off to a good start!
I was reminded of how much and how quickly babies learn from the adults around them.
We often wait to hear a baby's first words — "Mama" or "Dada" or whatever. In speaking about this with a young doctor, Jacob told me that the first word that he ever said was "truck". Obviously, his parents had repeatedly commented about his love of playing with trucks.
In discussing this subject with a senior manager at my residence, Alberto said that his young son didn't speak until he was three. His older sister took care of him — including doing his talking! His first word was "Google". Again, being a bright young child, he listened to his parents, and even at his young age, learned about this newly developed search tool.
While there are many lessons that we can learn from the young people saying "truck" or "Google", one of the most important lessons is that babies listen and learn from those of us who are older.
What a responsibility that we have to be careful what we say! How sad it is when we hear a youngster defiantly saying "Mine!" and being unwilling to share with a playmate.
Even more ominous are the current trending of "goblin mode" and "gaslighting". Google them and you won't like what you read!
I believe that it is much safer and better to follow God's wise direction:
Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (KJV)
As we interact with the babies in our families, let's be careful to choose our words wisely and be good examples both for them and their parents.
Prayer: Dear Father, help us to listen, to learn, and to help to train others to follow You. Amen.
It was a cold January morning — and one of those rare ones in the Pacific Northwest of the USA when we waken to a fresh blanket of snow covering the ground. It was also garbage pickup morning, which meant that I had to have the garbage bins at the curb by 8:00 a.m. I generally took the bins out the night before to be sure that they were already in place for pickup, but our neighbourhood had recently had a rash of uninvited guests who sometimes came down the street and rummaged through the trash before the garbage truck arrived. So, on this particular pickup day, I had intended to wait until morning before setting out the bins.
Bundling up and stepping out my front door, the first thing that I noticed was a fresh set of footprints in the snow leading from the street to the garbage bins, which were in their normal place by the fence. "Oh, no!" I thought. "Someone has already come and rummaged through the garbage anyway!" It was only when I got close that I saw that the bins were empty. To my chagrin, I realized that the footprints were those of the garbage truck driver who had already come and gone. He had gone beyond the call of duty by climbing out of his truck and coming over to empty my bins rather than simply driving by because they weren't at the curb as they should have been.
This was not the first time that I had jumped too quickly to the wrong conclusion, assuming the worst rather than the best of a situation. I have sometimes acted on a false impression, later learning that my interpretation of something was incorrect. Not only have I misjudged someone else's motives, but I have also felt smug in the process.
That makes two strikes against me — pride and judging someone else. Here's what Jesus said about this:
Matthew 7:1-4 – Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, "Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye," when you can't see past the log in your own eye? (NLT)
Let's be slow in passing judgment on other people. Let's be careful to gather true facts lest we jump too quickly to a wrong conclusion.
Prayer: Dear Lord, who are we to judge our neighbour? Give us grace to accept others for who they are rather than for who we think that they ought to be. Give us grace to relinquish judgment to You, knowing that You will hold each of us accountable for our own actions. Most of all, thank You for both offering and granting forgiveness when we confess our sin. Amen.
Psalm 22:1a – My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (NIV)
Feeling forsaken can make things appear as if life's caving in.
I've always thought that of all people who should stand shoulder to shoulder in tough times, it should be family. Recently, a particular family member had the means to help my wife and me through a financially difficult period but chose not to. I felt forsaken … actually angry.
Examples of feeling forsaken are rife. Thousands of children feel rejected by parents who have abandoned them. Perhaps, they couldn't afford to raise them; maybe they didn't want to. Forsaken spouses join their multitude. Spouses have walked out on them for someone else because they didn't love them any more, or because they were tired of being married. Even friends sometimes forsake friends. There's just something about tragedies that leave us feeling forsaken, too.
The psalmist also felt forsaken — by God. His words were prophetic of what actually happened to Jesus when He was dying on the cross because of our sins. The psalmist doesn't give the reason that he's feeling forsaken. Perhaps, he was just writing Hebrew poetry that he knew people could identify with for thousands of years. I have a feeling, though, that someone had forsaken him, or some difficulty had assaulted him. Because of it, he imagined that God had also.
When hard times strike, it's easy to think that God has abandoned us. When others forsake us, it's easy to transfer our feelings of abandonment to God. Staking our faith in what the Bible teaches is essential when we feel abandoned, and the Bible says that God will never forsake us. Others might, but He won't. Regardless of how we might treat Him, He'll never leave. He's the only friend we can find about whom we can say that with confidence.
When we feel forsaken, we can remember how easy it is to confuse feelings with reality. Feelings often change within the same day and even the same minute. How we feel may or may not reflect reality. If we feel forsaken by God, our feelings are never mimicking reality. God is forever by our side to comfort, guide, and instruct us. When others walk out, He stands nearby.
In those times when we feel forsaken by others — particularly God — we must depend on faith, not feelings. Our relationship with God is built on truths and realities. Walking by faith helps us to experience His presence even when we don't feel it.
On the third day after Jesus repeated the psalmist's words about being forsaken, God's very presence with Jesus was manifested in His being raised from the tomb. When you're feeling forsaken, remember that God will never abandon you.
Prayer: Father, we thank You that we can always depend on You to remain by our side in the good times and the bad. Amen.
Scrubbing the gingerbread clock was no easy task for me. It was completely blackened with smoke deposited over many seasons of woodburning. For years, that clock had sat on a shanty floor behind a cabinet — all but forgotten.
Imagine being that clock and experiencing yourself to be forgotten and deteriorating. Elderly folk may know that feeling. Young folk may sense that happening to their skills and potential. Life's trials can cause us to feel unappealing and pushed aside. The psalmist surely felt like that when, in anguish, he wrote,
Psalm 119:83a – I am like a wineskin in the smoke. (NIV)
Wineskins were used to store liquids or solid items. These containers were sometimes left to hang. Over time, the outside skin would become withered and blackened by the smoke from cooking fires. Meanwhile, the precious contents stayed safe, retaining their purpose and usefulness.
A believer's life is like that:
2 Corinthians 4:16b – Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (NIV)
Unless we grasp this truth, we'll be preoccupied with the outward while neglecting the inner being. Inner deprivation weakens our ability to endure trials. Psalm 119 reveals the solution. The psalmist constantly renewed his inward being — as in these examples:
- Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees. (verse 83 NIV)
- If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. (verse 92 NIV)
- The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes. (verse 95 NIV)
These verses nudge me beyond my bland view of God's "decrees", "laws", "statutes", and similar terms. The psalmist never could have endured trials if these words meant little more than a written code for human behaviour. No, this is about God, God's behaviour, God's ways, His ordering of the universe, His timeless promises, His redemptive purposes. It's also about God's tender touch on us, His kiss, His delight in us.
Like the psalmist, that gives me a lot to "ponder", "remember", and "delight in". Such a habit will surely help to renew me inwardly and preserve me for God's purposes.
Back to the old clock. When I scrubbed away the soot from the glass door, I noticed that the inside works were well preserved. With the touch of a master repairman, this clock can again fulfill its purpose: to exude its soothing sounds and help people order their daily lives.
Do you inwardly long for the Father's masterful renewing touch? Then, consider this personal prayer request, drawn from Ephesians 1 and 3.
Prayer: My God and Father, enlighten me inwardly with Your wisdom and revelation. Strengthen my heart's capacity to know You, to grasp the magnitude of Your love, and to fathom the enormous power which You exerted in raising Christ and seating Him in the heavenly realms, above all other powers and authorities. I seek You, Father, to fill me with immeasurably more than all that I could ask or imagine. Amen.
A church that I once attended had a truly gifted minister. This man was articulate, yet compassionate; learned, yet able to explain Bible teaching clearly; and humorous, yet never in poor taste. He had a fine singing voice and played the guitar. One sermon that he gave was no sermon at all, but to me it was the most memorable. Dressed in a Victorian suit and top hat, he enacted a one-man play about the life of George Müller, a Christian leader in Bristol, England, who opened an orphanage, but never asked for any donations to support the ministry. Müller trusted only God for financial and spiritual help, which always arrived right on time! By this, thousands of children were saved, housed, and educated.
The writer to the Hebrews recalled many Bible heroes to encourage the Christian community. I would have thought that the writer would have chosen exemplary people like my pastor or Müller as role models. But no, he called in the misfits!
Hebrews 11:32-33,39-40 – And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. … And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. (NKJV)
Why choose Barak for the Faith Hall of Fame? He was very hesitant about God's call to win a battle. Samson had God-given supernatural strength, but he made bad decisions and rarely asked for God's help. Jephthah was used as a great general, but also made foolish promises. King David was a legendary man with exemplary faith at times, but he made terrible decisions in obtaining Bathsheba as his wife, killing her first husband, and failing to be a good father. Why use them as examples of faith? They screwed up, messed up, and led imperfect lives, not obeying God unless pushed to do so.
Regardless of their failures, God showed that it was by His power alone that victories were won, that miracles were performed, that lives and the histories of nations were changed. They had faith in God, even if they did not knowingly obtain the salvation by faith alone in Jesus that is offered to us. The world's history is in the hands of Him Who works all things "together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28 NKJV)
Are difficult times and hardships discouraging you? Can you identify with the people of the past with imperfect lives? Only the power of God made possible the remarkable stories of Barak and the others, just as today, Jesus' gift of salvation makes it possible for us to receive God's presence and enablement for the role that He has for us to play. The people of the past obeyed God, not really understanding what He was doing, but trusting in His power. Let us take courage from the stories of the misfits and claim the same strength from God to follow Him today.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the salvation that You alone provided by the gift of our Saviour, Jesus. You have brought joy and hope to the world that You love. In His name, we pray. Amen.
Ephesians 1:18 – I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. (NIV)
"My goodness, these glasses are dirty! I can barely read." I'd just grabbed a pair from the table to help me read the paper. I pulled them off and realized that it wasn't dirt that made them blurry — I'd picked up the single vision glasses that I use when working on my computer.
I have three different pairs of glasses: one for reading, one for the computer, and one with trifocals for every other situation. All three help me to see more clearly in a variety of situations. But just as I depend on these three for physical sight, I also need to depend on the various lenses of God's Word for spiritual sight. As Michael W. Smith's song based on today's verse says, "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord … I want to see You."
Psalm 119:18 – Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. (NIV)
Have you ever had the experience of reading a verse in the Bible for the fifth or the tenth or even the hundredth time over the years, and all of a sudden, a wonderful new thought from that Scripture pops into your head? You have found something new that was there all the time, waiting for you. About thirty years ago, when I was well into adulthood, I "found" Jeremiah 29:11, the verse about God having a plan for us, though surely, I had read or heard it multiple times. It soon became my life verse.
We must be open to God's leading as we read the Bible, waiting for Him to open our eyes to all that He has for us. We must avoid using the Bible for "bibliomancy", an unbiblical form of divination, where we come to the Bible with a problem, randomly open it, point to a verse, and hope that it gives us the answer. Instead, we need to pray for wisdom as we read: wisdom to interpret Scripture carefully and wisdom to make the appropriate application to our lives.
The Bible is full of wisdom and wonder, and through it, we can find many ways to worship God. In it, we can find answers to life's problems and encouragement for our daily needs. We must make it a part of our daily lives and pray for insight as we read. What can we do today to make this happen?
Prayer: Lord, "Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me; place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free. Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God, Thy will to see. Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!" (Clara H. Scott) Amen.
When my granddaughters, Jenna and Evie, were just preschoolers, they liked to play a game called "Don't spill the beans". This little game has been around a long time; in fact, the game's 1960s version used real kidney beans. It has been a favourite for many years. There is a tipping bowl that players place beans into until the bowl tips over and spills out the beans. The unlucky one who put in that last bean receives all the beans into his pile. The object of the game is to get rid of all your beans.
I thought of this game when I read a verse in the book of Revelation that says that the prayers of believers are collected in gold bowls. Can you even fathom that? Our prayers are so important that they are collected and wait in gold bowls as incense or a fragrant aroma to the Father.
Revelation 5:8 – And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people. (NLT)
Our prayers are as fragrant to the Father as incense. I think of the prayers offered at this confusing time in history: requests for healing, both physical and cultural; petitions we raise for our leaders, with all the issues that surround them; prayers for our economy and people hurting financially; pleadings for our churches, that they may be awakened from sleep and go forth with the gospel.
Unlike the whimsical game when the bowl is tipped, we are not the losers, but winners, for because of God's everlasting love for His people, when the bowls are full, they tip, and the answers fall to earth in immeasurable blessings!
I take great delight in thinking about the gold bowls waiting for my prayers to arrive, and even more, the answers being poured out. Let us never miss an opportunity to raise our petitions to our Lord. May we think often of the gold bowls that wait for a filling of our prayers. Prayers to the Lord should be always on our lips and in our hearts. Speak to Him as a friend, for that is what He is. We are winners when we spend time in prayer. May we all find the miracle of talking to our Father God!
Prayer: Heavenly Lamb Who was slain, You are worthy to be praised and to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing. We lift our precious prayers to heaven to be placed in the gold bowls. May the bowls tip to shower us with answers to those prayers. Amen.
In an instant, his anger caused him to sin, and shattered his dream of entering the Promised Land.
When I first read this verse, "Be angry and do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26a ESV), it sounded like a contradiction. It might surprise some gentle folk that anger is not always a sin. It depends on what we choose to do with it.
It was okay that Moses was frustrated and angry with the rebellious Israelites, whom he had led out of the horrible conditions of Pharaoh's Egypt. Despite God providing food and water along the way, they complained and disobeyed God over and over. To bring forth water in Numbers 20, God told Moses to speak to a rock, but instead, he lost his temper and struck it twice. That act of anger and failure to obey God as commanded cost Moses dearly. He lost the privilege of leading Israel into the Promised Land.
It is important to remember that our Lord is no stranger to anger. Psalm 7:11b tells us that "God is angry with the wicked every day." (NKJV)
How often we push the envelope and do things that God disapproves of! When our need for justification holds more value than extending Christlike love, we can be sure that we are not producing the kind of righteousness that God is looking for. The sickening stench of its aftermath replaces any desire for self-justification. We should be mindful that God chose love, grace, and mercy over anger, even though we don't deserve such love.
Friends, when anger remains, it festers and brews until it erupts and becomes uncontrollable. Like bad coffee, if left heated overnight, it tastes rancid and develops an unpleasant bitterness by morning. Unresolved bitterness can develop into rage, a powerful emotion capable of destroying whatever or whoever stands in its way.
Ephesians 4:26 – Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. (ESV)
Yes, there are things going on in the world that should make us angry. The Washington Post recently wrote that "Domestic violence cases have spiked during the pandemic." Sex trafficking, child abuse, war, and racism fill our news headlines, and should make us angry. That is the time to pray for the Holy Spirit to give us a voice — God's voice — for those in need!
Here is some further Scriptural insight on how to replace anger with forgiveness, self-control, and kindness:
Proverbs 29:11 – A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. (ESV)
Ephesians 4:31-32 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV)
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. Remove any anger, annoyance, and animosity from our lives and replace them with steadfast trust in You. Fill our hearts with compassion instead of conflict, humility instead of hatred, and faith instead of bitterness. We ask for these things through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)
Many years ago, during a trip to Canada's capital city, Ottawa, I visited one of their fine art galleries. Among the many beautiful pieces, the only ones which have stuck in my mind were all by the same artist. Though I do not remember the name of the artist, I do remember the artist's style. He used black dots. His pictures were all created by dots — hundreds of thousands of tiny black dots — which in turn created a total picture. One dot or even a few dots said nothing. But all the dots put together in the right way said it all. I found it a most intriguing style.
The other day, when for some reason I was thinking about this man's style, it reminded me of God's style: His plan for all eternity which He is bringing about, one dot — or in God's case, one person — at a time. For each one of us is God's workmanship, and each one of us has been created to do good works in Christ Jesus, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Alone, these good works which we do may not attract much, if any, attention. But when the good work of each and every person throughout all of history is put together, I can only imagine the incredibly beautiful and intricate work of art that we shall one day be delighted and awestruck to see.
As we go about our day today, let's remember how significant each one of us is and how the work that we do for Christ impacts others. To us, it may not seem like we are doing much, if anything at all. But if we are seeking to live our lives for Jesus in all that we think and do and say, with His Word being our rule, then we can know that it all counts. For just as each dot of the artist's work was responsible for making up the whole, so too, it is with us.
Prayer: Father God, we thank You that each one of us is important and significant, and that the work that we do for You is important and counts in ways that perhaps we will never know or see before eternity. But You know and see it all, Lord, and You are weaving it all together to form a piece of beauty so spectacular that all the angels in heaven will rejoice at its eventual unveiling. We praise You and thank You for this. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)
Recently, I have had the chutzpah to update my desktop computer. The undertaking has also involved the updating of my own technological skills due to the advent of new gizmos and widgets. It has been at least seven years since I built the last computer.
As a part of the process of updating the hardware, I decided that the operating system could be updated to the latest Windows 11. Sadly, I found that there were continual issues that prevented a successful update. The Microsoft Health Checker only said NO! It involved some techy stuff that was not sufficiently explained by the machine that said NO.
One key issue was that I had replaced my old hard disk drive with a new solid-state drive. Eventually, I found that it had been formatted incorrectly for the new Windows 11 to run. So, after days of trying to work it out by changing everything else in the start-up, I found that I was required to use a special programme that would convert it from the old format to the new one. However, under the new configuration, there is a far greater capacity for changes, security, and safety.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV)
When we become Christians, the old pre-Christian being has gone, and we have become a new creation, just like a newborn baby. The outside shell may have stayed the same — with a few scratch marks — but the inner workings have been irreversibly changed. Jesus brings a radical shift in our being. In reality, that is a little simplistic, because our redemption is an ongoing process that carries on until we die — well, it is for me, as I continually rush off at a tangent only to be called back by our faithful Shepherd.
In passing, I noticed that in the new setup, a light no longer lit up that shows when the storage area is being accessed. I checked the light, and it worked fine. In the start-up routine, I had put the computer in "stealth mode", which switched off all the lights, including this indicator. Our Christian lives can become like that: we can unwittingly go into stealth mode and switch off the light of Christ in us so that we no longer shine for Jesus.
So today, may you pray with me to ask Jesus to come into our inner selves once more and switch on the light of Christ to give glory to Jesus our Saviour.
Prayer: Lord, in us and through us, "Shine, Jesus, shine. … Send forth Your Word, Lord, and let there be light." (Graham Kendrick) In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Deuteronomy 28:66-67 – Your life shall hang in doubt before you. Night and day you shall be in dread and have no assurance of your life. In the morning you shall say, "If only it were evening!" and at evening you shall say, "If only it were morning!" because of the dread that your heart shall feel, and the sights that your eyes shall see. (ESV)
I have an acquaintance who wakes up each and every day of her life with the absolute conviction that life is just awful and will never get any better. While trying to find help for her to cope with this anxiety, I found that this condition actually has a name — awfulizing — defined as imagining a situation to be as bad as it can possibly be. I also learned that this morning dread is associated with an elevated level of the hormone cortisol (often called the "stress hormone").
The Bible is no stranger to those suffering anxiety and dread, as reflected in today's passage from Deuteronomy. Assuming the worst is rarely helpful. People who study this refer to three contributing elements:
- Insecurity — something bad is going to happen
- Helplessness — there is nothing that I can do
- Isolation — there is no one to help me
Those of us who follow the way of Jesus should help people who find the days and nights filled with dread and anxiety and despair. We can challenge such persons to focus on what they can control. We can invite them to keep a journal and write down what they might be grateful for. We can encourage them to list at least three things that they are looking forward to. We can remind them of the Scripture which says, "I want you to be free from anxieties." (1 Corinthians 7:32a ESV)
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (ESV)
Prayer: God, help us to cast all our anxieties on You. We know that You care for us, but sometimes, we forget. Thank You that You have told us, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27 ESV) Amen.
1 Peter 1:3-4 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade — kept in heaven for you. (NIV)
When I was a young parent, I made a rule that my children hold my hand when crossing streets or in crowded places. I wanted to make sure that they were safe or that they didn't wander away. I've often seen children just automatically reach up to grasp the parents' hands because they know that they can rely on their present and strong help. Holding on sometimes starts with the parents reaching down with love and the desire to protect, while at other times, it begins with the children reaching up for reassurance and comfort. Learning to trust that loving presence is so important to children.
Recently, I watched a travelogue that included a visit to an old church building. The interior was full of beautiful designs throughout. I imagined what the worshippers might have found meaningful as they spent time sitting in the old wooden pews. The sturdy end pieces of the old oak pews had been carefully carved with symbols of interest. Several of these end pieces had images of a simple anchor. The person guiding the tourists explained that the anchor is the traditional symbol of hope. Perhaps, worshippers whose lives revolved around fishing or sea travel might meditate on the meaning of that visual reminder. The traditional shape of the carved anchor also made its top portion look like a cross. Recognizing a cross in the anchor brings to mind the reason that we have hope in the finished work of our Saviour Jesus Christ. To work best, an anchor must attach to a reliable rock that won't move. Jesus has been referred to as the Rock of Ages. Like children who gain confidence when they hold on to their parents, we receive hope from our anchor in Jesus, the Rock, as we live in the present shifting times.
Isaiah 26:4 – Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. (NIV)
Hebrews 6:19a – We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (NIV)
Dear friends, consider afresh the gift of living hope given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That living hope sustains, anchors, and steadies us as we face the future and wait for His return. Let us trust daily in God's plans and provisions for us.
Jeremiah 29:11 – "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)
Prayer: Our Father, it is so reassuring to realize Your constant presence with us and to know that we can trust in the strong anchor of faith that You have given, which is made secure in the solid Rock of Ages. Help us always to hold on to Your promises and to trust You as You hold on to us. Amen.
Matthew 6:6 – But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. (NLT)
Some silence is golden.
The sound of silence was written by Paul Simon — of the duo Simon and Garfunkle — over several months between 1963 and 1964. In 1966, the song — which tells of a man who failed to communicate — hit number one on the Billboard 100.
Although silence can have damaging effects, it can also be golden. After teaching more than one hundred middle school students daily, I'm ready for silence when I get home. Following one end-of-first-semester party for our middle schoolers at the local bowling alley — one that my wife attended with me — my wife finally understood why I want silence when I arrive at home.
Jesus thought a great deal of silence also. People almost constantly mobbed Him, wanting to hear Him teach, see Him perform miracles, or do something for them. Along with those who wanted something were the religious hound dogs who constantly looked for some reason to arrest and even kill Him. Getting away by Himself or with His disciples was essential for maintaining His sanity and that of the disciples. It is for ours also.
A little white noise is good. My wife and I sleep year-round with fans blowing and the sound of crickets chirping. When there is complete silence, we can't sleep. But the other types of noises that often characterize a day — loud voices, machines, vehicles, horns, train whistles, screaming kids, shouting customers, television shows, and Internet voices — can drown out the voice that we most critically need to hear. While God can speak amid the noise, we're more apt not to hear Him when noise abounds. Jesus says that we need to get in our prayer closets — whether we take that literally or not.
Silence helps with focus. Not only do we want to hear God's voice, but we also want to focus on what He's saying. We need to hear Him clearly so that we can think soberly. Silence is necessary for accomplishing this task.
Obedience is easier when we can hear God unmistakably and focus on what He's saying. When we obey, peace follows. We reach peace when we submit to God's will and consistently follow it. Anything less will produce noise.
Let each of us find a place and time daily to be silent before God.
Prayer: Father, we long for silence so that we can hear Your Spirit speak clearly to our spirits. Amen.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (NLT)
Many years ago, a young girl in my grade one class stood out from the other students in a few ways. To begin with, her speech was hard to understand, and her actions belied her actual age. She often had tantrums, and would sometimes run out of the classroom, screaming. She was not able to keep up with the other children, who finished their work easily and quickly. Today, she might be said to have "special needs". Her parents were shocked when I told them that she was being uncooperative in the classroom, and they complained about me to other parents, and even to the teacher whose room was nearby. "Is my child really as disruptive as Mrs. B. says?" she asked.
"Oh, yes, sometimes, she's off the wall!" replied my loyal co-worker. The whole situation was troubling. Another parent decided to sit in for the morning while I taught, and she saw for herself the theatrics that went on. "You're doing a great job!" she said to me later. Her encouragement and support comforted me, and I was able to weather the rest of the school year.
The word "comfort" has several meanings, such as consolation, encouragement, support, or strengthening aid. It's like what the mother of another one of my grade one students offered when she came to the school to soothe her child who was hysterical at the thought of getting a routine injection.
In the original Greek of the New Testament, the word "comfort" in today's passage is paraklesis, close to the Greek word parakletos, which Jesus named the Holy Spirit, variously translated as Comforter, Strengthener, Standby, Helper, or Advocate.
The parent who encouraged me was a believer; her source of comfort was God the Father Himself. As God's messenger, she passed along to me the same encouragement that was given to her, since I was unable to appropriate it in the heat of the moment.
Since then, I've pondered the responsibility of being an encourager to those around me. The situation in that particular classroom is one of the life experiences that has prepared me to see the various ways that I can serve others. God has comforted me many times, pouring encouragement into my life either directly or through others. In a world that needs encouragement, will you join me in passing on this same comfort, encouragement, and support to others who are troubled?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being the source of all comfort. Help us, in turn, to pass on to those around us the comfort and encouragement that You give us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
I think we've all heard the expression, "If it feels good, do it." Recently, I read a comment from an art instructor, whose newsletter I receive, advising artists not to get lost in theory and analysis, but just to go with "your gut feeling": if something feels right, then that's all the justification that we need to do it. That advice may work well for a painting, but it can have bad consequences in life. I know that my feelings tell me lies daily! We can get manipulated by our moods.
God wants our lives to be characterized by faith. The writer to the Hebrews spoke of Moses, a man of faith.
Hebrews 11:24-27 – By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. (NKJV)
I am sure that Moses didn't always feel like doing the right thing! We need his kind of faith that stands strong against our feelings.
People who achieve success do things that others are not willing to do, even if they do not feel like doing them. Great athletes spend countless days in training, and professional musicians many hours practicing. If we are to escape the trap of being ruled by our emotions, we will spend more time with God in prayer and in His Word. Moses was not perfect, but he was persistent in his faith and actions, and he succeeded only because he saw the invisible God and listened to His voice. Faith and determination to succeed go hand in hand as we plow through every seemingly hopeless situation, as we pick ourselves up when we are down, and as we are faithful when pressured to surrender.
Let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Lord, and not on today's problems that weigh us down. His power is ever present to keep us going, and all that we need to do is to ask Him for it.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the power that only You can provide to keep us going, even when we don't feel like it. We are so grateful that we can see You in faith, and so endure. Amen.
Galatians 3:28 – There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (NRSV)
During my time working in New York City, USA, I would regularly attend midday prayer at St. Thomas Church. Its Anglo-Catholic style is very high church even by Episcopal Church standards. The priests faced the altar when performing the eucharist. Evensong was sung three evenings a week. The altar would be blessed with incense — "all the smells and bells" as a colleague at work once described it. Initially, all of this was a bit off-putting for one raised as a staunch Presbyterian with a good dose of Dutch Reformed Church lurking in the background. However, over time, I learned not only to tolerate the ritual, but to realize that it could be a guidepost to a fuller worship experience. Besides, the Episcopal Church was the only alternative for weekday Protestant worship in midtown Manhattan. All the other Protestant denominations closed their doors, often literally, during the week.
As I settled into the routine of midday prayer at St. Thomas, I became more and more conscious of the variety of those worshipping. There were all types of people: Asian, Latino, African, Afro-American, etc., as well as the archetypical white Anglo-Saxon. Overalled janitors knelt next to pinstriped tax attorneys to partake of the common cup at the altar rail. It was a perfect picture of modern-day diversity that would have warmed the heart of any human resources manager. Yet, during my whole time at St. Thomas, I do not remember the rector or any of the other priests ever using the word "diversity", much less dwelling on the topic. Instead, their singular focus was, as they said, "to vigorously preach Jesus Christ without stammering".
We live in a world that increasingly and shrilly insists on dividing us by race, gender, economic status, historical grievances, and religion — all supposedly in the name of celebrating our differences but, in fact, serving to divide us and, all too often, to set us at each other's throats, figuratively, if not literally.
As Christians, rather than focusing on what separates us from one another — race, gender, economic status, pedigree, degree of victimhood — may our sole emphasis be on the faith that unites us all and allows us to truly call one another brother and sister.
Prayer: Father God, grant us the wisdom and courage to reject calls for division, however artfully they may disguised, and to boldly proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ as the one thing that trumps all else and truly unites us as a single people in Christ. Amen.
How much does your family know about you? My dad did not share his life and thoughts with us, though I believe that he was tormented by memories of his time as a prisoner of war in World War II. Many times, he would be deep in thought, where he did allow visitors. I have often wished that I had more information about him. In his boyhood in McLean, Illinois, USA, he made slingshots and learned to shoot so well that on a bet of one nickel, he shot the hat off a man walking across the street. I would love to know more about him in his childhood. Unfortunately, his story died when he did. Did he have a good time growing up on a farm? How did he feel about fishing at the creek in the early morning? Did he think about God? Was he close to his mother? Did he do things with his father? How terrible were his 26 months as a prisoner in Germany during the war? Did he call into the heavens for an unseen Father to help him? Did he recall his mother's poem about her God?
The story of our lives is invaluable to our children and grandchildren, even if they might not fully realize it now. With my own family, I have shared many stories in these last years, and will do so in days to come. It's amazing how many memories that I have! I love writing, so it's easy sharing the many stories that clutter this old woman's mind after 74 years of living.
Deuteronomy 4:9 – But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. (NLT)
For you who do not love writing, I encourage you to find ways to share. The Bible reminds us many times to tell your children your stories, especially the times that God has saved you, blessed you, guided you, loved you, and forgiven you.
Psalm 71:18 – So even to old age and grey hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. (ESV)
Talk with your children about the Lord as you walk along. As you bait his hook sitting on the bank of a creek, maybe tell him of an adventure that you had as a child. It's even better if you can recall God blessing you or protecting you. Tell her how important praying is in your life, and recall how your family has been the recipient of great answers to prayers. Put Him first in your life so that those who come behind you will find you faithful to our God.
Prayer: Dear Lord, we come to You to ask You to bring to our minds the glorious blessings that have come from Your hand. May we never stop sharing Your touch on our lives! Amen.
I love a book of moderate length (around 300 pages or less) with a straightforward plot and a reasonable number of characters. I prefer not to waste my time on a l-o-n-g book with a lengthy cast of characters and a convoluted plot. The same goes for a movie, play, or television show. I'm sure that my family would prefer to watch something without my constantly asking, "Who is that?" "What are they doing?" or "What's happening now?"
So, how do I wrap my mind around the Bible? This priceless tome is a compilation of the writings of many authors spanning thousands of years. Its cast of characters is endless, the plot lines swing wildly back and forth, and even the literary genres differ greatly from book to book. Yet, though it was written by human authors, we know that the Bible is fully trustworthy as God's message for us today.
2 Timothy 3:16 – The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. (TLB)
So how is it possible to read such a book with any understanding? For me, the key is to read it slowly and carefully, bit by bit, chapter by chapter, book by book. I have read through the entire Bible several times over my lifetime, but I prefer not to turn it into a marathon, trying to read it through in a certain length of time. My purpose and goal is the growth and understanding that come from reading God's message to the world.
My daily Scripture reading usually consists of portions from the Old Testament and the New Testament, a psalm, and a verse or two from Proverbs. I love it when these portions — and sometimes a thought from my devotional reading — interlace in some way. Here's an example of how that recently happened. I read in Psalm 131:1-2 – "Lord, my heart is not proud; I don't look down on others. I don't do great things, and I can't do miracles. But I am calm and quiet, like a baby with its mother. I am at peace, like a baby with its mother." (NCV) Then, a line in my devotional reading for the day read, "I want you to enjoy fully the good things I give you. The best way to do this is to live in the present, refusing to worry about tomorrow." These two interwoven thoughts assured me that I can trust God to keep things sorted out in our deeply divided world.
The Bible truly is our guidebook for life. Let's read and apply it in order to make the most of life.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank You for giving us the Bible as our guidebook for living a rich and fulfilling life. May we read and obey Your commands as evidence of our love for You. Amen.
Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 12:7 – Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (NIV)
First came two pieces of freshly baked bread. One slice was spread with a bit of butter, the other with a hint of mayonnaise. Next, thinly sliced turkey was layered, then tomato. Cucumber adorned the tomato. Extra-old white cheese topped the cucumber and finally romaine lettuce for the crown. As I placed the second slice of bread on top of my delicious sandwich, I was reminded of the body of Christ.
Every single piece which was used to make up my sandwich is delicious and good by itself. But when I put them all together into one marvellous, munchable lunch, their flavours blended beautifully, complementing and bringing the best out of each one.
Likewise, God has blessed each one of His children with at least one spiritual gift. Each one of the gifts is good in itself, as well as valuable to His kingdom. Each one is given to be an encouragement not only to the bearer of the gift but also to others within the Body, or church of Christ. It is only as our gifts work and flow together that the common good of all is achieved.
When the COVID-19 virus raised its ugly head and travelled worldwide, striking down so many and leaving many with ongoing, lingering disabilities, many things were shut down for the safety of all. This included, out of necessity, the churches. The Body had to stay home and watch services on television or over the Internet. Some did and some chose not to. Over the past three years, many became accustomed to not fellowshipping with others and even found that they really didn't miss it that much. Others became disillusioned with the Body, as their pastors or study groups did not stay in touch, and they felt abandoned and alone. Thus, when the churches were allowed to reopen, many chose not to return to fellowship, for one reason or another.
But God calls us not to neglect, not to give up meeting together for the encouragement of one another, that we might spur one another on to love and good deeds and use our gifts for the common good. For as we do so, the Body shines so much more brightly and strongly than when each of us remains in our own small corner, even though we may still be diligently working for God.
So, this week, as the day of worship approaches, if you have been one who has chosen not to go back to our reopened churches, reconsider and take to heart and put into action the words in today's passages from Hebrews and 1 Corinthians.
Prayer: Lord God, You gave us each spiritual gifts and called us together as the body of Christ. May we thus remember not to give up meeting together, and all the more as we see the Day of the Lord approaching. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.
I was a single mother of two, still reeling from my husband's unfaithfulness and our subsequent divorce. I was also just finishing the thesis for my Master's degree. I had met with my advisor regularly, and she had never said that my work was incomplete or lacking. Yet, when I presented my paper, the committee turned it down.
That was a month or so before school started, and I'd already turned in paperwork for the salary increase that I expected due to the additional degree. Getting my thesis rejected meant not only that I didn't get my Master's degree at that point, but also that I had to pay back the additional money that the system had already added into my paycheque. Somehow, the calculations worked out so that I ended up paying back more than I received. This was in the 1970s, when teachers' salaries were even less adequate than they are now. It was definitely one of the storms of life.
What do we do when we encounter — as we all will — one of the storms of life? On one such occasion, after Jesus had been teaching all day, He and the disciples were in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee.
Mark 4:37-39 – Soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to drown?" When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. (NLT)
Even though the disciples were experienced fishermen and were exactly where they were supposed to be, doing what they were supposed to do — in the boat with Jesus on the way to another divine encounter — they were in a terrifying situation. Then, with three small words, the sea was instantly calm and they were safe. What an incredible moment that must have been!
Isaiah 43:2a – When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. (NLT)
I wish that I could report that I sailed through that crisis magnificently, relying on God for peace, comfort, and support. Unfortunately, my immediate response was full of fear and questioning like the disciples: "Lord, don't You care about me and my family?" I'm sure that I drove my friends crazy with my complaints. Instead, I needed to remember, as we all do in any situation, that He is always there to be with us in those "rivers of difficulty". We may get wet, but we won't drown if we cling to Him and allow His love and comfort to flow over and through us.
Let's choose to face our storms, knowing that Jesus is working in our lives, and reach out to Him. He will calm us and be with us through it all, no matter how deep the waters.
Prayer: Father, like the disciples, we often cry out to You for help in the storms of our life. Help us to trust that You know our circumstances and stand ready to rescue us if we will just put our faith in You. Amen.
The crowd collectively held their breath as the "black belt" entered the tournament arena. The young man had defeated other competitors to achieve the chance to win a Grand Champion trophy from his martial arts school. This was his moment.
He stood before the judges, bowed, and began his final performance. To the astonishment of the judges and the crowd, his moves were not the moves of a third-degree black belt in Korean Tang Soo Do, but those of a lower ranking belt. The young man finished and stood motionless, waiting for his score.
Over the loudspeaker, a deep voice echoed, "Ladies and gentlemen, please give my son a round of applause. He chose to perform at a lower rank today, thereby forfeiting the Grand Champion trophy to another student." The young man bowed to the judges and toward the voice.
The voice was that of his father.
The son was the best in the school, but his motive had never been to earn a trophy; it was to honour his father specifically by performing his father's most favourite martial arts techniques. And his father approved. Eventually, he would be taking over the school, continuing his father's legacy.
John 8:29 – And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (KJV)
When Jesus walked on this earth, His purpose was to honour His Father. His mission, ultimately, was to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. During His lifetime, He brought glory to His Father by healing the sick, raising the dead, and caring for children. Often, He experienced misunderstanding and criticism from the religious leaders and even from His own disciples. They did not comprehend Who He was or what His plan was. But Jesus knew that the Father was with Him, and His Father was pleased with Him. That was all that mattered.
In our daily lives, money, power, fame, or promotions call out to us, pulling us into the lie that they will fulfill us. Yet our calling as Christians is to honour our heavenly Father — not primarily to pursue success.
Just as Jesus always performed the will of the Father, so should we follow Jesus' example. How we please God will differ according to our unique gifts. It might involve sacrificial service to our family, giving from our financial resources, volunteering our time at a non-profit, or simply showing patience with others.
May we not strive for pointless trophies. May we not worry about satisfying other people or worrying over their opinions of us. We have a solo audience in heaven. Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus and choose the path of humility and service to others.
For then, someday, we will hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Prayer: Father God, help us to remain purposeful in our actions and focused on Your work through us. Thank You that we can do good in Your name on this earth. We are filled with joy as we please You. We praise Your name above all others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Isaiah 60:1-2 – Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. (NRSV)
I have a friend who is SAD, and she has a really hard time coping with the consequences. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that typically occurs each year during fall and winter. While many just speak about having the winter blahs or the February blues, she has a severe case. For my friend, this is a serious crisis that often puts her in life-or-death situations.
What helps SAD most is … light! Epiphany is about light! Many think that SAD is triggered by the lessening light of the fall and winter. The season of Epiphany speaks of God bringing both light and presence. For Christians, both of these come through Jesus Who is the light of the world and the presence of God among us. Epiphany focusses on the whole wide world and the desperate need for light among all peoples.
Might you bring light to those who are sad around you, those who suffer from the lack of light in their lives?
Prayer: God, when shadows block the light in our lives, may we hold on to the promise that Your light will arise upon us and Your glory will appear over us when we need it most. Thank You, in the name of the light of the world, Jesus Christ. Amen.
2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (NLT)
Some truth never changes.
I don't remember whether Mom and Dad explained the importance of what I was watching on the television or not, but I remember watching with great interest. Just shy of nine years of age, I sat in the den of a church parsonage and stared at a small black-and-white television. The date was July 20, 1969, and American Neil Armstrong was about to be the first man to set foot on the moon.
Although I didn't know it at the time, I discovered later that many people didn't believe that anyone was on the moon. I suppose that they still thought that scientists couldn't launch a space machine and land it on the moon — much less that someone could walk on it. So, despite evidence to the contrary, some didn't believe.
In giving instructions to a young minister, Paul reminded Timothy about the nature of God's Word. He, too, would encounter some who would not believe its message, despite evidence to the contrary.
Almost 2,000 years of history haven't changed anything. Opinions about the Bible vary. Some believe every word to be accurate, while others think that nothing is true. Many are in the middle. They believe that it records truth where faith and some historical matters are addressed but have no confidence when it speaks of scientific things and many historical events. For them, it's mostly a collection of myths, legends, and fairy tales.
We have only two choices when it comes to God's Word: it's either truth entirely or not truth at all. If we can't trust what it says about scientific and historical matters, how can we be sure that it speaks the truth when addressing issues of faith?
Accepting God's Word is an act of faith, just like belief in Jesus Christ as Saviour. We must believe that God breathed the words and that those words show us the way that He wants us to live, think, and speak. Measuring our actions and attitudes by the Bible's teachings shows us where we need to make changes. Believing its teachings and promises and watching them being fulfilled in our life reinforces its validity. What we think about God's Word will show up in our lifestyles.
What do you believe about the Bible?
Prayer: Father, give us the courage to take the step of faith by believing that the Bible is Your trustworthy Word to us. Amen.
During the past number of weeks, I have been struggling through a number of losses. In my head, I think, How do people without faith cope without the comfort of God? How do people cope without His promise, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you"? (Hebrews 13:5b NIV). Usually, these promises give me great comfort and inspire me to be positive. Right now, however, even knowing these promises, my heart is struggling to be grateful, my brain is struggling with the blues, and these factors have made recent weeks challenging.
Perhaps you are familiar with one of the times when Jesus and the disciples were crossing a body of water. Jesus was asleep in the boat when a bad storm arose. In a panic for their lives, the disciples woke Him up.
Luke 8:24b-25a – He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. (NIV)
I recently heard Jesus asking me, "Orlanda, where is your faith?" I was struck by how the story of the stormy water applies in general to the storms of life, and how His reply also instructs us where to look for the answer to life's many difficult and dangerous situations. I have heard this echo in a very special friend, new to Christ, who has repeatedly said to me, "We have to trust; we have to have faith." I can see you nodding your head and echoing, "Of course, we have to have faith. This is the essence of our belief as Christians." Practically, though, what does faith mean when we find ourselves in sad and difficult situations?
Two Bible verses came to me as I pondered this question. First is the biblical definition of faith:
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (NKJV)
Aha! Yes, faith is believing that God has this — no matter how nonsensical, no matter how painful, no matter how personally difficult this situation may be. God sees the unseen evidence that causes all of this to make sense in His plan. Here is the second verse:
2 Corinthians 5:7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight. (NKJV)
I find it helpful to insert "and not by emotion" at the end of this verse. The times when we may cry out, "Where are You, God? Why are You not answering my prayers?" are exactly those times when we need to walk by faith. Just because we cannot "feel" God does not mean that He is absent. Let us walk by faith in this world until we can see God in the next world!
Friends, are you, like me, stuck in a situation of loss — whether to health, finances, grief of physical loss, or separation? Can you hear our Saviour asking you, "Where is your faith?" If you, like me, find yourself in this situation, I would suggest that we first penitently pray Daniel's prayer:
Daniel 9:19a – O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! (NKJV)
Then, let's claim the promises that we have:
Philippians 4:5b-7 – The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Pray with me:
Prayer: O Lord, as I pray Daniel's prayer, forgive my unbelief, when my heart disconnects from the faith in my head. Give me strength to focus on Your Word, Your will, and Your way. Help me to trust; help me to have faith in You and Your plan for me. You are all-wise, all-seeing, all-knowing. Even when things are difficult and do not make sense to me, You are always there in control, and You have a plan. All will be well: You will never forsake me. Amen.
While hiking with friends in Gatineau Park, near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, we approached a small stream over which had been placed a wooden plank to help hikers cross the water. Not having the best balance, I pulled a long stick from the undergrowth and used it as a staff to steady myself as I crossed. I took the risk that the plank wouldn't shift under my weight, and that the staff wouldn't slip and wobble in the stream's rocky bed. I take small risks daily without thinking about them. If I see an oncoming car when I am ready to cross a street, I calculate whether or not I can go safely before it is too close. If rain is in the forecast, I take the risk of not bringing the umbrella if I can arrive before the clouds open.
The first readers of the book of Hebrews faced more serious risks, enough to make them consider abandoning their faith in Jesus, but the writer reminded them of the calculated risks that their ancestors took, in faith.
Hebrews 11:17-22 – By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. (NKJV)
Abraham, the friend of God, trusted God's promises of a great civilization descended from Abraham's family, and confidently obeyed God's command to sacrifice his son, Isaac. He was ready to let God take care of the future — and take the risk! He also took the risk of sending his servant to select a wife for his son Isaac from his father's tribe, in obedience to God. Isaac's son Jacob had many faith struggles in his life, even wrestling all night with an angel! Perhaps his greatest risk was in meeting Esau in later life, even moving his family and livestock out of harm's way in case he himself were harmed. We know that the reunion of the twin brothers was blessed by their trust and acceptance of God's faithfulness to them both. Jacob's son, Joseph, unjustly imprisoned for many years, took a huge risk in offering to interpret Pharoah's dreams, but he was blessed by God for his faith.
All of these Bible witnesses took calculated risks, based on their faith that the Lord can and will honour His promises. His promise of a Saviour was fulfilled in the person of Jesus, and we can trust in the promise of a heavenly home for believers. Will you believe that God is faithful and to be trusted? If so, take that calculated risk, and, in faith, trust His promises for your life.
Prayer: We thank You, dear Lord, for the faithful testimonies of Abraham and his descendants — those who knew that You were able to fulfill every great promise. We come to You in faith today, knowing that You are great and hold our futures secure. Amen.
Romans 5:6-8 – For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person — though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)
I am getting older, and with age comes an increasing awareness of the need for God's timing, grace, and provision, not just for eternity — what I like to call "pie in the sky when you die" — but also His providential mercy to enable us to get by in the here-and-now. Providential grace comes with a side order of genuine humility to ask God for help and to accept the outcome.
Before the cold weather arrived, I felt convicted to fix my six-foot fence. Six years before, I had fixed the fence where it had been mostly held up by the bushes. I have newish neighbours who have fretted about the state of the fence, and I guess that fixing it was God's prompting about being peaceable.
Off to the local lumber store I went and purchased a new fence panel. Sadly, I am no longer able to get large items onto the roof of the car on my own, so I asked for help from a store employee. As we were about to lift the fence panel onto the car, a friend, John, walked out of the store and offered to help, which I accepted, as he is younger, strong, tall, and willing. Cheekily, I asked if he would come home and unload the fence into the garden. Friends like him are rare, because not only is he willing, able, and a part of my church community, but also this day, he was by proxy God's hands to my aid.
I consider that it was God's love for me, paying it forward as I sought to love my neighbour, by providing this blessing of help at just the right time to move the fence into the garden.
Over the years, I have observed many ways of God's personal provision in everyday situations, and how He has humbled me in the process. Jesus wants to show us how He cares for us — sometimes despite our lack of expectation. This help given was just one example of how God's love has worked out for me: His being there for us, even before we have asked. It is a gift.
I know that my neighbours are pleased, too!
I wonder how often we do not recognize the goodness of God in our lives when we partner with Him in doing the right thing and so find a blessing in the doing. Let us rejoice in these gracious interventions of a loving Trinity.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we give You thanks that at the right time, You come alongside us, seen and unseen. We give You the praise and glory that You deserve because You first loved us enough to come incarnate to pay the price to meet with us where we are today. Amen.
One snowy winter morning several years ago, I waved goodbye to my husband. A team of volunteers left in a small bus to build a house for a needy family in Mexico, and he was the main driver. Shivering in the -25°C (-13°F) morning, I turned back to the school building. Terry would enjoy the warm temperature in Mexico, and I was glad that he had the opportunity to join others in the church on this week-long mission trip.
Four days later, I heard from my husband. They were almost finished with the house, really a simple wooden structure quickly put together with only battery-powered hand tools. I marvelled at the speed with which such a goal could be accomplished. With just a twinge of envy at the news in this brief email, it struck me how different life was on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, as compared to my life here in the snow belt. The project sounded fast-paced, exciting. Here in central Alberta, Canada, life went on, with nothing out of the ordinary happening, just the day-to-day getting up in the dark, driving an hour on snowy roads to get to school, and dealing there with children who felt the effects of being cooped up in the frigid weather.
Then, I remembered how much God values faithfulness.
Luke 1:6-7 – Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. (NLT)
Zechariah had faithfully served in the temple for years. Finally, he was chosen by lot to burn incense in the sanctuary. God spoke to him there, and he received the startling news that after years of childlessness, he and Elizabeth in their old age were to become parents. God rewarded their faithfulness.
Fast forward a few months. Jesus was born, and later, His parents presented Him to the Lord in the temple for the purification offering.
Luke 2:25-28 – At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God. (NLT)
Anna, a prophet, was also there. "She never left the Temple, but stayed there day and night, worshipping God with fasting and prayer." (Luke 2:37b NLT)
Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, and Anna were faithful, just fulfilling their calling and being patient. God rewarded them. Zechariah and Elizabeth had a son, and Simeon and Anna saw the Messiah. Simeon proclaimed Him in song, and Anna talked about Him to everyone who had been waiting to see the Messiah.
Whenever we think that our work or our daily tasks at home are just ordinary, let us remember these examples of faithfulness in God's Word, and rest assured that our faithfulness will one day be rewarded.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that Your Word shows us examples of people who were faithful to You. Help us to continue being faithful in whatever mundane tasks You have set before us, knowing that You highly value this quality. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
In a sermon that he delivered in 1522, Martin Luther told the story of Simeon and Anna. There he praised Anna as full of the Holy Spirit: "Most assuredly the Holy Spirit dwelled in her, and consequently she was good and righteous regardless of all her works." Though the people around them may have dismissed Anna as an old fool, Luther stressed how prophetic, bold, and wise she was.
Luke 2:36-38 – There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. (NRSV)
Today, we might be forgiven for moving away from such an elderly woman who was going on about the birth of a baby — unless we knew her story, her dedication, and her devotion to the things of God. Anna becomes the first female evangelist to proclaim the Christ Child. Anna was a widow who had lived a long life and had known sorrow without becoming bitter. Anna never ceased to pray and had spent her life in God's house with God's people. We are not told what she accomplished during those times, but we are given the impression that it was important for her people, as she was given the title of prophet. She waited, day by day, keeping her contact with God and drawing from God's strength.
In today's passage, the waiting is finally over, and she cannot keep quiet! She proclaims the good news to any and all who would listen as she shares what this Child would mean to Israel and to the world.
May it be our prayer likewise to glorify and praise God, and to proclaim the Messiah to any and all who wish to listen!
Prayer: "So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come." (Psalm 71:18 NRSV) Amen.
Romans 12:2 – Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLT)
As he clung to the side of his cage, I could see that he needed more room to fly around. My little love bird had long outgrown his old starter cage and was ready for one that he could move around in more. So, one Christmas, I asked for a new cage for Peachy as a gift, and I received a nice, roomy one for my not-so-excited feathered friend. It was big enough for him to move around in and not just cling to the side. It had two perches and nice feeder bowls that hung from the easy access doors. But this bewildered little bird fought me all the way, flapping his wings and biting the hand that feeds him until I thought I would cry.
Peachy was given a new start and a new way of life, but unfortunately, he was so used to the old ways that even after he got his new life, he clung to his old ways and spent his days hanging from the sides of his new cage.
Sometimes, I think that I am much like my sweet Peachy! God offers me peace, power, and love, but I cling to the old memories, old hurts, and old worries! What must our God think, when He offers us so much, but we settle for so little?
This new year, I want to be all that He wants me to be and accept all that He has for me. The Bible says that God had our life planned even before we were born. Do we, like Peachy, hang on ferociously to old things, instead of grasping our new freedom in Christ? Peachy has finally begun sitting on his new perches and spending less time on the sides of his cage. We, too, need to move away from our old habits and grab for all that God has planned for us.
Prayer: Lord, may we loosen our grasp on the past and enjoy what You have for us today and in this next year! Amen.
Psalm 34:8 – Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. (NIV)
When I was pastoring, at the end of the old year, God always gave me a Bible verse — or a thought that lined up with Scripture — that I could use to base my preaching on for the coming year. I would write out the verse or thought and then my goal would be to see if each Sunday's message lined up with the year's focus, according to what God had placed upon my mind and in my heart.
Since leaving the pastorate, I have discovered that every year, as the old one comes to an end, God still gives me a verse or thought for the new year. I always write it out and tape it to a windowsill in my kitchen where I have my baking and work station. This way, not a day goes by that I do not see and read it multiple times. Throughout the year, I am always amazed at how those words are exactly what I need to keep me on track with God's will and ways as I struggle with issues, have decisions that I need to make, or am in need of encouragement.
The thought for 2022 came from a book that I was reading. As soon as I read those words, I knew immediately that they were to be my focus for this past year: Trust and know that the Lord is good.
Googling these words, the Scripture closest to them was today's verse, where instead of "trust", the word "taste" is found. To taste something if we have never tasted it before is always a bit of a risk. We may or may not like it. But the only way to find out is to take that risk. We usually do so, based on the experience of others whom we trust, who have already tasted and found it good.
Tasting and trusting God are similar. They involve risk. But the more that we choose to trust God by remembering previous experiences of trusting Him or by seeing the evidence of it in the lives of other Christians, the more that we are able to taste and know His goodness and His love, His presence and His wisdom, and all the other wondrous things that make Him Who He is. Tasting and trusting go together. The more that we trust God, the more that we partake of Him. The more that we partake of Him through Scripture, prayer, fellowship, and embracing the beauty of His revelation through nature, the more that we trust Him.
Once again, I plan to choose a verse for the coming year. How about you? As this new year unfolds, though I do not know what it shall bring, I do know that as I choose to trust God, the more that I will know Him, which is a goal that I believe is truly worth pursuing.
Prayer: Father, thank You that the more that we step out in faith to trust You, the more that we are able to taste or experience how awesome that You really are. Help us each to taste and know that You are good in each and every circumstance of our lives, that our trust in Your faithfulness may abound, no matter what may come our way. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 118:24 – This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. (NLT)
For the new year, people typically make resolutions focusing on changes and plans that they want to implement in their lives. I'd like to adopt the expression carpe diem, Latin for "seize the day" or "make the most of the present time". I want to resolve, with God's help, to make better use of the time given to me this coming year.
Most days during the busy month of December, first thing in the morning, it seemed as though I were rushing off to be somewhere or to do something. In the cold and dark, going out seemed even more difficult than usual. So, when I finally had a day at home to myself, I was happy and rejoiced in it. I'm a morning person, so in the early hours, my mind is clear and focused, and I do my best work. After reading my Bible and talking to the Lord, I have to make a choice about the most important priority for that day and get right down to it. I know that writing for the Lord is something that I'm supposed to be doing, so mornings are when I like to sit down at the computer. By afternoon, my energy starts to wane, and I get sleepy. The window of opportunity that the morning hours give is for me a clear picture of the expression carpe diem.
Colossians 4:5 – Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. (NIV)
Just as I like to make the most of my morning hours, so we all need to make the most of the opportunities that God gives to us. For a few brief months when my three boys were young, I would drive them to school in the next town. Construction took place along one stretch of the highway, and the same flag person would be at that spot every day stopping us for a few minutes. One day, as I was thinking about her, I began to pray for her. As soon as I did, I got the thought, Give her a tract. Now, that is something that I had never done before, and I tried to suppress the thought. Okay, I can get one at the church, I conceded, but the next day, I forgot. Then, I found one written by Billy Graham, and it was about highways! Summoning my courage, I gave the tract to the flag person. "Thank you!" she said with a smile. A few days later, she was gone, and I never saw her again. I will never know this side of eternity what the result of my action was, but that's not what matters.
Like I did at that moment, will you seize the day and make the most of the opportunities that God puts in front of you?
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You are sovereign over our days. Help us to make the most of our time and of every opportunity that You give us for doing good. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
In a three-day conference on pastoral care of the elderly, Pope Francis talked about the gift that older women and men are to their communities. They are not to be thrown away but cherished as valued members of the church. He singled out Anna and Simeon for their part in the story. But did anyone listen to these old people, or were they dismissed as fools?
We follow Simeon's story as we draw to the close of the Christmas passage. It's not a long story but it's worth the telling.
Luke 2:25-32 – Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." (NRSV)
This Bible passage takes us on a journey as we remember with the "old folks". The emphasis at Christmas is on the Babe of Bethlehem. Old folks now get the opportunity to confirm the birth of the Messiah.
Simeon was a righteous and devout man, who, in humble and faithful expectation, was waiting for the day when God would comfort faithful people. God had promised him, through the Holy Spirit, that he would see God's own anointed Messiah before his life ended. When that time came, he was ready to go in peace. On that day, the waiting was finally over.
Simeon is the one who tells us of fulfillment. When the time seems desperately long for the fulfillment of God's promises, Simeon reminds us that the wait is worth it. We have waited what seems a desperately long time for the return of the Christ. Let Simeon be our assurance that the wait is worth it!
Prayer: Jesus, grant me to serve You, to proclaim You, to glorify You, and to manifest You, to the very end through all the time that remains to me of life, and above all through my death. Lord Jesus, I commit to Your care my last years, and my death; do not let them impair or spoil the work I have so dreamed of achieving for You. Amen. – Author unknown
Weeks ago, I stripped the house of all that was not Christmas. Then as these things disappeared, I replaced them with Christmas! I cleared my china cabinet of dishes that were not Christmas; my curio cabinet became a place for snowmen. Furniture was moved so that Christmas trees could go in their place, and Christmas pictures replaced regular ones. All that had been there before paled in contrast to the festiveness that Christmas brings!
So many times, I need to clear my mind and soul of the things that can clutter my thinking about Christ! I need to shut off the media that declares that all things about Christ are offensive. I need to rid myself of all that does not glorify Him. I need to prioritize my life, sometimes trading good things for the better things of God. I need to clear myself of all that is not Christ! I need a new infilling of the Holy Spirit!
In a few short days, I will begin the task of getting back to normal. I will probably leave the trees up for another week, but the twinkling lights don't mean as much. The glow is gone because that one big day has passed. We will dig out the directions to our new gadgets and try them out to see if they work. The diets will start, fitness programs will begin, and new bills will start coming in the mail. Christmas cards with their greetings will be read again and put away.
But as the Christmas dishes go back into boxes and Christmas trees find a place on the shelf in my basement, I pray that the Babe of Christmas never leaves my heart. May I not box Him up with the Christmas ornaments, festive figurines, or beautiful nativity sets. As I fill my house with the everyday things, I pray that the Christ of Christmas will never leave my soul. I want to bring my mind back often to the Son of God Who chose to come to earth as an innocent Baby and die on the cross to save us from our sins.
May the wonder of Christmas permeate our beings so much that Christ and only Christ can be seen in us all year round!
Prayer: Lord, we thank You for this beautiful season of the year when families come together to celebrate. But more than that, we thank You that You bring a daily celebration into our hearts — a celebration of Your love, Your salvation, and Your hope. We thank You that though images of You lying in a manger will find their places in boxes, we will find You every morning in the pages of our Bibles and as we pray. We praise You, Lord, for Your presence in our lives all year — and not just on that one big day! Amen.
All the costumes and props for the Sunday School Christmas play had been tidied up and put away. All except one, I thought. A wrapped gift lay in my drawer. I was in charge of the Sunday School, so I kept stuff in the old desk. I wonder what that's doing there? Looks like one of the wise men's gifts. I ignored it. It lay there for the rest of January. Maybe it's there by mistake. Gradually, months later, I realized that it was in my drawer, so maybe I was supposed to open it. I finally opened and enjoyed my box of chocolates!
We have to receive something in order to have it. My son, who installs blinds, often gets paid by e-transfer. The client sends the amount specified, but in order for Nick to actually receive it, he has to answer a security question. I had to take the wrapped present out of the drawer and acknowledge that it was mine, in order to receive it.
After the birth of Christ, a special, bright star appeared in the east. Many would have seen it, but only the wise men, who were compelled to travel hundreds of miles west, acknowledged the idea that it was associated with the Messiah. "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy" (Matthew 2:10 NKJV) and following the star, they finally came to the place where the young child, the Messiah, was, and worshipped Him. They received the knowledge that they were given, and acted on it. I like to think that they received the gift of the Messiah and the salvation that He would bring.
Acts 10:43 – To [Jesus] all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. (NKJV)
Isaiah 53:5b – He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. (NLT)
John 1:16 – From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. (NLT)
God has many gifts for us — grace, healing, wholeness, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life, to name a few. We can easily forget about them, as I did the gift in the drawer. They are potentially available to us, but we must receive them. Take healing, for example. I knew with my mind that God was the Healer. One day at a women's retreat, I was walking gingerly up the stairs with a sore back. A woman behind me placed her hand on the small of my back and said, "Receive your healing." I wasn't healed on the spot, but I had a new understanding of having to receive something in order to have it.
Acknowledging and receiving God's blessings is the key. Let's not just think about them theoretically, but let's receive them with joy.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the many gifts that You choose with which to bless us. Help us to be ready and willing to receive them, and not let them lie unused. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (NIV)
Another Christmas has come and gone. The children were enthralled with the tree and the piles of brightly wrapped gifts beneath it. They couldn't wait to start handing out presents and then to rip into their own as well as to help the rest of us tear into ours.
What delight they experienced at the array of new and marvellous toys that had come their way, toys that would be enjoyed and played with, hopefully for many days to come.
Yet, as I replayed Christmas morning in my mind's eye, and read today's verse as part of my morning quiet time, I considered that although another Christmas had come and gone, God's gift of Jesus just goes on and on blessing us each and every day. When His gift of this world and all that it entails, His gifts of family and friends, material wealth and health and life are all gone, faded away — as we know they will — His gift will still continue: the indescribable gift of perfect love through Christ Jesus, the Baby born in a manger Who grew up and laid down His perfect life for sinful mankind, that we might receive and embrace abundant and eternal life.
Yes, another Christmas Day has come and gone. But God's indescribable gift of Christ continues, never to fade or crumble or diminish, but only to grow brighter and more lovely and powerful each day as we open our hearts to His presence through the Holy Spirit, His truth through the Word of God — the Scriptures — and His fellowship through His people, the church.
His indescribable gift allows us to experience Christmas not just one day a year, but every day, every year.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your indescribable gift of perfect love: Jesus, the Christmas present that never stops giving and blessing us each and every day. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Luke 2:6-7 – While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (NIV 2011)
For most of us, the day of our birth is the most significant day of our entire lives. Though we have no cognitive awareness or recollection of this momentous occasion, it is the day when we made our appearance on planet earth. At that moment, we drew our first breath and first saw the light of day.
Though the date of our birth is a once-in-a-lifetime event, we celebrate the anniversary of this event every year. We rightly celebrate our birthday as a special and personally memorable occasion. Though we may randomly share our birthdate with someone else, our own birthday is an annual milestone that sets us apart and marks a moment that briefly belongs to us alone.
There is one birthday that was like no other. When Jesus was born in the humble little town of Bethlehem, time seemed to stand still. Angels rejoiced at this amazing miracle — God coming to earth in the form of a human baby. Shepherds worshipped Him, and wise men came to pay homage. Even King Herod was alerted to the birth of a newborn king, and he did everything possible to thwart the threat to his power.
All of history ever since has been marked by this unique birth. The date of Jesus' birth has become the central marker in our calendar, which is divided into BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini — "the year of the Lord"). Though these designations are frequently being given as BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era) in order to be religiously neutral, the cornerstone of our whole system of time is, nonetheless, the birth of Christ. His birth has aptly been termed "the hinge of history". It could also be viewed as the axle around which the wheel of history revolves.
All the world is given the invitation to celebrate His birth by placing faith in Him as the giver of life. Those of us who have accepted this birthday invitation have much reason to rejoice in the truth that He came as a Baby to ultimately live and die for us. What a privilege we have, to celebrate today this most significant birthday of all time — that of the King of kings.
Have you accepted this birthday invitation — from the One Who is both the Gift and the Giver of life — that is extended to all? We can celebrate the once-for-all-time event of His unique birth in Bethlehem, but we can also remember this occasion each year as we celebrate Christmas. How can we appropriately rejoice and celebrate Jesus' birth on this, His holy day?
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, You gave us the greatest gift of all when You sent Your Son Jesus as our redeemer. May we rejoice as we commemorate His birthday today. Amen.
Matthew 21:16 – "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?" (NIV)
I will never forget the Christmas Eve service that I attended on December 24th, 1989. That year, it was decided that a significant portrayal of the Christmas story would be presented complete with wise men, shepherds, Joseph and Mary, and a live baby. One of my granddaughters was born in September, 1989, and she was chosen to play the part of Baby Jesus.
The church was packed with over 300 people. To minimize the risk of something unexpected happening during the live performance, her father, John, had been chosen to play the part of Joseph.
Following the perfectly executed performance, the leader explained the meaning of each participant's role to ensure that the spiritual significance was relevant and authentic for all present.
After mentioning the wise men, the shepherds, and the angels, he came to Joseph. He paused briefly, and before he could say anything, he was interrupted. My oldest granddaughter, who was three at the time, commented in a loud voice that could be heard by most in the audience, "That's not Joseph! That's my Uncle John."
The leader struggled to regain his composure and continued his summation of the story, ensuring that all in the audience understood the significance of the parts played convincingly by each presenter.
During the Christmas holidays, we are challenged to be authentic in our explanations to children. The fantasy of Santa Claus riding his sleigh and bringing toys can be helpful if it is used to teach the joy of giving to others. Similarly, telling of the birth of Jesus in an authentic manner can be challenging.
While we may chuckle at my granddaughter's comment, the lesson that this incident teaches is a challenge to you and me to consider that it is essential and important to be authentic and genuine in all that we think and in all the actions that we take in life.
Paul's words in Corinthians give a challenge to us all.
1 Corinthians 13:1-5 – If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. (ESV)
Prayer: Dear Father, help us to be authentic in all that we do. May we share Your love with others in a genuine way. Amen.
Matthew 3:11 – I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (NIV)
We were halfway through our Christmas Eve carol and candle-lighting service when it happened. One of the burning Advent wreath candles ignited a spray of red silk poinsettias. Fortunately, a parishioner sitting in a front pew had the presence of mind to leap up, grab the flaming stalk and run madly down the aisle and out the church door where she extinguished the flames in the snow.
Upon her re-entrance, everyone clapped, and then, we all burst into laughter, so relieved was everyone that what could have been a catastrophe had been avoided.
Yet, as I contemplated this event, I couldn't help but consider what it must have been like when the day of Pentecost came, and the apostles were all together in one place:
Acts 2:2-3 – Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what appeared to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (NIV)
As I researched the biblical symbolism of fire on the Internet, I found that "fire provides a helpful picture of the work of the Holy Spirit as fire, in three critical ways, as He brings the presence of God, the passion of God, and the purity of God to Christians."
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The presence of God, for me, means comfort and encouragement that warms my heart and blesses me amidst any and all circumstances, giving me courage to continue in hope and faith.
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The passion of God empowers me to have enthusiasm in regard to everything and anything that He calls me to do.
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The purity of God humbles me to remember just how much of a sinner that I am and how marvellous, how wonderful, is His love and forgiveness to me through Christ, my Lord and Saviour.
Presence, passion, purity: the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, in the life of the church, Christ's bride.
May it be our prayer and honour to see His work catch fire more and more within our own hearts day by day, which in turn will ignite the presence, passion, and purity of God anew within our homes, congregations, country, and world.
Prayer: Lord God, thank You for the work of the Holy Spirit within us. May we be open to the presence, passion, and purity with which You desire to bless us, that we might know You more deeply, love You more completely, and share You more frequently with all those we meet. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
Matthew 2:11 – On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. (NIV)
Most of us know the Christmas story at least in part, if for no other reason that we see Mary, Joseph, and the Baby in a traditional place in many homes at this time of the year. Usually, not far from the manger scene are the wise men — or magi, as some may call them. Baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and His mother was Mary. Since she was in the inn's stable, with animals all around, Mary placed her newborn in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes. Right?
Well, let me tell you another story that I witnessed many years ago. The manger was placed in the centre of the stage in our sanctuary, made with crudely cut slats of wood and filled with fresh hay. The bewildered mother, Mary, fidgeted and patted, but she could not calm sweet baby Jesus. But in her wisdom, she got up and handed him to the wise man standing nearby. Knowing what to do, this wise man jiggled and consoled him for the next thirty minutes while the rest of the program went on at our church. You see, that wise man was Larry, my sweet husband, and this beautiful baby Jesus was none other than our grandson, Nicholas. This baby recognized the gentle touch and familiar rocking of one who loved him so much and knew what he needed. So, in wise man garb, the man for the job comforted the wiggly infant in love.
Sometimes, especially in these uncertain times, we are anxious and worried about what might happen next, whether it be with our job, our health, or our world as we have always known it. But now, the roles in my little story are reversed. It is not Jesus Who needs to be consoled or brought up to date. He is not confused or bewildered by the current circumstances that we find ourselves in today. He is not wracking His brain to develop plan B, nor does He need a wise man to consult with Him.
Our Nicholas is a grown man now, but like all of us, he still needs comfort when times are hard and we find ourselves waiting for "the other shoe to drop" in this uncertain world. It is we, God's children, who long for His touch. We find ourselves thirsty in a dry land, longing for relief that can come only from God's Son, Jesus Christ. Let's reach out to Him for His comfort and consolation in our own little town of Bethlehem.
Prayer: Precious Jesus, help us, this season, to look forward in time from the manger to You, O Lord, the all-powerful King of the universe. Holy God, with You, nothing is impossible, not even the problems that burden our hearts today! Warm our hearts by Your unfailing love. Amen.
Luke 2:10-14 – And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased." (ESV)
As we approach the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem those many years ago, let us stop for a minute and look back at our past experiences of Christmas. Many of us have childhood memories of participating in Christmas pageants. Whether we were a wise man, a shepherd, an angel, or perhaps playing the parts of Mary and Joseph, those memories will always be with us.
Christmas Eve services have always been a time of celebration, but at times, the unexpected happens. One Christmas Eve, as worshippers gathered for the 11:00 p.m. service, they were advised to leave their vehicles running, as they would not likely restart when the service concluded. The temperature was -35°C (-31°F) that night. As we walked out of the church, the ice-cold air around the vehicles was lit up by the white exhaust and gave the feeling of new light in our midst.
Another Christmas Eve, the Sunday School put on a play. Part of it was behind a sheet with a light shining from the back so that all that the audience could see was shadows. The theme of the play was about how God replaces our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. Part of the play included heart transplant surgery, supposedly performed on me, the minister, with my part being played by a stuffed bear. Unexpectedly, for anesthetic, they knocked him out with a hammer! The point of the play was that God, Who came down in love at Christmas, fills our hearts with His love. After the surgery, it was revealed that Jesus was — and is — the surgeon. A doll, representing Jesus, was brought out from behind the sheet, from the shadows into the light. It was clear that Jesus offers everyone a new heart at Christmas.
Then, there was the night when the children were singing, and one girl, whose costume required that she wear a tea towel on her head, leaned over too close to a lighted candle, and unexpectedly, the towel caught on fire. Everyone's heart stopped! Fortunately, two volunteer firefighters were present and rushed to the front and put it out. She was unharmed. No one forgot that Christmas miracle.
Perhaps, as you are reading this, your own memories of unexpected Christmases past have come rushing into your mind. The sights, the sounds, and the feelings of Christmas are unforgettable moments that are part of who we are.
This Christmas, as we gather to worship and celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us look for the unexpected. God might give you a new heart or a special memory to share with someone you love.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as we celebrate Your birth once again, may You cause us to remember with gratitude that You are the Holy One from God Who has saved our souls. Amen.
Perhaps you recall a day when your supervisor listed several impressive qualities in you. Then came that word, "but". You braced yourself, for whatever came next would surely undo everything that had been said. That's the nature of that dreadful word "but". It has an uncanny way of reversing everything that came before.
I see an example of that in the city of Babel account in Genesis 11:1-9. Ancient Babel was on the rise. Urbanization and innovative technology had taken this city to impressive new heights, literally. The invention of clay bricks meant that the sky was the limit. Now the people could construct a towering worship centre reaching heaven itself. Here's where their pagan deities would come down to grant favour and success. Utopia was around the corner, and the gods were on their side! These city dwellers planned to make a big name for themselves.
Then came the game changer: But the Lord … .
Genesis 11:5 – But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. (NIV)
An unexpected deity came down to have a look. This deity was the Lord of the universe, and He disapproved. They had rejected Him, and they would ultimately self-destruct. So, instead of granting divine favour, He dispensed a judgment which unravelled their entire project. People could no longer understand each other. They couldn't get along. Undoubtedly, they became competitive and exploitative. Planning committees plummeted into disagreements and chaos. (We can perhaps relate.) These folk experienced exactly what they had tried to avoid: dispersion and vulnerability. God had interfered … mercifully.
Proverbs 16:9 – In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. (NIV)
I find this assuring. My God, still Lord of the universe, still intervenes in human affairs to squelch pride — from mighty empires to personal ambitions.
James 4:6 – That is why Scripture says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (NIV)
God's grace and favour! That's what I long for — every day. Perhaps, that's why I admire the Psalms. Even when the psalmists felt vulnerable and oppressed by the forces of evil, they knew that they could always cry out to God. They experienced His favour deep within their being:
Psalm 34:19 – A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. (NIV)
Of course, the most astounding "but the Lord" intervention was the Christ Child's arrival. The God of the universe came down — not through a mighty tower, but through a humble birth. He stooped very low to reverse the curse of sin, to bring hope and salvation, to liberate us from the grips of guilt and self-effort, and to free us for His love.
Recently, I myself experienced a "but the Lord" intervention through the message, Meeting the Real Jesus by Tim Keller. That changed my besetting focus from my own efforts to simply God's extravagant favour through grace.
Let us all look forward to the best "but the Lord" experience yet: His new eternal city, the Holy City, where we will fully enjoy His lavish favour:
Isaiah 61:3a – And provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. (NIV)
Prayer: Lord, intervene in our thoughts so that we stop saying, "Look what the world has come to!" and instead declare, "Look what has come to the world!" Worthy is the Lamb! King of kings! Halleluiah! Amen.
Matthew 7:7-8 – Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (NIV)
Recently, at our Thursday evening prayer meeting, we were praying for the people of our community and the surrounding area. Pastor Mark has been introducing himself to many of them, but he wonders whether they see their need for a Saviour. Bill then quoted a passage from Job, which spoke to us — as God's Word always does! — and which can give us all some food for thought, now and each day.
In Job 22:17-18a, Eliphaz, while referring to evil men, said to Job, "They said to God, 'Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?' Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things." (NIV) I clearly remember the years when I was one of those to whom Eliphaz was referring! And so it is today where you and I live: so many people seek good feelings from Christmas decorations, reindeer, Santa, and all, but feel no need for a newborn King to be the centre of their lives. Not yet.
It was just like that at the first Christmas. Over two thousand years ago, several wise men arrived at Jerusalem after a long and arduous journey. They were seeking the newborn King of the Jews. But the priests and scribes, whom they consulted about His birthplace in Bethlehem, didn't bother to check out the good news about the long-expected Messiah. They felt no need.
We long to see revival in our society — it sure needs it! But let us ask God to start that revival right here in our own hearts, for, as Jesus said, "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Matthew 26:41b NIV)
As Bill read further, Scripture continued to speak to us:
Job 22:21-26 – Submit to God and be at peace with him. … Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. (NIV)
Let us seek to draw close to God and to be light and salt to our neighbours. The Way hasn't changed since Job's time: submit, be humble in heart, accept instruction, feast on His Word, repent, and make our priorities right, so that God becomes our gold. His Spirit will gift us with delight, peace, and joy. As we lift up our faces to God, His light will shine through us.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, help us to seek anew the newborn King, Jesus, this Christmas, that we may know Your blessings, and by Your power and grace, live as beacons of light in this dark world. Amen.
I punched the button on the counter to let someone know that I needed help at the fabric counter of the big-box store. Soon, I heard someone coming — banging and clanging. When she rounded the corner, I saw why: she had numerous tools and electronic devices attached around her waist, all bouncing against each other. When I commented on them, she replied, "Yes, I want to be prepared for anything. I walk across this store many times a day, and I never know exactly what I'll need. This is a big building, and I have what I need for almost any situation."
She was a very efficient young woman. She whipped out scissors to cut my fabric, a device to scan the electronic code, a paper tag from a small printer, a straight pin to attach the tag, and a rubber band to hold it all together — all from the various pockets and devices hanging around her waist. I'm sure that she was a very valuable employee at that store, always prepared for anything.
Advent (from Latin advenire "to arrive") has twin themes: being prepared for the celebration of Christ's first coming, and being prepared for His second coming.
Matthew 25:13 – Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (NKJV)
Matthew records Jesus' parable of the five wise and five foolish bridesmaids. All of them have their lamps lit, but only five brought extra oil. The bridegroom finally arrives and the five foolish virgins are not prepared — their lamps are empty and they have no extra oil. While they rush out to buy more, the wedding begins and, despite their pleas when they return, the door is shut.
In this parable, Jesus warns believers to be prepared because we don't know when Jesus, our Bridegroom, will return. We don't need oil in lamps any more, so how do we prepare?
First, we need to make sure that we have invited Jesus into our hearts and lives to become our Lord and Saviour. Then, we need to live in such a way that "we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming" (1 John 2:28b ESV). Jesus warns us, "See that no one leads you astray. But be on your guard." (Mark 13:5b,9a ESV) Peter warns us to humble ourselves, to cast all our anxieties on him, and to be watchful, for our "adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:6-8 ESV) We are to "stir up one another to love and good works … and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)
In other words, we are to live as though Christ's return might be today — or even right this minute. We're to keep telling others about Him. Mike Livingstone of Lifeway Christian Resources paraphrased Acts 1:11 – "Why are you standing there gazing into heaven? Jesus is coming back — so get busy!" There's our charge — what are we waiting for?
Prayer: Father, we want to be ready for Christ's return, whenever that may be. Help each of us to live in such a way that others see Jesus in us, so much so that they, too, want to make sure that they are ready for that magnificent event. Amen.
Luke 24:16 – But God kept them from recognizing him. (NLT)
The news stung like a hornet against bare skin.
For thirteen years, my wife and I celebrated Christmas with our two children on Christmas Day. We considered it a sacred tradition, and we thought that they did, too. We loved watching them — and later their children — open the gifts that we had purchased for them. But then, we got the news.
Around the middle of November one year, our daughter texted to let us know that she was rearranging the Christmas calendar. She would celebrate Christmas with us not on Christmas Day, but another day. Going from house to house was just too hectic. She wanted Christmas Day to be only her and her two boys. The news crushed us, but we understood. We would have to face unexpected Christmas changes.
That's when I suggested a change of my own. Since neither of our children would be visiting on Christmas Day, we would head to our favourite place: the Great Smokey Mountains — Pigeon Forge, to be exact.
Jewish believers also encountered an unexpected change in the first century. The birth of the Messiah didn't happen in the way that they expected. He didn't arrive on a gallant white steed to run off their Roman oppressors. Instead, He was birthed by a young unmarried teenager and laid in a manger. Many didn't recognize Him because of this unexpected change — unexpected for them, but not for God.
The holiday season often brings changes that we don't expect — or want. A loved one passes away during the year, and we have to celebrate without them. An empty place resides at the table. An accident causes debilitating injuries and changes the way that we celebrate the holidays. A child moves away to college or takes a job in a state or province far away, perhaps even overseas. Arguments occur. Tempers flare. Anger and misunderstanding erupt. Unforgiveness sneaks in.
The only constant about change is that change always happens, whether we enjoy it or not. We often can't prevent it, but we can adapt and move on, which is what my wife and I did.
Whether or not we enjoy the changes that Christmas throws our way, let us remember the real reason for the celebration: Jesus' birth and our salvation. Let's allow the joy of that event to overshadow any other pain that we may face — and have a merry Christmas!
Prayer: Father, give us eyes to see Your guidance, even in the unexpected changes of life. Amen.
Matthew 2:11 – On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. (NIV)
My granddaughters each received a Christmas colouring and activity book from our church congregation. The girls were both delighted.
One day as Ade, the elder, was working on a page, she asked me to read the caption beneath. It was today's verse. We discussed the gifts of gold and incense and myrrh, and then, I asked her this question: "If you were there to see the Baby Jesus in the manger, what gift do you think you would give to Him?"
She looked at the picture in the activity book and thought about it for a minute or so and then piped up: "I would give him a binky." A binky in children's terms is a soother or pacifier. I was quite delighted and amazed at her answer. She had displayed real thought regarding the gift that she would give and how appropriate that it would be for a newborn babe. Her binky had also been one of her greatest treasures as an infant and toddler, which may have been what prompted her to consider this to be a very precious gift for Jesus.
As I pondered her response, I also considered how a binky measured up in comparison to gold and incense and myrrh. I wondered how many might laugh at this child's offering to Jesus, which wouldn't really seem like much at all.
It also caused me to think about how many of us feel that the gifts that we have to offer Jesus, as our Lord and Saviour, are not very much either, in comparison to what we may think or feel others have to give. Most of us are not wealthy or super talented or immensely gifted. Most of us are just simple, everyday people, helping out where we can, and thus, we often step back when it comes to using our gifts, instead of thoughtfully and courageously offering our Lord the gifts and talents that we have been given, small though they may seem to us.
But if we stop and think about it, which of the four gifts would the Baby Jesus have appreciated the most: gold, incense, myrrh, or a binky? That's a good reminder of how sometimes the smallest things are treasured the most and make the biggest difference in the lives of others.
Likewise, when we give our Lord what we have, ourselves, the gifts and talents that we have been blessed with, no matter how small they may seem, He loves and appreciates and uses and multiplies them in ways that we may never ever know about, until we see Him face to face and He says, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Prayer: Father God, may we take time to consider the gifts and talents with which You have blessed us, those things that make us who we are as individuals. As we do so, may we also take the time to present them as an offering back to You in prayer, to be used according to Your good will and purpose, knowing that as we do, we can also trust You to guide us in the best ways to use them for Your kingdom. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
I was discouraged about the mission trip to Antigua that I volunteered for in 2007. The small parts that I had been assigned in the presentation to the elementary school students did not go well. They were not engaged in the introductory monologue that I had been instructed to give. My light bulb object lesson was a flop when given in bright tropical sunshine. Not only that, but one of the leaders made a critical remark about the way that I had manipulated my puppet. I envied the ones who were in a choreographed dance routine. That seemed up front and more important, but I wasn't picked for that role. What did my small parts matter anyway? I was feeling really sorry for myself.
1 Corinthians 12:12 – The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. (NLT)
At a Christmas concert about three weeks later, my own personal light bulb went on, and my thinking was shaken up, like the earthquake that we had experienced while in Antigua.
At first, I was overwhelmed by the whole effect and the glorious sound of the symphony orchestra before me. Gradually, as I listened and observed, I began noticing individual instruments. Each instrument had its own characteristics, and contributed a certain kind of music to accompany the featured musician, Michael W. Smith. Some unusual instruments had very small parts, and weren't used much, like the bongo drum, the tambourine, and strangely enough, jingle bells and a triangle. I suddenly realized the reason for their tinkling presence: What would the song Jingle Bells be without them?
My own "Aha!" moment came. God showed me that my small parts in the presentation in Antigua were like the instruments in the symphony orchestra. He spoke to my heart, "You were not just a drop in the bucket, but an important part of the whole." I got it!
1 Corinthians 12:18 – But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. (NLT)
My first monologue and object lesson had had no effect by themselves, even though over the course of the week, I'd had more success in presenting them. They were not meant to be featured apart from the other parts of the presentation. What mattered was the whole presentation of the gospel to the schools. That was deemed to be a success in the eyes of those planning the mission trip.
1 Corinthians 12:21-22 – The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. (NLT)
The lesson to all of us is just that. We are all necessary to the furtherance of the gospel, and we all contribute to the success of God's plan. Are you willing to be just a jingle bell?
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for reminding us that we don't all have to be bright light bulbs in the centre of the stage. Thank You for reminding us that we all have a part to play in the body of Christ, and it is You Who determines how our gifts are to be used. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
As I carefully place the pieces of the nativity set in their traditional places atop the desk, I try to find a quiet time to think about the characters and give thanks for the part that each played on that miraculous day.
I place the stable along with Mary and Joseph on a gold scarf that came with the set. Of course, I recount how Mary was told by an angel that she would have a Baby and she was to call Him Jesus. Next to Mary, I see poor Joseph, who had his world turned upside down with the news that his wife-to-be was already with child. I remember Scripture that tells of the angel who came to calm his fears with news that this was God's plan.
Close by, I place the shepherd with a lamb in his arms who gazes at the Baby. Off at a distance the three wise men make their way with their gifts. The donkey, cow, and sheep lie nearby to help make the scene complete. Lastly, I place the beautiful Baby Jesus in the manger overflowing with golden hay. My heart is greatly warmed at the sight of the sweet Baby Who came to be our Saviour.
Luke 2:6-7 – While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (NIV)
As I stand back and gaze at this beautiful scene, I am suddenly checked by the Lord. I begin to see the scene in a different way.
The King of kings was born in a stable, not the one that my nativity set portrayed on its glimmering, gold scarf. It was a stinky place where animals lived, and since the inn was full, so probably was the stable. This weary couple may have shivered from the cold as the winds blew through the cracks of the rickety old barn. Mary and Joseph lay down, not on a bed of clean hay but probably on a hard dirt floor that was hardly a place to give birth to a baby, let alone our Saviour. The manger was a dirty trough that was used to feed the livestock. How Mary must have winced at laying her precious Baby there. The angels didn't go to the religious leaders of that time but sang of the good news to lowly shepherds, who quickly joined this scene, not smelling all that good either.
Why, everyone is all cleaned up and looks so good on my gold scarf that I can practically hear Silent Night playing in the background. Why couldn't He at least be born inside the inn? Why not a warm cradle to lay Him in? I guess if the world had been the clean, perfect one that sat upon my gold scarf, there would have been no need for Him to come. If humankind were perfect, there would have been no need for a Saviour. Jesus was born of a lowly maiden in a dirty stable and would die to save us from our dirty sins. As Mary wrapped her newborn baby in swaddling clothes, she wrapped God's plan to save the world.
Don't worry, my nativity scene still sits on the gold scarf. I haven't brought in stable "dirt" to make it look realistic, but I will never look at it in the same way. Let's thank God that this perfect Baby came down to an imperfect world to die for our sins. Why? Because He loved us so!
Prayer: Praise You, Father, for sending Your one and only Son into this dirty world. Thank You, Jesus, for dying for our sins and loving us in spite of our dirty world. We love You, Lord, for letting us celebrate Your love letter of the birthing of hope with shiny bulbs and cheery songs. Amen.
Psalm 31:19 – How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. (NLT)
Both my son and my daughter left our home in California, USA, soon after high school graduation to join the navy. Eventually, my daughter settled in Ohio and my son in Virginia. Their life in California had a completely different atmosphere and lifestyle from the Midwest or East Coast (no snow, no hurricanes or tornadoes, lots of sun, and a more relaxed lifestyle), so this was a major change for them. They built their adult lives there, but always with the dream of returning to the west. They are now senior citizens and, over the last year, have gradually transitioned to being full-time Arizona residents in my 55+ recreational vehicle park. When I reach the point when I need more help, they will be there. I'm blessed to get to know them better as adults. This is a gift from God — totally unexpected and totally welcomed.
There is an even greater gift that blesses not only me, but all who choose to accept it.
Luke 2:9-11 – Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior — yes, the Messiah, the Lord — has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! (NLT)
Over two thousand years ago, God sent His only Son in the form of a Baby, declared by the angels to be the Messiah, the Lord. It's hard to imagine how He could agree to leave His magnificent heavenly home to come to earth and humble Himself to be born of a woman in a cave with only animals and lowly shepherds as witnesses. Even more, He knew that He would have to endure earthly difficulties and tribulations, not to mention the tortuous trial and crucifixion that were necessary as a sacrifice for our sins. But He did — out of an incomprehensible love for us.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)
This is the best gift that anyone can ever receive — the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord. If we accept this gift, we are released from the penalties of our sin and become adopted children of God. He brings hope, rest, and peace into our lives as we live for Him and pass on this gift to those around us.
This season, many focus on shopping — finding the perfect gift for loved ones. Instead, let's focus on spreading the news of this eternal gift from God, so that others, too, can become His children — part of the family of God.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, for His sacrifice and willingness to come to earth to release us from our sinful condition. Help us to share this gift with others as often as we can. Amen.
Being chosen is a stark contrast to being rejected. Do you remember when you were young, playing a game, and waiting to be chosen for one side or the other? Even later in life, when you applied for an employment position, remember how you longed to be chosen and not rejected. It may be that at festive occasions like Christmas when gifts are shared, you eagerly wait to be the next person chosen to open your gift.
John 15:16 – You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (NIV)
I don't know why God speaks to us as He does. I do know that I have always enjoyed reading the gospel of John, especially the fifteenth chapter. For some reason, He has brought the verse above to my mind again and particularly highlighted the fact that you and I are chosen.
I know a few of my readers personally, but I don't know anything about most of you. However, I believe that God Himself has chosen me to send this message to you — but why?
God speaks to us in many different ways, but one of the best is through reading His written word — the Bible — in all different translations. So, my first suggestion is that you make the effort to learn from Him by reading His Word. Like me, you may be surprised by what He says to you, even if it is something that you have read many times before.
But most importantly, think about Who chose you and why you were chosen.
For years, I have enjoyed singing a song written by Miriam M. Richards (1911-1989) and published in 1956, which includes some reasons why we are chosen. Let them be a powerful challenge!
What can I say to cheer a world of sorrow?
How bring back hope where men have sorely failed?
Just where I am I'll speak the word of comfort,
Tell how for me Christ's sacrifice availed.
Just where He needs me, my Lord has placed me,
Just where He needs me, there would I be!
And since He found me, by love He's bound me
To serve Him joyfully.
Wow! God Almighty needs me! You can also join me in being thrilled to be chosen. Just think that we can serve Him so joyfully!
Prayer: Dear God, thank You for giving us the privilege of being one of Your chosen ones. May we always show Your love, helping You and others joyfully. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 136:23 – It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever. (ESV)
It was the saddest Christmas school assembly that I'd ever experienced. I left as a devastated six-year-old. The evening had included a gift exchange arranged earlier through drawing names. One by one, the principal announced the name printed on each present, soon followed by an excited child scurrying to the front to grab it. I waited eagerly for my name to be announced. But it never happened. There was no gift with my name on it.
That evening, my parents drove home a sobbing little girl. They tried to console me with a present from under our family tree. But it wasn't the same. Really, this wasn't about a missing present. It was about not being remembered, and that left a painful vacuum in my soul.
That childhood memory keeps me aware of the human longing to be remembered. Maybe that's partly why I enjoy Christmas. It's a season when we gather to remember one another.
I've always appreciated the various tangible ways that others say to me, "I remember you!" Sometimes, I record such connections in my "Diary of daily blessings". But also, I'm aware of the miserable human plight of the countless ones who have no one to reach out to them. Deep down, their souls cry out, "Oh, please remember me!" They crave some tangible expression of mercy, love, and affirmation.
Really, isn't that what makes Jesus' advent still relevant today? This Christ Child came to be our heavenly Father's tangible means of saying, "I remember you!" Christ is our personal gift on Whom our name is written. Through receiving Him, our soul truly discovers its worth — as expressed in the song, O Holy Night:
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
Mary believed that her unborn Son would fulfill this ancient promise. She expressed it this way: "He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers." (Luke 1:54-55 NIV)
I encourage you to ponder God's magnificent covenant promise. Think about it till you find yourself swept up by its enormous impact. Think about it as God remembering us — forever — yes, by restoring estranged sinners to Himself! It's the hope so desperately needed — for young and old, for our families, for you, me, everyone.
Let us each now ask ourselves, How well do I sense that desperate soul cry, "O, please remember me!" How well do I myself sense God remembering me? Surely, that's what stirs us to plead:
Prayer: O loving Saviour, Who came as the "holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in. Be born in us today. O come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Immanuel." (O little town of Bethlehem – Phillips Brooks) Amen.
"I've got too many bad memories of the holidays, especially Christmas," a friend told me some years ago. "Everybody seems to be having a wonderful time, while I can barely hold it together. What can I do?"
She was asking because she sensed that it was also true for me: Christmas as survival. In those days, I just wanted it to be over. Both of my parents grew up in alcohol-fueled backgrounds. Every year, they fought the same battles with each other. As soon as we were old enough to remember, we kept well out of sight, making little hideouts like bomb shelters in the bottoms of our closets. I'd take my little brother in with me and hold him close.
One year, our parents threw an entire set of dishes at each other, piece by piece, across the living room. The crashing of cups and salad plates was all the warning that it took about not being noticed. On Christmas Day, there would be rolls of coverless comics in the stockings that we'd hung, but nothing personal under the tree. The sound track would be my parents screaming at one another. By then, the tree leaned precariously towards the floor, branches denuded, and broken ornaments scattered underneath.
Yes, we went to church for the nativity pageant. My parents put on a good front, but it stopped at our front door. I wished that I were anywhere but at home.
"I can't forget how bad those Christmases were!" my friend said. "I've tried over and over, but the memories seem worse every year."
I told her that I had stopped trying when I realized that Christmas is God doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves. God didn't send His only Son into a perfect world. Nobody plans to give birth in a stable, no matter how picturesque or full of angels.
Someone said, Without memory, there is no healing. Without forgiveness, there is no future.
We give those painful memories to God, praying, "I can't handle them, God. You take over."
Faith is courage that has said its prayers. We act on it. We depend on God's love. We share it with others until it becomes a habit, till the old past fades away.
1 Corinthians 2:9b – Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. (NKJV)
These good things are waiting for us to claim them.
It is up to us to forgive those makers of our old memories, in order to let God change our hearts. Then, everything changes, because of the Baby in the manger.
Prayer: Dear Father God, we thank You for the gift of Your Son. Help us to break free of our old way of thinking about the past and to accept the new life that You keep ready for us through Your mercy and grace. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Matthew 2:10 – When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. (ESV)
A childhood memory that has left a permanent imprint on my heart is my father and mother pulling me in my wooden sled through the town streets to purchase our yearly Christmas tree from the downtown Boy Scout lot. As I peered out from under my plaid wool blanket, the snowbanks beside me loomed like mountains, and far above them, the starry sky would cast curious snow shadows all around. On those unforgettable trips, we would search for the biggest star and make a wish together. I am embarrassed to admit that, at such a tender age, my wish was not for world peace, but for a farm set. Alas, under our tree, there was usually a Barbie doll. I never gave up hope, however!
Children wish upon stars and dream of a knight in shining armour, but during this relentless worldwide pandemic, surrounded by chaos and discussions of war and the newest variant of COVID-19, our families struggle to dare to dream of finding hope. Still, night after night, God's stars faithfully shine, and He provides us sure and certain hope of eternal glory in Christ.
Romans 5:5 – And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (NLT)
The Christmas star still shines like a beacon from the past, reminding us that we, like the wise men, have good reason to put our trust in God's promises. We can believe the miracle of Christ's birth: "The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'" (Matthew 1:23 NLT). The birth of Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled over 300 prophecies — the most convincing validation for the inspiration of the Bible. We have a true knight in shining armour Who came to defeat evil and save us.
Thirty years later, as Jesus hung on the cross, He promised all humanity that whoever repents and asks Him to be their Saviour will be with Him in paradise.
The beauty of Christmas is that those who wish on the star of Bethlehem and trust in Jesus' promise of paradise will abide in peace. They understand that the events impacting our lives today were foretold 3,000 years ago in the Old Testament.
Thankfully, we can believe there will be a happy ending no matter what the world throws our way. For God's love inspired the story of salvation, and He has never broken a promise. So, wish upon the star — Bethlehem — and dream of a knight in shining armour – Jesus — and happy endings — the Promised Land.
Revelation 22:16 – I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. (ESV)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send Your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of Your presence. We are Your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To You, we say, "Come, Lord Jesus!" Amen. – Henri Nouwen
Luke 1:26b-27a – God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. (NLT)
Matthew 1:20 – An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit." (NLT)
Every Wednesday night, I help with the children's program at church. It's a motley group: the pastor's three kids, four from a blended unchurched family with children from several families, five from a church-attending family but who are a challenge to keep in check, and two from another family. We've just started a series of lessons on the life of Jesus. On the last day of November, I presented the story of the angel bringing the news of the birth of Jesus to Joseph and Mary.
As we talked about the two different angels, I asked, "How would you feel if an angel came to visit you?" The responses were varied: scared, excited, curious. Trying to help them get the idea, I said, "Angels are glorious beings", intending to add some descriptive terms.
Abraham, seven years old and often in his own little world, interrupted: "Wait, angels are beings?" I couldn't understand why he was so incredulous until the pastor interrupted to tell me that Abraham had said "beans", not "beings"! No wonder that he was confused. We all had a good laugh. I clarified for Abraham what I meant, and we moved on with the story.
Angels are prominent in the Christmas story. They came to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. Angels are God's messengers, frequently bringing His Word throughout the Bible. But that's all that they are: messengers. Yes, they're glorious in their appearance, but we have to be careful about worshipping the messenger instead of the message.
Hebrews 1:14 – Therefore, angels are only servants — spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. (NLT)
I concluded the children's lesson with the question, "Who did the angel tell Joseph and Mary to expect?" And the resounding answer was, "Jesus, Immanuel, the Son of the Most High." Yes, they got the message.
That's why the angels were important. They didn't come to be adored or to make us think about how glorious and miraculous they are. They brought the most astounding message: Jesus is coming! "He will be very great. … And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!" (Luke 1:32-33 NLT)
My house is on a corner, so every year, I put out signs facing in all directions: "Happy Birthday, Jesus" and "Jesus is the Reason for the Season", hoping that people will get the message — Christmas is about Jesus. I wear a badge that states, "Let's keep Christ in Christmas." When others say, "Happy holidays", I try to remember to respond, "Merry Christmas!" During this Christmas season, what else can we do to spread that glorious message? How can we help others to know that Jesus is at the centre of it all?
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus to us and for His willingness to leave heaven and take on the form of a tiny Baby. Thank You for the angels who are Your ever-ready messengers. May we never fail to spread the message of His birth, His sacrifice, and His kingdom that will never end. Amen.
We just celebrated our 53rd wedding anniversary, so I have been inundated with memories from the past, sometimes making me somewhat sad because of times gone by. Since the celebration is over, I continue to remember things from those first years of marriage. One of them is our first Christmas tree. It was, of course, a fresh tree bought from a lot. We went out and bought all new ornaments and lights for the tiny tree. I remember bringing home to our little apartment boxes of red apples for bulbs, garland, and twinkling lights of all colours. Although I hate it, we bought silver tinsel and strew it about until we could barely see the ornaments.
For years, I dug these ornaments out at Christmastime, but the years took a toll on them. The red came off the apples, the garland was in pieces, and some of the lights burned out and eventually had to be replaced. But then, the tinsel covered up the chips, brokenness, and darkness.
Sometimes, we feel like those pitiful decorations. Once, we were brand new in our faith after we had accepted Christ into our hearts, but then life began to tear away at our bright and shiny faith. Our life changed as trouble came our way, our health deteriorated, or relationships changed. But then, there were church services, Christian friends, and Bible studies — lots of tinsel to cover our disappointments. But inside, there was something missing, a longing for new life. Why had the paint chipped away? Why had the beautiful twinkling lights gone black? Why are we left with only the tinsel?
As busy believers, we have forgotten our first love!
Revelation 2:4-5a – Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. (NIV)
In this busy season, if you feel that you have somehow lost your first love, turn your life around and seek your first love this Christmas. Don't hide behind the tinsel!
Jeremiah 29:13 – If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (NLT)
Let's cast off every distraction so that we can run free and unhindered in pursuit of Christ. There is still hope in the manger! There is still hope in the cross! Seek Him while He may be found!
I still hate tinsel!
Prayer: Father God, may our eyes be only on You as our first love. Help us to be authentic, with pure hearts, not hiding behind the tinsel. May we desire to pursue You only, and run whole-hearted and unhindered to reach the goal. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
The Christmas season provides a feast for the senses like no other time of the year. All five senses are fully engaged through the supersaturated sights, sounds, aromas, sensations, and flavours of Christmas.
- We hear bell choirs and carols.
- We smell spicy hot apple cider and evergreen wreaths.
- We feel the chill of drifting snowflakes and the warmth of a crackling fire.
- We taste gingerbread cookies and eggnog.
- We see Christmas lights and manger scenes.
Of all these sensory delights, sparkling or glowing Christmas lights please my senses the most. I love to drive through lighted neighbourhoods on a quiet winter evening to enjoy the beautifully decorated yards and homes. My lighted Christmas tree, glowing in a darkened room, is my favourite Christmas decoration. Candlelight and the glow of the fireplace add to the ambience.
Church steeples, sometimes topped with a cross to remind us of Christ's sacrificial death in our behalf, reach high into the sky, drawing the eye upward as the steeple points to God. A Christmas tree, tapering to a point and topped with a star, is a sort of miniature steeple, also carrying a certain kind of symbolism. The star is intended to remind us of the star of Bethlehem, which led the wise men to the manger of the baby Jesus. The Christmas tree, as a miniature steeple with its star topper pointing to God, can also remind us of God's wonderful gift of His only Son, given for the salvation of the world.
Just as Christmas lights shine brightly to illuminate the darkness, so did Jesus come to the world to bring light.
John 8:12 – Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." (NLT)
Lights, whether they are street lights, car headlights, flashlights, or candles, provide light to show the way in the darkness. Jesus, as the light of the world, provides light in our dark, sin-filled world.
As we enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas this year, let's open our hearts to Jesus as the light of the world.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, You gave us the greatest gift of all when You sent Your Son Jesus to bring light into our world. Please shine His light into our hearts so that we can receive Your gift and walk in truth as You reveal it to us. Amen.
I moved to Nederland last year, and due to COVID-19, I did not celebrate any Christmas or New Year's Day festivals. This year, I found myself so excited about anticipating the coming of Sinterklaas, a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children, whose name date is December 6th. He arrives by boat, supposedly from Spain, on the first Saturday after November 11th with his white horse, Amerigo, and his friend Piet. Children leave a shoe at the door every night and sing songs by the chimney in hope that Sinterklaas hears. They wait in anticipation to see what arrives in the morning, such as a candy, a speculaas cookie, a chocolate letter, a mandarin orange, or a small gift. On the evening of December 5th, they gather with friends and family for pakjesavond (gift evening). Sinterklaas leaves a sack filled with toys, but only if the children are good. So, for the whole period of Sinterklaas festival, the children are good and obedient because they want to receive gifts.
Luke 2:11-12 – Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. (NIV)
I found myself so caught up in the spirit of Sinterklaas that I lost track of the true meaning of Christmas. I was so focused on sharing in the tradition of Sinterklaas that I forgot the true gift at Christmas.
I was reminded by my friends that the spirit of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and to prepare ourselves for His soon return. We humble ourselves daily to God to thank Him for the sacrifice of sending His only Son in the form of a human being, so that we may be saved through Him.
John 3:17 – For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (NIV)
What can we do every day to prepare to meet Him when He returns? Through our actions, we can be kinder to others, pray together, speak the name of Jesus to those who do not know Him, sing hymns to Him, and reflect on His words, remembering that He is also watching us.
John 14:6 – Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)
We see through the Scriptures that the truth comes from God. Therefore, until the Lord returns, let us wait in anticipation, read His words, and be able to recognize Him when He arrives.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the reminder through others that our focus at the Christmas season is to anticipate the celebration of the birth of Jesus and His soon return. By Your grace and through faith in You, we are to share in eternal glory. Help us to remember that the true meaning of Christmas is in Christ, and not to be caught up in the retail gifts of Christmas but in the gifts of the Spirit. Amen.
On our journey of life, it is normal to be looking ahead. Sometimes, we look back and hopefully learn from mistakes that we have made, but more often, we look ahead with hope and anticipation of good things that lie ahead. One of my … Read more
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December is the last month of the year, but it is a busy month. We put up decorations, wreaths, lights (inside and out), Christmas trees, villages, and so on. Many do extra baking. We shop for perfect gifts for family and friends. Shopping … Read more
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She longed for their presence. The military had called her husband and her son to fight a Middle Eastern war. She worried night and day — never totally focused on anything that she did. What if both were killed? Or suppose that they … Read more
There is a couple in my church who appear to have the perfect life. Their most common expression is a smile. They both teach Sunday School, and they share their Christian witness often. Their Facebook posts feature happy events and their … Read more
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In 1920, when Grandma was beginning her family, she bought an improved homestead of 160 acres, with a home, a barn, and a large orchard. The orchard had already seen its prime, but was still producing apples from what had once been … Read more
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In grade school, I attended the Day School Gospel League (DSGL), a meeting for children held weekly after school by Christian ladies of the community to teach gospel stories, lead hymns and songs, and encourage Bible memorization. In … Read more
According to the experts, hummingbirds are expected to leave the part of central Texas where I live on October 10th. As I write this on October 22nd, the hummingbirds have already been gone from our ranch for about three weeks. That means … Read more
It is a well-known fact that Martin Luther, a former priest, is considered to be the leader of the German Reformation. In 1517, he nailed his ninety-five statements to the Castle Church doors in Wittenberg, Germany. This is an event that … Read more
Our dogs were barking and barking. Every time I went out to speak to them about this, they would calm down but begin barking again as soon as I turned back into the house. Watching them through the window by the door, I realized that … Read more
One of my happy places is my favourite coffee shop. The baristas there know not only my name, but also my regular order: a twelve-ounce, half-sweet, cardamom latte in a mug. I love to have my latte in a mug because I can then admire and … Read more
My four-year-old granddaughter had a peculiar bedtime habit whenever she stayed here overnight. She'd soothe her fretful whimpers by clutching a photograph of her mother, which she borrowed from my bookshelf. This item was anything but … Read more
In my recent reading of Ephesians, the phrase, "created in Christ Jesus for good works", reminded me of some good examples of what to do — and how — shown to me by staff members of the residence where I am privileged to live. Emelyn … Read more
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I have several beautiful cutwork tablecloths — a fabric design that incorporates embroidery or lace with parts of the fabric cut out to accent shapes. When they are folded up in the drawer, they don't look much different than any of the … Read more
Our well went dry, so there was work to be done. My sons and I gripped the thick rope tightly as we helped their dad to pull the pump up from the 250-foot-deep well. Our knuckles were white from straining to hold onto the rope, and we … Read more
Life — it's impossible without breath. "Breathe!" "Blast!" These commands came from a technician coaching me for a pulmonary function test as I sat inside an air-tight, sealed cylinder watching him through the glass. I felt like he was … Read more
"Why don't you come for a visit, Charles? It'll be a good chance to get away from everything and relax. Just come by yourself, no need to bring anything." I've had some weird dreams before, but this was definitely one to remember. I was … Read more
With the support of my Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Evans, the church, and my parents, I felt that I was being called to become a missionary. God's Spirit encouraged me to share my love for Him as I sang His praises both in and out of the … Read more
One day, I was coming from church on a Sunday afternoon and the rain was falling. I tried to stop several taxis, but to no avail. Everyone was trying to find shelter from the rain, and no driver was ready to drive in that weather. I tried … Read more
My grandfather led his horse, Nellie, to a large area that needed to be tilled, and he prepared her to plow for the garden. I observed her as she plodded along, looking straight ahead. With my thumb hooked over my coverall pocket, and the … Read more
My grandfather led his horse, Nellie, to a large area that needed to be tilled, and he prepared her to plow for the garden. I observed her as she plodded along, looking straight ahead. With my thumb hooked over my coverall pocket, and the … Read more
I read the PresbyCan Daily devotional each morning, and I pray for the PrayerLine requests that are often for Christians in foreign lands who are facing persecution and trouble for practicing their faith. I admit to feelings of guilt at … Read more
I read the PresbyCan Daily devotional each morning, and I pray for the PrayerLine requests that are often for Christians in foreign lands who are facing persecution and trouble for practicing their faith. I admit to feelings of guilt at … Read more
One morning in late August found me deadheading geraniums and collecting tomatoes from my garden. As we were approaching a change in season, I looked at a few plants that needed cutting back so that they will return next year. I couldn't … Read more
One morning in late August found me deadheading geraniums and collecting tomatoes from my garden. As we were approaching a change in season, I looked at a few plants that needed cutting back so that they will return next year. I couldn't … Read more
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We have just recently acquired a puppy, a little white ball of fluff that we call Daisy. She is a source of joy and affection for all of us. I am the one who feeds her first thing, clears up the mess, and leads her in the way that she … Read more
The Bible is a library, an inspired collection of 66 books written by different people over thousands of years, in a wide range of literary styles. One of my favourite biblical literary genres is that of the simple narrative, with stories … Read more
The Bible is a library, an inspired collection of 66 books written by different people over thousands of years, in a wide range of literary styles. One of my favourite biblical literary genres is that of the simple narrative, with stories … Read more
I walked by it numerous times, but I never knew that it was there. As I stood by our front door waiting on my wife, I saw one of the many squirrels that scamper through our neighbourhood subdivision doing what squirrels do. Except for a … Read more
I walked by it numerous times, but I never knew that it was there. As I stood by our front door waiting on my wife, I saw one of the many squirrels that scamper through our neighbourhood subdivision doing what squirrels do. Except for a … Read more
Some of us recall those days when a doctor made house calls, carrying a black bag stocked with medicines. After he assessed our trouble, we'd be offered a suitable remedy. Today, house calls have been replaced with clinic visits or perhaps … Read more
Some of us recall those days when a doctor made house calls, carrying a black bag stocked with medicines. After he assessed our trouble, we'd be offered a suitable remedy. Today, house calls have been replaced with clinic visits or perhaps … Read more
Every Monday, six months of the year, I bake desserts for upwards of thirty or more people who receive meals from our local Meals on Wheels program. One woman, who knows where I live, once asked me how this was possible when I have such … Read more
Every Monday, six months of the year, I bake desserts for upwards of thirty or more people who receive meals from our local Meals on Wheels program. One woman, who knows where I live, once asked me how this was possible when I have such … Read more
In a recent email, I was listing for a family member a number of current, mundane things related to home maintenance repairs and various family health issues, including waiting for lab reports and appointments. I ended the list with "It's … Read more
In a recent email, I was listing for a family member a number of current, mundane things related to home maintenance repairs and various family health issues, including waiting for lab reports and appointments. I ended the list with "It's … Read more
Because of my previous experience in raising pigeons, I have a real eye for them, and love having them around. We have a bird feeder behind our house, so, when one day a pigeon showed up, we were thrilled. We kept hoping that more would … Read more
Because of my previous experience in raising pigeons, I have a real eye for them, and love having them around. We have a bird feeder behind our house, so, when one day a pigeon showed up, we were thrilled. We kept hoping that more would … Read more
I find that there is something special about meeting the Lord in prayer early in the morning before the day breaks. When I rise out of bed at what seems to be an inconvenient time, to praise God and to seek His direction in prayer, my day … Read more
When people like me live to be aged, we have been through a myriad of peaks and valleys in our faith journey. When I was 32, I was finding my way out of a difficult spot in life and learning to take care of myself in the world. I suppose … Read more
The scavenger hunt is a common game played at summer camp or youth events. Each team of players is given a list of items that they must collect and the first team to successfully complete their list wins the prize. A more difficult version … Read more
A couple of times this week, I've had friends confess to me how unworthy they feel to be loved by God. It bothers them greatly and hinders them from coming back to church. They genuinely feel that because COVID has isolated them from … Read more
My husband and I recently visited Williamstown, Kentucky, USA, to see the Ark Encounter. Upon arriving, far in the distance on a hill, we could see a full-size replica of the ark that God told Noah to build, and we were taken there by bus. … Read more
Change isn't easy for most folks, but when it has a purpose, well … Gossip had driven the previous pastor to another venue. During the interim period, the church had dwindled to around thirty faithful attendees. When the leaders … Read more
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I helped my husband write his resumé when he applied for a job — and he got it, over 100 other applicants! I thought that I could do the same for others, so I advertised. My first client said that she was a teacher and needed a resumé … Read more
How's your treasury doing? You'll have one, of course. I'm referring to your life priority, the one which drives your focus — your consuming motivational reality. Our backyard chipmunk certainly has a "consuming motivational reality". … Read more
I stopped into a local fast-food restaurant for a late lunch. The teenager who took my order was obviously a new employee who was still being trained. When my food appeared, he stuffed it into a paper bag. I was waiting at a nearby table, … Read more
I never really wondered why bananas are shaped the way that they are until I saw a children's program about them on television. I was intrigued, so I looked up the details on Google, and here is what I found out. Banana plants look like … Read more
One of the many important gifts that God has given to human beings is the ability to remember. While memories are sometimes unpleasant, most often they are helpful, enjoyable, and, in some circumstances, even essential, as our society … Read more
The first family road trip that I remember taking happened when I was eleven years old. From our home on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, we travelled all the way to the Okanagan. Now an easy trip of eight or nine hours, it took … Read more
Years ago, I used to be a Vision and Values governor for a school where I did my best to uphold Christian values in a state-financed, nominally Christian school. My work as a governor made me realize that what I said and did, or assented … Read more
No one has penned the "if only" conundrum more appropriately than poet Robert Frost in the selection, "The Road Not Taken": Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And … Read more
When I was a very young girl, until I heard the lonesome steam whistle, I didn't know that a section of California's Northwestern Pacific Railroad tracks were six miles down the mountain from my grandparents' sheep ranch. The wind … Read more
Whenever I walked up to the main house in the morning to look after my granddaughters while my daughter went to work, I always put small treats in my pocket. There were two hard, green spearmint candies — one for Ade, who is the older … Read more
The society that we live in offers an abundance of choices — at times, too many to take in. I find big-box stores to be overwhelming to enter, with their cavernous ceilings and seemingly endless rows of goods piled high. Finding what I … Read more
The warning was clear: "Back off!" I'll never forget it. I had been calmly strolling down the farm lane when suddenly, I found myself being chased by a raging gander, spewing hisses and honks. He swiftly approached me with outstretched … Read more
I love the genial attitude of Paul when he is being interrogated by the local Roman rulers in today's passage. He knows that his life is on the line, but instead of remaining fearfully silent or pleading for forgiveness, he shares his … Read more
It is better to have a good neighbour than a distant friend. – Old Dutch Proverb The other day, I read that since the rise of social media, email, and texting with people all over the world, we have much less contact with the people near … Read more
"Here you go, ma'am!" The rental car dealer handed me the car keys and I happily drove away. I had been involved in a fender bender and now had use of a rental car as a loaner while my car was being repaired. Though totally satisfactory as … Read more
"One, two, three, eyes on me!" I would sing to my Grade One class. I needed to get their attention at the beginning of the lesson to give them instructions and to start teaching them. If they were noisy or if they had wandered from the … Read more
"My goodness, you walk your dog a lot!" My neighbour was walking his black Labrador for the third or fourth time that day. "It's a good way to get my steps in," he explained. "Getting my steps in" seems to be the current exercise craze. … Read more
Jansen was the head of a medium-sized organization. He and I were acquaintances, but little more. He needed someone to fill a certain position in which I was skilled, and he invited me to join. From the beginning, I felt that I had made a … Read more
I watched as if it were rolling in slow motion — or it could have been me moving in slow motion. I stretched my hand forward as it rolled to the floor — shattering. My heart skipped a beat. My favourite coffee mug lay in pieces on the … Read more
My granddaughters always have a project in mind for me when I go up to the house to care for them. Recently, it was making masks, fashioned after their latest cartoon heroes. Once the masks had been made, we each had to wear one and … Read more
Some time ago, I was discussing the writing of these devotionals with a member of the staff where I am privileged to live. When I mentioned that I was considering doing one about counting our blessings, Ashley, who is always so … Read more
Tragedy struck here on the morning of June 27! All four baby robins had suddenly vanished from the nest. We had been video-monitoring their progress every day. They were just nine days old. We turned on the camera in time to see Mama … Read more
My seven-year-old great-granddaughter touched me deeply during our last phone conversation. She excitedly told me about her love for mathematics. When I turned to the subject of what she was reading, her voice became even more animated … Read more
One of our grandsons, Bryan, who lives here in our town, has pigeons, just like I used to have before we moved into town. I had homing pigeons (homers) but he has fancy pigeons. They are not flyers like mine were but rather just birds to … Read more
I read a cute story on Facebook about a little boy who thought that he was old enough to visit his grandparents by himself. After much discussion, his parents agreed, and with his suitcase in hand, they took him to the train station. … Read more
One summer, two young cousins were visiting me and my husband. One adventure that we dreamed up for them was a three-day trail ride in the mountains. None of us had really ridden horses before, but the guide assured us that each of our … Read more
As an avid reader, I have always been a fan of the great detective, Sherlock Holmes, the literary creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I eagerly read — and watched film versions — of how he observed, made deductions, and uncovered crimes … Read more
Recently, I was sitting in my van at Elliot Lake looking out over the water. Being retired allows one to take time to enjoy nature and learn the lessons that God wants to teach His children. At the water's edge, I had gingerly parked the … Read more
When I was about a year old and my sister was two, my parents deposited both of us in an old truck tire on a beach of the Bering Sea. Then, they went away to search for the glass balls that came off Japanese fish nets and floated up to the … Read more
At twelve, my grandfather learned about straddling the fence. When he was only of middle school age, his father died. In a time when women worked mostly at home and the man was the sole breadwinner, this put the family in a precarious … Read more
One lovely spring day, my brother and I were on a day trip, meandering along back country roads that followed the Columbia River, which divides the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. On our route was a small, four-vehicle ferry crossing … Read more
Recently, I received a commission for a piece of stained glass. At a friend's home, a gentleman had seen a glass that I had created a number of years previously, and he contacted me to see if I would consider doing a similar scene for … Read more
I've just returned from the gas station, where I filled up the gas tank in my car for just under $20. Gas prices in the USA have been rising almost daily to the point where they're more than double what they were two years ago, so you may … Read more
As I write this, I'm watching Mama Robin sit on her second clutch of eggs this summer. Her fussing over these eggs reminds me of my dad's fussing over those hundreds of goose eggs in the hatchery in our farmhouse basement. Each day, he'd … Read more
The passage goes on to tell how Philip began with Isaiah and told the eunuch the good news of Jesus. The action verb in this passage that stands out to me is "Go". Most of us probably do not feel that we have ever been directed by an … Read more
The area around our church includes a neighbourhood which in the past has been rather dilapidated. Now, it has been regenerated and revamped with a community centre at its heart. Some of the terraced houses have been removed and the … Read more
Behind a counter inside my local bank stands a huge vault. Behind the open door is another large door with steel bars and a large lock, and inside are walls covered with hundreds of tiny doors, each with a lock that has two spots for … Read more
Lana's mittens dragged along the snowbanks as she walked the snowmobile path through the bush. The snow sparkled in the bright sun. The winter birds filled the sky with their colour, motion, and patterns. Lana was startled by a sudden … Read more
During the summer of 1951, I worked on a road construction project. An out-of-town company was paving a long stretch of highway and several other roads in that area. I helped the operator who ran the machine that actually laid the … Read more
Tom had a fragile childhood. His father was known as a rowdy type, a sailor with a woman in every port. Naturally, things between his mother and father fell apart, since his father wouldn't stop his carousing. Then, the day came when his … Read more
My wife Evelyn and I have just returned from a beautiful trip to Greece. We explored many places, climbed thousands of ancient steps, and visited some of the most amazing Greek and Roman ruins in the world. We had planned this holiday for … Read more
I had students coming to my home to help ready my garden for planting, but I had no tools. At the time, I was working as a greeter at our downtown credit union, right inside the front door. A friend said that he'd bring me something to … Read more
I bought a new-to-me summer home a few months ago. It has fourteen Venetian blinds! I love being able to look out all those windows, but cleaning the blinds has become a bigger job than I had anticipated. I don't think that they've been … Read more
I had been trying for at least six months to make a change to my bank account. I had spoken with the bank numerous times and answered dozens of questions, filled out paperwork, and sent everything in, and yet, I had still not had … Read more
Throughout life, situations often occur when one person makes an offer to another. If we want to make a deal, we usually try to encourage the person with whom we are dealing to accept the offer, because it is necessary for the deal to be … Read more
For today, I thought I'd share a personal prayer as I have presented it to my Lord. I call it "My Wish List". It is a compilation of excerpts from three Scripture portions: Ephesians 6:10-20, Psalm 110, and Psalm 118. Feel free to make … Read more
My sister-in-law, Sharon, and I enjoy getting together for a weekly visit over coffee. Sharon has also written several PresbyCan devotionals, and one day over coffee we were discussing one of her recent devotionals entitled *`Watch Where … Read more
During the past two years, a water exercise class that I enjoyed was shut down due to the pandemic. Recently, because there were too few certified lifeguards available, its reopening was delayed. Lifeguards are essential to the safe and … Read more
Recently, we had a high-pressure weather system over the United Kingdom. It is a good time to set our barometers when there is a reliable, consistent pressure over the mainland. I understand that mercury barometers are highly … Read more
Our first American SOWER (Servants on Wheels Ever Ready) project was at Gospel Rescue Mission, in Tucson, Arizona, USA, which is a shelter for women, some with children. My husband and I had just retired from teaching. We hadn't yet reset … Read more
Arriving by boat at the welcoming shoreline of Kill Bear Park, my husband and I lowered our anchor and slipped gingerly into the shallow, cool water of Georgian Bay. Laughing as our feet wrestled with the shifting sand below, we slowly … Read more
For a middle school boy, I had the job of a lifetime — regardless of the pay. My paternal grandfather was an ice cream delivery man — not the kind who drove through neighbourhoods and sold ice cream novelties to eager children, but the … Read more
"This is the last will and testament of me, in this city, in this province or state, dated this day. … I hereby revoke all wills and codicils previously made by me." If you recognize these words, you have written, benefited from, or … Read more
When I finished high school, my dad asked me what I thought that I wanted to do with my life. I told him that I was interested in studying writing, being a veterinarian, working with animals, or studying theology. All were things which at … Read more
The conscience of a person can become so severely compromised and violated that it is of little use to the Holy Spirit. Sadly, there are too many people, even Christians, in this category. As Paul wrote in today's verse, it is not an … Read more
No one needed to tell those five baby robins to open wide their mouths. It was instinct! And what a sight that was! My husband had connected a television screen to a video camera pointing at a robin's nest built under the eve next door. … Read more
It is normal to anticipate something that may or may not happen. That happening may be something that we want or something that we dread. There is a famous quotation, attributed to Benjamin Franklin in 1789: "In this life, nothing is … Read more
Three-year-old Lindy is a late talker. Lindy hears and understands, but the part of her brain that hears sounds and interprets them into speech does not function as it should. It will thus take her much longer to learn to speak than most … Read more
Just over a year ago, my daughter's family and I agreed that it was time for me to move closer to them, leaving the house where I'd lived for over 40 years. We began to explore housing options, but nothing seemed to be clear and … Read more
We had not been to church for quite a while, mainly because of the COVID-19 situation as well as on account of personal medical issues. But in April, we started attending again. Mind you, a lot has changed: attendance has decreased, and … Read more
My great-grandmother rarely ventured beyond the confines of her bedroom, but she was happy. For as long as I can remember, my great-grandmother, Mammy, lived with my paternal grandparents. Her bedroom was just off the living room of the … Read more
I'm sure many of us can remember stepping into a dark movie theatre from the bright daylight. We were stopped in our tracks because of the contrast between the light and the dark. I remember having popcorn accidentally dumped on me … Read more
"I'm supposed to bring a plate to the hockey banquet next week," my young son announced. "Bring a plate? What do you mean, Stephen?" I asked him, perplexed. "That's what the coach said." I wasn't familiar with the idiom "bring a plate", … Read more
I laughed … and I laughed … and I laughed. Yet, this was no laughing matter; it was intensely grievous. I had been "thrown under the bus" through a narcissist's typical weapon: scapegoating his victim in order to conceal his … Read more
Imagine the face of the family dog, caught red-pawed doing something that it knows is wrong, rolling eyes, hunched shoulders, tail tucked between its legs, all signs of guilt and an anxious pup! It's funny to watch; it makes me laugh, even … Read more
I am a SciFi fan. I remember watching Men in Black where "K" (Tommy Lee Jones), one of the agents in a black suit, jumps up and down waving his arms and shouting, "Eat me!" to a very large alien. The alien obliges by swallowing him, … Read more
Thunderstorms with tornados are common in Indiana, USA, where I spent much of my childhood. Blaring sirens would ring out, disturbing a peaceful dinner or interrupting a night's sleep. My family would cross our lawn to the neighbourhood … Read more
"Look at that!" A petite engineering student was pointing to Penguin Press's thick History of Canada on my bookshelf. "I didn't even know we had penguins in Canada!" she said. "And they have so much to say about them!" I couldn't … Read more
Bible verses about flowers are key for reminding us of the beauty of God's creation and His provision for our needs. In contrast, while the flower eventually fades, Jesus' love for us never does. In the northern hemisphere, spring is … Read more
In January, I told how God spoke to me through others' devotionals. I've recently realized that He's speaking to me in a different way — through hymns that pop into my mind in random moments. At … Read more
On two earlier occasions, my husband and I had stayed at the same hotel after driving to visit relatives. This time, we opted for travelling by train. From the Amtrak station, we rode on the light rail system to a station within a short … Read more
"I guess we're eating out tonight," my son muttered as he surveyed the empty countertop. Just five minutes earlier, he'd set a frozen pizza on the counter and gone upstairs. When he returned, all that remained was the pizza's cardboard … Read more
My friend gave me a series of Lenten devotionals this year, and I observed Lent for the first time since I became a Christian many years ago. I learned that it is never too late to journey with Christ to the cross. As I read the … Read more
Did your mother have a mending basket? It was there that things which needed mending were put until there was time to fix them. Some items required carefully working from inside the garment and concealing stitches or weaving threads or … Read more
A favourite game in our house is hide and seek. The girls just love it and want to play it regularly. They never seem to get tired of discovering me, tucked into a large dog kennel or behind the hot water tank. They never weary of my … Read more
One of the most beloved children's hymns is This little light of mine, often attributed to Harry Dixon Loes. I can close my eyes and travel back to a time when I held out a makeshift lantern and sang those heartfelt lyrics to our church … Read more
Conscience sensitivity is very relative. Some things may not necessarily be sins, but our consciences may also not permit indulgence in such. Paul wrote, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful." *(1 Corinthians … Read more
We are not a conventional family, but we are blessed by the gifts that our mother, Rose DeShaw, delivered to us as children. With not a lot of money, we received gifts that helped us to transcend the material world and connect us to our … Read more
Music is a wonderful vehicle for expressing deep thoughts and emotions. A childhood friend and I were reminiscing recently about how rich and meaningful our early church experience was. This was due, in part, to the role that music had played. Over the course of time, the small congregation in our little rural community church essentially sang through our entire hymn book. With much repetition, we could sing — by heart — nearly every verse of those old hymns and gospel songs.
My friend commented on the wealth of theology that was often packed into those songs. Many of them did carry a strong message of hope and encouragement and of God's grace and faithfulness. Oftentimes, a song gave a strong nudge to spread the good news of salvation to the world around us.
Such was the case with the song, Make Me a Blessing. One line of the refrain, "Make me a blessing to someone today" often comes to mind as I live my life here in the condo community where I now live. Read these words:
Make Me a Blessing
- Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.
Refrain:
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing.
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.
Make me a blessing to someone today.
-
Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
Tell of His pow'r to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True, ev'ry moment you live. -
Give as 'twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.
– Ira B. Wilson The line, "Make me a blessing to someone today" becomes a frequent prayer as I think about needy people all around me. I know that even a smile or a kind word can make me a blessing to them. Warm conversations with others can also lead to opportunities to "give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." But we are called to "do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15b NIV)
We are also encouraged by Psalm 107:2 – "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble." (ESV)
What can we do today to be a blessing to others around us? How can you share the hope that you have experienced?
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, may our words and actions show Jesus to others around us. As You have blessed us, may we in turn be a blessing to others in our daily lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Hebrews 4:3a – For we who have believed enter that rest. (ESV)
Recently, I have been updating regular PresbyCan Prayerline requests with the aspiration of raising awareness of the suffering of the people of Ukraine since February 24, 2022. I do not know how many have engaged with God on behalf of my comments. All I can do is to pray, because it is my belief that God's presence makes a difference, for one or for all.
Currently, I have endeavoured to build a bridge between our readers and the latest news of calamity from Ukraine to urge everyone to stand with me and lift into the presence of Jesus those who are suffering in ways that are beyond most of our ken.
Over the decades that I have been writing, I have attempted to illustrate what God has shown me when I have remembered Him and have been provoked to put time aside to write.
Today was one such occasion where, in the presence of the Holy Spirit at church, I sensed that God spoke to me again. He acknowledged my lifting up of those who are agents of His care and my crying out to Him in despair and annoyance about this latest awful war: killing, maiming, and traumatizing of the innocent by those working for the ungodly.
He asked me if I was aware that my crying out to Him was in some manner distancing me from Him. He, my loving Saviour, did not need to be cried out to from afar in some forlorn manner, but rather, because He loves us all, I could walk into His heavenly realms in my mind's consciousness and lay down my petition and know that it was heard. There was no need to metaphorically beat my chest in exhortation of Him, because He knows and reads my true heart's desire to intercede and to be a bridge-builder between heavenly realms and the desperate needs on earth that I sense need His care.
Those who read this can let go of their angst, too; they can be bridge-builders, ones who rejoice in our Saviour's desire to walk with us in prayer and action wherever we may be, because God is already there ahead of us. He listens, waits, and stays ministering long after we have moved on, because of His great love.
One day, He will say "Welcome!" as we enter heaven, but until that time, we can continue interceding for His world and for people, to bring the authority and power of the kingdom of God into a world in need of prayer and action.
Prayer: Lord, Your will be done, Your name be praised forevermore. May Your kingdom come. Bring peace in our time. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Exodus 20:17 – You must not covet your neighbor's house … or anything else that belongs to your neighbor. (NLT)
One spring, the neighbours down the street were having a swimming pool built. The tiny village of New Denver, British Columbia, Canada, where we lived, lay nestled on the shores of the deep and clear Slocan Lake, where we could swim any time we wanted during the summer. But imagine being able to go for a swim right from your own front door! No one else in the village had a swimming pool. I was green with envy.
Soon, a white, semi-domed structure loomed up at our neighbours' house. I could hardly wait to have a chance to peek inside it. Finally, the neighbours invited us over to show off their new pool. It was like stepping into the warm, moist atmosphere of a greenhouse. The translucent plastic that covered the ceiling and walls diffused the sunshine, enveloping the interior with a soft, ethereal glow. I dipped my hand into the clear water. Yes, it was warm! The pièce de résistance, however, was a vine in the corner with cucumbers growing on it! I could hardly take it all in, it was so perfect.
Numbers 11:5-6 – We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna! (NLT)
In the middle of the night, as I was thinking about that swimming pool, God reminded me of the cucumber vine in it. I almost laughed out loud. I had been so focused on what I didn't have, actually coveting something, that I had forgotten to focus on the amazing things that God was doing. God had led us in miraculous ways, and our family was on the brink of the greatest adventure of our lives. In a couple of months, we would be going to Czechoslovakia to help a pastor start a Christian school. God wanted us to follow Him, rather than living a life of ease. Instantly, I felt better about the swimming pool.
1 John 2:15-17 – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. (NLT)
It's not wrong to want certain things, but let's not be dissatisfied with what we don't have, and let us remember the wonderful things that God has given us. Let's do the things that please Him.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You have given us so many gifts — life, food, health, work, and friends. Help us to be grateful for these things and not to be discontented with what we don't have. You know us well, and You know what we need. Help us to focus on You, and not on the things of this world. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
One day, we were watching a religious program on television, and the commentator mentioned that in worship, singing is praying. St. Augustine, who lived from 345 to 430 AD, is credited with saying, "To sing is to pray twice." In a commentary on Psalm 72, he wrote, "Whoever sings a praise, not only praises, but only praises with gladness. He that sings praise, not only sings, but also loves Him of Whom he sings."
For more than 25 years, I led Bible discussions at the local long-term care centre. I often found that it was difficult to have a dialogue with the residents, and there were only a few people who were able and willing to discuss the passages and the stories that we looked at, although they had some great insights, and I learned a lot from them. But when it came to singing hymns at the worship services, I was amazed at the way that they sang. So many of them knew the words from memory, and together, we expressed the love of God for us, our love for Him, and our faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord through the hymns that we sang. It was something that they had learned decades before, and for them, it was as if the hymns were prayers.
Paul and Silas learned about the power of praying and singing hymns in Philippi, where they were arrested, beaten severely, and thrown into the inner prison, with their feet in stocks. In all their distress, pain, and agony, they were still able to pray and sing hymns.
Acts 16:25-26 – But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. (NKJV)
In the ensuing commotion, the jailkeeper and his whole family believed in Jesus and were baptized.
Many of the old hymns contain words of prayer, and many are little sermons, as well as expressions of faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
– William R. Featherston (1848-1875)
When we sing in church or wherever we are, may the words of the hymns speak to our hearts. Just remember, to sing is to pray twice!
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we thank You for the authors of the many hymns which express our faith and give us such enjoyment and peace in our hearts. We offer this prayer in Jesus' name. Amen.
The rugged Selkirk Mountain Range, spanning Canada and the USA, is home to grizzly bears, cougars, and wolves. When my father was still able to go down into the mines, we lived at the foot of one of the mountains, in tenement housing provided by the mining company. Only a creek separated our house from the mountain. All the time, howls and growls from the wildlife would come off the mountain, especially when there was a full moon. However, left to our own devices, we kids ran loose and climbed around on the mountain exploring, with seldom a caution from any adults. My little brother, on the baby side of three years old, would tag along now and then, though if he complained, we would send him home.
One day, my little brother went missing. "I've looked everywhere and called his name, but he's gone!" my mother said. In despair, she quoted the Bible, where, it seemed, as a believer, one could talk to mountains and they would listen:
Matthew 17:20b – If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. (NLT)
But as everyone prayed, the Selkirks didn't appear to be going anywhere.
A search party formed. Someone called the local paper to stand by. From the prayers sent up that day for my brother, I mark the beginnings of my faith, which has grown throughout my life. He eventually came stumbling out from a cupboard under the kitchen sink where he'd fallen asleep. He has since grown up to care for the helpless and be a blessing.
What did it take, or will it take, for you to come to faith? Even a tiny bit, the size of a pinhead, is enough to get us started believing. Someone said, Faith is not belief without proof but trust without reservation.
Matthew 13:31b-32 – The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches. (NLT)
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the miracle that grows the mustard seed of our faith into the tree that it is meant to be — a resting place for those still lost in the wilderness of this world. May we be serious about Your words of hope and find the reality of faith as we walk in this world with You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Genesis 2:18 – The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." (NIV)
From the beginning of time, we have been created not to be alone. We are designed to be together. This last couple of years, the COVID-19 restrictions have significantly increased the situations where we have been forced to be apart.
As a result, there have been many reports of increased mental health problems, particularly among young people who have been unable to mix with their peers in normal ways, such as in-school learning. Many senior citizens have suffered because family and friends have been prevented from making usual visits to them.
At the peak of the Omicron spread, two of my male friends were prohibited from visiting their wives in hospital because of the fear of contagion.
With the challenges preventing us from being together, what can we do in a positive way?
First, I can work harder at being a friend to anyone with whom I am able to interact. This may be in-person, or by mail, by telephone, electronically, or by any other possible means. There is an old saying, "To have a friend, one must be friendly."
While I want to be friends to all, in any way possible, I must remember the cautions set out clearly in the Bible. Being together always involves at least two people. Sometimes, I may be the stronger person, and sometimes, the weaker. In different situations, the roles may be reversed.
But in a good relationship, we should always be helping each other.
However, Paul cautions us:
2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? (NKJV)
Our ability to be together positively has always presented challenges. From the first stories of two brothers, Cain and Abel, fighting, to interchanges between nations and peoples over the years until the present time, when the current pandemic has brought new difficulties that we have not previously experienced, there have been difficulties in fulfilling God's design.
In every situation, the assurance of success comes with the presence of the silent partner — the Lord Jesus Christ — showing His love through us.
He planned that we should live together. So, we must work diligently every day, despite obstacles such as the current pandemic, to live together in a positive, helpful manner.
Prayer: Dear Father, we have been experiencing particularly challenging times during this pandemic when we are forced to be apart more than usual. Help us each to avail ourselves of the helpful yoke offered by Jesus. In His name, we pray. Amen.
I love living in Arizona, but there is one notable downside: dry skin, particularly on my feet. Many of us wear sandals year-round, so it is an ongoing problem. But I think that I've finally conquered it with daily applications of lotion, morning and night. I slather on the lotion, let it settle in, and slide my feet into an old pair of soft slippers for a while. Combined with occasional vigorous scrubbing with a foot brush or pumice stone, my feet are happy — and so am I!
I must confess that this new routine was prompted by a visit to the podiatrist for some minor repair. I was embarrassed by the condition of my feet, and I knew that something different needed to happen before I settled into his chair and my feet ended up more or less in his face.
Am I the only one who sometimes finds myself in the same situation spiritually? Something in my life gets out of control — eating, worrying, fear, envy — or any one of a number of other sinful attitudes. I let it go on, either out of laziness or a desire to keep doing it — like the chocolate that I find so hard to resist. Then, I read a Scripture, hear a sermon, talk to a friend, or read a devotional that, like my visit to the podiatrist, lets me know that it's time for a change.
Romans 1:29-31 – Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. (NLT)
Sometimes, we think that sin applies only to the "big ones", like murder, drunkenness, or sexual immorality. But this text talks about the ideas, attitudes, and interactions that could be compared to the rough skin on our feet. They make life unpleasant for us and those around us, and can even blow up into a major event if we let them go on too long. They need scrubbing, cleansing, and smoothing!
The Bible offers two solutions for our spiritual dry skin:
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)
Romans 13:14 – But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (ESV)
Then, we can experience the "lotion" that we need — the anointing of the Holy Spirit — to cleanse our lives and enable us to look at the world through Jesus' eyes.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)
Prayer: Father, help us to look at our lives through Your eyes, to confess our sins, and to show the fruit of the Spirit to all those around us. Amen.
Romans 8:18-25 – I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (NRSV)
During this Eastertide, we are living through a season of resurrection and hope. Some use that word hope as an acronym for Heal Our Planet Earth. Hope is what we cling to in these dark days of war and destruction, global warming and environmental degradation.
I don't for a moment want to dissipate the darkness, the dilemma, or the despair that many feel at the state of the world, but I want there to be rays of hope to hold on to. Paul reminds us that what we wait for is a brave new world, a redeemed world, a saved world, a restored world — a world that waits with hope, a hope that is healing instead of decaying. Paul said that creation itself, with eager longing, waits on the highest hill and in the deepest depths for the "the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope."
Earth Day 2022 … resurrection and hope.
God so loved the world — every stick and stone, every bird and beast, every hill and valley, every ocean and tropical forest, every glacier and glade, every microbe and monkey, every man, woman and child — that He gave His only Son …
Let us remember that on the day of resurrection — the first Easter — Mary did not mistake Christ for a soldier, a scientist, or even a rabbi, but rather a gardener.
Prayer: God, You love the earth You made, the sea and the sky, the animals and the trees, the birds and the bees. You even love the ground under our feet. We thank You for making so many bright and beautiful things — including all of us. You made us all for a purpose. Today, help us to think about why we're here in the middle of this bright and beautiful world. We join our voices with the wind and the waves, the geese and the gophers to praise Your holy name. Amen! (Nancy Cocks in "God's Good Old Earth")
2 Kings 20:1 – About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: "This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness." (NLT)
Handling final affairs can be sobering but helpful.
Before my father died, he arranged most of his final affairs. Although he never went to the funeral home and selected a casket, he did have his order of service mapped out, as well as a burial site selected. This made it much easier on Mom and us boys when he died.
Later, when Mom remarried, she and her new husband went even further. Though they each decided to keep the original burial plots they had selected from previous marriages, they did redraw their wills. Mom, too, planned out her funeral service. The only thing that we three sons will have to do is to choose her casket.
Finalizing one's final affairs isn't pleasant, but it's wise. King Hezekiah came face to face with his mortality when he became deathly ill. Isaiah the prophet visited him and told him to set his affairs in order. Death was coming.
Losing a loved one taxes a family. Having a will made so that the government can't take what doesn't belong to them — or so that the family members won't get bottled up in legal wrangles as they divide the loved one's estate — is vital. What a will states does not always please family members, but having one is still more advantageous than not.
Picking out a burial plot, selecting a casket, and arranging to pay for final affairs isn't a bad idea either. We don't enjoy facing our mortality, but having the final details taken care of gives the family more time to grieve properly.
Whether we want it to be or not, life is brief — even when it's 80 or more years. Anne Bradstreet, one of the two major poets from Puritan America, wrote of the death of her infant grandchild:
Blest babe, why should I once bewail thy fate,
Or sigh thy days so soon were terminate
Sith thou art settled in an everlasting state.
Life is tenuous and uncertain — as is proven every day by terrorist acts, natural disasters, and other tragedies — but we don't have to live with fear. Bradstreet concluded her poem with the line, "Is by His hand alone that guides nature and fate."
Planning our final affairs is prudent; making sure that our lives are securely in God's care is even more so.
Prayer: Father, knowing that life is precious but brief, help us to live prepared to meet You. Amen.
In the 1970s, my husband Lynn and I lived as far away from our hometown of Portland, Oregon, USA, as is possible. Portland's antipode (on the opposite side of the globe) is somewhere in the Indian Ocean, and the large island of Madagascar, where we were serving as missionaries, is the closest land mass. This remote location meant that travel and communication were both extremely challenging. Communicating with friends and family in the USA from that great distance wasn't easy. How easy communication is today with the growth of the Internet and social media! Email, texting, FaceTime, and Zoom make even face-to-face conversations from afar fast and easy today. During the 1970s, however, airmail letters were our primary means of communication.
My letter writing to our friends and families fell into a regular pattern. Every Sunday afternoon, I would sit down at my typewriter (for there were no personal computers yet either, remember?) to type out my two-page, single-spaced letters on thin, airmail-weight stationery.
Writing and mailing a letter was only the first step in the chain of communication. It took an average of three weeks or more to send a letter home and receive a reply. Try to imagine this slow-motion, stuck-in-molasses style of conversation. By the time we got an answer to a particular question, we had often forgotten what we'd asked in the first place! More confounding yet was the confusion caused by the letters crossing in transit. Everything was always out of sync by half a step. Had we had a computer, I could have created a spreadsheet with letter dates, and questions asked and answered! Oh, so much confusion!
Despite the frustrations of this long-distance, slow-motion communication, we eagerly looked forward to getting letters from home. One Bible verse expresses what those letters from home meant to us:
Proverbs 25:25 – Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. (NIV)
Even better than those letters from home is God's Holy Word, the Bible. It is His "letter from home" to all of us, for we who know Jesus as Saviour also know that our real home is in heaven, even while we are still on earth.
Philippians 3:20 – But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. (NLT)
God's words as written down by the inspired writers of Scripture are all about Jesus, Whom God wants to reproduce in the lives of His people. Through Scripture, we are invited to place our faith in Jesus' redemptive work and God's promise of eternal life. Through Scripture, we are also given all the instruction that we need for living a God-pleasing life.
Will you read God's Word as His personal "letter from home" to you? Our loving response to His Word is obedience:
Psalm 119:11 – I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (NIV)
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, You have given us all that we need to know about You and our world through Your love letter to us — the Bible. May we read and receive it as Your personal message to each of us. Amen.
"Let it go!" These words interrupted my thoughts one day while wrestling over an issue which had begun to feel like a losing battle. My efforts to change the situation felt fruitless. With those words, "Let it go!" the light dawned: I saw that I had assumed a care which had become too much for me. This was harming me. How did I know that? Because it was robbing me of my peace, joy, and sleep; it was making me over-controlling. And that's bad. No wonder that Jesus cautioned His followers, saying:
Luke 21:34a – But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with … cares of this life. (ESV)
Subtly, I had become weighed down with cares of this life. I desperately wanted to make something important happen for me, and my efforts were failing. As I released my determined grip on this fruitless mission, my anxious strivings blew away as if by a summer breeze. A refreshing surge of peace washed over me. Perhaps, I didn't need what I thought that I needed. I knew that I could trust my God with the matter. God would order and provide for me; His love would never let me go. With this renewed assurance, my mind was lifted from my focus on earthly matters and was set on things above. Like the psalmist did, I would wait on God.
I didn't have long to wait, for God was quick to launch me into a familiar review lesson. You see, in the past, I've experienced such times when I needed to let go of a burdensome pursuit. Usually, I realized that it was too much for me only when I noticed the negative effect — notably, when I lost peace and joy, or when I felt discouraged or stressed out.
Those have been opportunities to stop and engage in some careful self-reflection, times to ask the question: Why do I take on cares that are too burdensome? I know. It's partly because of high expectations on myself and others.
For myself, I wish to do things properly, say the right words, and ensure that I'm understood. From others, I want things to be explained properly and managed correctly, with moral integrity, proper protocol, according to the best expertise, professional standards, and so forth. You get the picture.
These are not bad desires, for such ideals have helped to advance our civilization and to provide us with a sense of security. But how do we react when our expectations fail and people don't measure up?
If our main mission is to correct the situation or to make others see the light, then we risk taking on an unachievable goal. We risk drifting from God's best for us ourselves. These are times to hear those words, "Let it go!" — perhaps through a tender invitation from our heavenly Father, such as this:
Bear not a single care thyself;
One is too much for thee.
The work is Mine and Mine alone;
Thy work is to rest in Me.
– Hudson Taylor
Prayer: Lord, as we release our care to You, open our eyes to see what You do with it — for our benefit and for Your glory. Amen.
John 20:29 – Then Jesus told [Thomas], "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." (NLT)
Whoo—who-who—whoo
"Terry! Wake up! I hear the owl!"
I had been hearing this sound every night from inside our cabin at Camp Loma de Vida, in south Texas, USA, during the winter months this year. We had never actually pin-pointed its source. Terry reluctantly pulled on his clothes, and we quietly opened the door. Of course, by the time we ventured outside, we didn't hear a thing.
As birders, Terry and I keep an informal record of the birds that we see, starting afresh every January. There's the list for the year, and also a Life List, for birds that we see for the very first time. We don't keep lists for any particular organization, just as a hobby. There was a time, nearly fifty years ago, when Terry would help a friend take part in special breeding bird surveys every June. They would list the names of the birds both seen and heard for three minutes, as they stopped every half mile along a twenty-five mile stretch of the highway. Both Terry and his friend had good hearing then, and our friend recognized many birds merely by their sound. These were counted along with the ones seen. The sound of the bird was just as valid as seeing it.
After trying to see "our" owl for about a week, my husband finally declared, "I think we'll add him to the list. I'm pretty sure it's a Great Horned Owl." He played me its call on the bird app on his phone. "It's the only owl it could be in this area."
"But I want to see it!" I replied. I wanted visible proof that it really was a Great Horned Owl.
After the resurrection, one of Jesus' disciples had much the same reaction.
John 20:24-28 – One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side." Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. "Peace be with you," he said. Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!" "My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed. (NLT)
Thomas believed when he saw Him, but we have not seen Him.
1 Peter 1:8 – You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. (NLT)
We trusted in the evidence that, indeed, the owl was present in the trees around us. We have never seen Jesus physically, but because of the resurrection, we "see" Him with our spiritual eyes, and believe. As we celebrate in this Easter season, may we rejoice that we can believe, even though we have not seen Him with our natural eyes.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that because of the resurrection of Jesus so many years ago, we are blessed to believe. Help us to overcome our unbelief and to trust You in all situations. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Luke 24:1-5 – But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." (NRSV)
Eastern Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar, so as many of us Christians celebrate Easter today, we ask ourselves how on earth the Ukrainian people will be able to observe Easter next Sunday with many of their churches destroyed, their people dispersed around the world, and the nation lying in tatters. What I do know without a doubt is that they will not only observe Easter, they will celebrate it. In the face of death and destruction and inhumanity, we have witnessed their courage and determination and defiance.
Many would expect no less from such a people who have known such conditions throughout their history.
There is an apocryphal story told of a speech given in 1930 in Kyiv, Ukraine, by a famous Russian communist leader, Nicolai Ivanovich Bukharin. He was a very powerful man, editor of the Soviet journal Pravda and author of numerous works on political science and economics that are still read today. The topic of his speech was atheism, which is of course a tenet of Marxism. For more than an hour before the huge assembly, he addressed his hardest hitting arguments against Christianity. Rational proofs and insults put down the historic faith of the Ukrainian people. When he finished, he looked out over what he assumed to be the smoldering ash heap of the crowd's faith and asked if there were any questions.
Silence.
Then one man came down to the front, and stood next to the famous speaker. He looked over the audience, left and right, and then shouted the Easter greeting of the Orthodox Church. "Khrystos voskres!" (Christ is risen!) And the people in their thousands stood on their feet and shouted back, "Voistynu voskres!" (He is risen indeed!)
A young Ukrainian couple taught me a common greeting in Ukrainian: "Slava Isusu Khrystu" (Glory to Jesus Christ!) to which we were to respond with "Slava naviky" (Glory forever!)
This might be the most powerful greeting that you can offer another this Easter season. This might also be the beginning of resurrection for the Ukraine and for all of us.
Prayer: In times like the world now faces, with war and disease and degradation of the environment all around us, we ask You to shine Your light in us, through us, over us. May we make a difference in this world for Your glory and purposes. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness joy. We offer this prayer for a world that so desperately needs Your presence and healing. Thanks be to You, God, for Your indescribable gift! Amen.
Luke 24:5b-7 – Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day. (NLT)
One Easter Sunday in Alaska when I was very small, we opened our front door and a wall of snow higher than the house looked back at us. There was no use digging through it. All the way out to the street would be just as deep. We'd have to wait for the plow that was not available on that holiday.
The "we" were tiny stair-step sisters wearing our new bonnets that tied under the chin. We had to go to church, certainly to show off how cute we were and to say our pieces for the children's Easter program. My lisping youngest sister had learned her recitation: "De Wobin said, Good chewe, (cheer) good chewe. Spwing has come and Eastow's hewe!"
Mother believed that there were many things that would cause God's love to screech to a halt where Christians were concerned. Missing church was one of them, along with the usual list added onto the Ten Commandments like punctuation: the wearing of lipstick or earrings, dancing, drinking, smoking, more or less having a good time in general, and especially divorce — all the old familiar sins by which she judged any neighbours still speaking to us.
Her fiery fury at the possibility of staying home was enough to get my father digging out the back door to the dog sled, hitch up the dogs, strap us all on and somehow get us to the church, a few blocks away.
Yet, what was Easter even about? Not showing up all dressed up, but God's grace and love for us when we acknowledged that we were sinners and asked for God's forgiveness and help, because of the cross and the resurrection!
Mother said that God's offer of forgiveness and salvation through Christ could be accepted only once. If we committed any of the many sins on her list, His love would be gone immediately, unless we begged, pleaded, and fasted, again and again.
It was very difficult to figure out how to grow in the Christian life with such a set of beliefs. "Oh well. No rest for the wicked," she'd say, directly contradicting "Come unto Me and I will give you rest."
Yet, the Bible teaches us that we can never reach the bottom of God's love.
Mother was sincere. I'll surely see her in heaven. But she missed out on the peace that God gives us, through faith.
Fortunately, the gospels are very clear about what happened at Easter: Christ's death and resurrection; that because He lives, we shall live also; that here on earth, we can walk with the living Lord as our Saviour, through the trials and temptations of this pilgrim journey, bearing our crosses as He did and finding Him faithful and just. Easter is all about what God did to save us, not what we can do to save ourselves. What a good, satisfying existence it is, listening, trusting, and obeying, day by day.
Prayer: We are grateful, loving Father, for the fresh courage that You give from the clouds that continuously break over our heads. Thank You that we do not judge by feeble sense but trust You always for Your grace which comes clearest to us in Christ's resurrection to eternal life, in which You promise that we shall share. Thank You for Your mysterious ways becoming clearer as we walk in faith today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
My 2022 New Year's resolution has been to acknowledge God's blessings in my life, and to continually give God recognition and thanks. I've found that when I focus on my blessings, my discontentments and disappointments have been diminished, or have been rendered insignificant.
Last month, shortly after turning 72, I came across an historic life expectancy chart that both surprised and helped me. It showed that prior to the sweeping public health advancements of the 19th century (clean drinking water, sterilization, sewage systems, and medical advancements), the average life expectancy was a meagre 35 years of age!
That average lifespan of only 35 years prior to the 19th century covers most of our human existence. One could say that, at 72, I have lived the equivalent of two life spans, and I'm now working on my third life!
Not only have I had the blessing of living twice as long as most people previously did, the quality of my life has been a vast improvement over other times that I might have been born into. In 1665, the London philosopher, Thomas Hobbs, famously described British life as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short".
Blessed even as Christians, we often nurse our complaints about our living condition, our health, or our financial woes, typically based relative to the condition of others we know.
But what right do I, who have lived two average lifetimes (and great ones at that!), have to complain about what usually amount to not much more than minor life discomforts or inconveniences?
How can I complain about my hearing not being as good as it was 20 years ago, or about my not-as-sharp memory, or about possibly not living to see my great-grandchildren, if indeed, I've been blessed with two lives?
In fact, entering my "third life", what could I legitimately complain about at all? About what aspect of our life do we really have the right to complain? Besides, Moses made it clear that because our loving God arranges our lives for our good and His glory, complaining about our lives is grumbling against God:
Exodus 16:8b – The Lord hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord. (NKJV)
1 Samuel 12:24 – Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. (ESV)
Luke 6:38a – Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. (NIV)
John 10:10b – I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (NRSV)
Prayer: Loving God, we have been the recipients of much to be grateful for. Allow us to dwell on the riches of Your generosity toward us, such that our complaining may cease, that we may see only the myriad of ways in which You want to bless us, and that we may be grateful. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:4-6 – Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. (NRSV)
One of the great sadnesses that I have noticed about this prolonged pandemic has been the constant lack of love when people argue about their personal choices. It's far easier to berate and ridicule our opponents, rather than to have a healthy conversation and exchange fruitful ideas which may get us nearer to solving and ending this crisis. Perhaps, if we, as Christians, were to apply Paul's teaching about love not insisting on its own way, we might be able to combine our focus and strength to get us out of this pandemic pit. Sadly, however, if we keep attacking one another, we'll be continually divided and eventually conquered by a coronavirus which doesn't care about our personal freedom, faith, or notions.
I believe that this is one of the moments in history when the church could make a substantial and crucial difference by showing love and helping folks to care for one another. If we become consumed by our internal divisions, then we'll be guilty of burying the talents of faith, hope, and love which Christ has given to us. If we pander only to those who are like-minded, then we'll be ignoring the empathetic compassion that Jesus urged His disciples to display when He told us to love one another. This is not an individual option either; it's a personal command from Christ.
So, let's all step back from the lines in the sand that we have drawn, and honestly reflect on Christ's love and what it means to be Christians. Let's take time to reconsider what our faith is, and to whom we can effectively and lovingly share it. The world is broken right now. Christ's church can do much to repair it.
Prayer: Lord God, You know us fully, and Your Son expects much of us. Challenge our ways and misconceptions. Fill us with love instead of pride. Grant us compassion, and teach us to be humble. Heal us of all that would harm us, and help us to be whole. In Jesus' holy name, we pray. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer has always had a special place in my heart. Rod Marshall's recent devotional about it reminded me that my mother inherited an expanded version of the prayer from her grandparents, who were originally from Scotland.
It was written in calligraphy on parchment paper and was about 18 inches by 24 inches, but I don't know how old it was. She had it tucked away in a drawer in a heavy paper folder because it was delicate, and it had started to deteriorate. Unfortunately, I have not seen it since my mom died in 1983. But after my dad passed, I was going through his papers and found one dated June 4, 1944, written by my mom. It was a copy of the words of the prayer. I couldn't believe that I actually got the words. I may not have the original parchment, but I have the words.
I tried to trace it back and found it in an 1855 book called The Friends Intelligencer. It was attributed to Bishop Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626), who preached a striking series of nineteen sermons on the Lord's Prayer in London, England, in 1588 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
It spoke to me because of the poetry that was in between the lines of the Lord's Prayer. It will help us to give more thought to the words of the prayer as we say it, rather than simply repeating it.
I hope that you get as much comfort from it as I do.
If any be distressed, and fain would gather
Some comfort, let him haste unto
Our Father,
For we of hope and help are quite bereaven
Except Thou succour us,
Who art in heaven.
Thou showest mercy, therefore for the same
We praise Thee, singing
Hallowed be Thy name;
Of all our miseries cast up the sum,
Show us Thy joys, and let
Thy kingdom come.
We mortal are, and alter from our birth;
Thou constant art,
Thy will be done on earth;
Thou mad'st the earth as well as planets seven,
Thy name be blessed here
As 'tis in heaven.
Nothing we have to use, or debts to pay,
Except Thou give it us:
Give us this day
Wherewith to clothe us, wherewith to be fed,
For without Thee, we want
Our daily bread.
We want, but want no faults, for no day passes
But we do sin —
Forgive us our trespasses.
No man from sinning ever free did live.
Forgive us, Lord, our sins
As we forgive.
If we repent our faults, Thou ne'er disdainest us;
We pardon them
That trespass against us;
Forgive us that is past, a new path tread us;
Direct us always in Thy faith,
And lead us —
We, Thine own people, and Thy chosen nation,
Into all truth, but
Not into temptation.
Thou that of all good graces art the giver,
Suffer us not to wander
But deliver
Us from the fierce assaults of world and devil,
And flesh, so shalt Thou free us
From all evil.
To these petitions let both church and laymen,
With one consent of heart and voice, say
Amen.
The word "love" is used a lot these days. I've noticed young people saying, "Love you!" when they leave or part company. Love is expressed by total strangers, at times through cards or letters. So, I was wondering, what is "love"? Here is one of many definitions that I found in the dictionary: "Love is an intense feeling of affection and care towards another person."
Recently, I experienced an outpouring of love as I prepared for a major operation. PresbyCan published a couple of my devotionals about that in late December and early January, and the replies, listed below each devotional, were simply amazing! People wrote me from literally all over the world. I also put a request on the PrayerLine, to which hundreds responded. It was overwhelming, to say the least, as so many people expressed their love and prayers for both me and my wife, even though they don't know me other than through my writings. It was such a great comfort and a humbling experience. People mentioned that I was on their prayer chain and that I was being prayed for in their churches, and I thank them all.
At the end of January, Greta walked to the end of our street to get the mail. There was a parcel from Florida, USA, and it contained a teddy bear holding a heart with the word "Love" on it. On the back, there was a tag reading, "This bear has been loved and cared for by the congregation of Gulfport Presbyterian Church. It has heard the Word read, prayers prayed, songs of praise, and the sermon preached. Now it comes to you with the blessings of worship and love." It was love and prayer by total strangers — but brothers and sisters in Christ.
Love is to characterize our relationship with God, as well. Jesus told one of the scribes that this is the most important commandment:
Mark 12:29-31 – Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (NKJV)
But most of all, God's divine love for us was expressed when He sent His Son to die on the cross for all of us.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)
The expression of love by so many was such a great comfort to us during difficult days. If you hear of or know someone who is struggling, please consider contacting them and telling them that you will pray for them. It will be appreciated. Believe me, I know!
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we thank You for all the fine people who pray for each other during times of stress and difficulties. Most of all, we thank You for Your Son Jesus, Who came to comfort all of us who believe in Him. Amen.
In celebration of the birth of a brand-new day and a brand-new year 2022, snowflakes fell from the sky like bright confetti, each one a miraculous reminder of God's love and faithfulness.
The footprints of yesterday's sins vanished underneath the freshly laid covering. Closing my eyes, I recalled the beautiful Scripture verse, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18 KJV)
God had kept His promise on the day when I surrendered my heart and asked Him to wash away my sins. Like so many people, I had been spiritually blinded and conformed to the ways of the world. The more that I tried to break my bad habits, the worse that they became! I was a lost ship without a compass, forever searching for a glimmer of light.
One of the most sobering verses in the Bible is this one:
1 John 4:3 – Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. (NIV)
In my brokenness, I finally realized that the only way to receive salvation is through the saving grace of God. Only Christ can offer the gift of everlasting life! As God empowers us, we begin to see the needs of others. As God's Spirit breathes new life into our hearts and souls, we will learn to love even our enemies with Christlike love.
My friend, are you longing to start a new day and be free of your old self? Then, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37 NIV) For God loves you, no matter who you are or what your past has been, or how many resolutions you have broken. "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." (C. S. Lewis)
Pray with me:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come to You confessing that I am a sinner. I want to change and ask You to cleanse me from all my unrighteousness. I believe that Your Son Jesus died on the cross to take away my sins. I believe that He rose again so that I might be forgiven and leave my old self behind. Through faith in Jesus, I call on Him as my Saviour, and on Your Holy Spirit to give me the power to live a new life as a child of Yours. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV)
Ecclesiastes 9:12 – People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy. (NLT)
My friend sat in her living room and watched as a small Downy Woodpecker flew towards the netting that she had put into place in front of the window, intended to keep birds from hitting it. Instead of coming short of the barrier and making an abrupt about-face, the woodpecker hit the netting and became hopelessly entangled.
Jennifer couldn't wait any longer. Despite the -25°C weather, she threw on a jacket and ran outside, scissors in hand. The poor little bird, its feet and head twisted in the mesh of the netting, wriggled and squeaked in fear as Jennifer worked carefully, cutting away the fine strings that bound and trapped it. Finally, the woodpecker was freed, and flew off into a nearby tree.
The Downy Woodpecker was not anticipating a trap when it flew towards the window. Neither was my friend anticipating her husband's tragic accident eight months previously. Troubles can come up suddenly at any time.
The more that the little bird struggled, the more enmeshed that it became. After her husband's death, Jennifer felt entangled herself as she faced all sorts of complications having to do with her husband's estate and his many business enterprises. Sometimes, the more that we try to untangle a situation by our own efforts, the more ensnared that we become.
As Jennifer told me the story of the Downy Woodpecker, I had a mental picture of Jesus with a big pair of scissors, ready to free her from her entanglement. Jennifer had "just happened" to be looking out the window at the crucial moment, but Jesus is always watching over us.
Psalm 121:7-8 – The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. (NLT)
Psalm 25:15 – My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies. (NLT)
Not only did the bird's situation have a happy ending, Jennifer also felt something lift off her as the bird flew away.
Don't let entangled situations get you down. Jesus is waiting to cut you free. Keep your eyes on Him.
Matthew 11:28-30 – Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (NLT)
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You always watch over us and that You have our best interests in mind. Thank You that You are always ready with Your big pair of scissors to rescue us from our predicaments and entanglements. Help us to keep our eyes on You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Romans 8:26-27 – In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (NIV)
My two-and-a-half-year-old grandchild, Lindy, loves to sing, even though she doesn't yet speak, other than the odd word here and there. What better place to sing but at church? After all, everyone else is singing, so she loves to join right in. She pulls a book from the hymn rack, opens it to a random page and begins singing along with the congregation. Though she does not utter one intelligible word, her heart expresses the joy of her young soul, and I have no doubt in my mind that God understands every word that no one else does.
Likewise, I often do not have the words to pray. Amidst world chaos due to COVID-19 and war in Ukraine, random violence, extreme climate change disasters, unrest among so many and varied groups of people for one reason or another, and the like, it is hard to know even where to begin in prayer, much less what to say. Yet, there is One Who knows our weakness, and that One is the Holy Spirit: He Who intercedes before the throne of grace for us with groans that words cannot express.
So, even when we do not know what to say or even where to begin, our prayers are never in vain, for God still hears and knows our hearts and listens to our unspoken requests through the Spirit's intercession for us.
Thus, amidst difficult times in our lives, our towns and cities, and our world, let us not neglect to make the time to pray, even if we don't know where to begin. For though our mouths may be silent, He Who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, Who intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
James 5:16b – The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (NIV)
Prayer: Lord God, thank You that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us before Your throne of grace when we do not possess or even know the words that we want or ought to pray. Thank You that amidst our weakness, our prayers do not go unheard or unanswered. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
James 1:22 – Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (NIV 2011)
My granddaughter was busy playing with a Play-Doh™ ice cream sundae machine, which she had received as a gift. I could tell that she was getting frustrated with one aspect of the toy, so I went over to see if she needed help. She said that she did. I showed her the correct way to work it, and her response was "I know that." My response was "Then, do that."
Ade knew what to do, but she was intent on trying to get the right result by doing it her way instead of the way that the instructions outlined.
I walked away chuckling to myself and thinking, How often we do the same thing in regard to God's instructions for life.
God says that we are to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you". (Matthew 5:44 NIV 2011) We think, That can't be right, or Forget it; I'm not doing that! Then, we spend years nursing anger or bitterness, or dealing with strained relationships.
God also says that debt can enslave us: "the borrower is slave to the lender." (Proverbs 22:7b NIV 2011) Yet, we spend more than we ought, and then, we wonder how we are ever going to pay all our bills and get out from under this financial pile that we are enslaved to.
God says, "Do not be anxious about anything." Yet we spend countless nights lying awake worrying about this, that, and the other thing, instead of trusting God to provide or show us the way. "But in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6 NIV 2011)
As God's people, we know all these things that God says in His instruction book of life, plus so much more. The big question is So why don't we do that?
Once Ade had frustrated herself enough by trying to work the machine her way and not getting the desired result, she was smart enough to employ the correct method, and she ended up playing happily for an extended period of time.
Are we this smart? Are we this humble? Are we willing to lay aside our way and do what we know that God has said is the best way, His way? If not, why not?
The choice is up to us. But I know the way that I am going to choose. How about you?
Prayer: Father God, when we know the right way — Your way — empower us with humility and wisdom to do it, that our lives may flow as peacefully, as successfully, and as joyfully as possible. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Matthew 6:19-21 – Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)
Most of us think of investments in monetary terms. However, we can also make investments of time and energy by what we do and the actions that we take.
The Oxford English Dictionary's first definition of the word "invest" is to "clothe a person with qualities" and only the third definition is to "employ or put money into stocks, etc."
We often hear of a person who has amassed great wealth by this world's standards, but who died a most unhappy person. We never hear of a "wealthy" person driving his fancy sports car to his own funeral.
On the other hand, we admire people like Mother Teresa who spend their lives serving others. On December 4, 2021, the New York Times published an interview with Denzel Washington Jr., a Christian actor, director, and producer, who said:
What I do, what I make, what I made — all of that — is that going to help me on the last day of my life? It's about, who have you lifted up? Who have we made better? This quotation struck me as consistent with the teachings of Jesus referenced in today's passage, and also with His answer to a question from an expert in the law:
Matthew 22:36-40 – "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (NIV)
Throughout my life, I have been blessed with many people who have positively influenced me. In the last three decades, I have enjoyed the friendship of Dr. Basil Springer, whom I first met in Barbados on a hot summer afternoon. Although advanced in years, he writes a weekly column as a "Change-Engine Consultant". In a December 6, 2021, column, he wrote:
We are spiritual beings attempting to master an earthly experience. When we die, the body and mind are no more, but the soul continues its journey through a continuum. If we have faith in and continually communicate with God, this nourishes our soul and strengthens its development. Prayer conditions our minds and meditation instills a tranquil serene environment in which to receive messages from God. I am thankful every day that belief in the saving grace of Jesus allows me to do my part in helping to show others His love as I move along this earthly journey. I am grateful that God does not require us to amass great wealth but only to show His love to others in simple ways.
Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for showing us the way. Help us to follow the example given by Jesus. In His name, we pray. Amen.
White, puffy clouds billowed like fluffy mounds of whipped cream at my feet. At my feet? Yes, I was looking down on the banks of clouds from my window seat in the airplane. Seeing fluffy white clouds below with brilliant blue sky above is always a mind-bending experience for me.
These same clouds, if viewed from below, would have looked entirely different. Clouds above us block the sun, while clouds below us hide the earth's landscape. Yet, the clouds themselves have not changed; only our perspective has changed.
So it is in everyday life. The same object or experience can be viewed from many different angles and positions, with the vantage point determining its appearance. Variables such as time, age, place, and even simply personal preference can determine how people perceive things. For example, young people may love pop music, but as they grow older, their taste in music may change to more mellow styles. One person may love cilantro, while another may find the taste to be repulsive.
In addition, people can hold very different ideas and points of view. Today's world, with all of its current upheaval, is sometimes termed as being upside-down. This is especially obvious as we see the same issue interpreted in much different ways, depending on a person's political persuasion. Political positions can vary greatly from person to person, and an individual's own positions can sometimes fluctuate. Even our doctrinal positions may vary, and they may even change over time.
It is important to recognize that our view of life may be very different from the way that God views things. Whereas God sees the whole issue, we may see only one side of it, not knowing other facets that are involved. Furthermore, God tells us how very different His thoughts and ways are from ours:
Isaiah 55:8-9 – "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." (NLT)
When life becomes difficult and we become discouraged or even distraught, it is vital to entrust God with the situation, knowing that He is fully aware of all the details. He will weave the ragged edges together and ultimately form a completed piece. Will you fully trust Him with the problems that you're facing today?
Prayer: O Lord, Maker of heaven and earth, You have also made us and know everything about our sometimes fragmented lives. You know us top to bottom, inside and out. May we trust You completely to guide us through our upside-down world. Amen.
Psalm 121 – I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. (NKJV)
When I was a young girl, The Sound of Music had just been released to the theatres, and I was invited to join neighbours on an evening outing to watch it. My friends were immigrants from Austria, and the father, Walter, had been raised in the same region that the movie was filmed. We all sat enthralled with the story, the music, and the scenery, and you could have heard a pin drop in the theatre. The closing scenes were of the Von Trapp family hiking over the mountains seeking freedom from the Nazis. Suddenly the spell was broken as Walter jumped to his feet shouting, "You're going the wrong way!" Obviously, the movie makers preferred that scenery as the backdrop, but it was inaccurate, and my friend, being familiar with the area, realized it. He had become so completely drawn in to the movie that he felt the need to warn the Von Trapps before it was too late.
The inaccuracy of the beautiful film reminds me of our attractive world that is now dominated by deceptions, partial knowledge, inaccuracies, and convenience. It is so easy to be drawn in to secular lives that are wrongly influenced by sins that are made to seem so innocuous, rather than godly lives that are guided by the teachings of Christ as written in the Bible. Just as the movie makers used pretty scenery to make a lovely, but inaccurate, movie, the secular world tries to lure us down the wrong paths by offering enticing lifestyles that don't match up with the life that God wants us to live. We need to guard our behaviour carefully so that we aren't leading pretty lives that are false. We all need a "Walter" to guide us and to call us out when we stray off course. Let's not ignore God when He nudges us back. His directions in our guidebook, the Bible, are clear.
Prayer: Thank You for being our leader in life, Lord. It is so easy to stray onto the wrong path, and we need Your guidance daily. Open our eyes to see and our ears to hear when You give us direction, and then, grant us the courage to move our feet in the way that You want us to go. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
John 15:15 – I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. (NRSV)
I can handle myself pretty well on social media, and I'm not taken by surprise very often. I do have 700 "friends", and there has been a time or two when that word "friend" has been pushed to the limit (really, who are you?) It was a bit surprising, then, to get a short message that ended with BFF — best friends forever — especially when I simply could not immediately put a face to the name. Yes, there was some recognition, but BFF? It finally dawned on me who had sent the message, and just maybe, in the context of the message, BFF could fit. Years and years of neglect had nearly wiped the memory away!
Now, I received another note the other day, and it, too, was signed BFF. I had no trouble whatsoever in identifying both the message and the messenger. The message gave me much comfort: "I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father." The messenger gave even more. You see, I have cultivated this friendship from my earliest days, and time and again, we get together to hash over the good and bad of life. He held me when my mother died, He celebrated with me on my wedding day, and He has talked me through more trials and tribulations than I can remember. And not once over the years was He ever too busy to take my call.
I have no hesitation in calling Him my BFF and I'd be glad to introduce you to Him, but that introduction comes with a warning: You can't make this friendship work at arm's length, and you'll not find Him on your Facebook page. Sorry, this BFF is daily and it is for life. What I can tell you is that it is the kind of relationship that will never disappoint you as you put your whole self into it. So, how about picking up a Bible, finding your personal message for today, and spending a little time with the messenger, talking over the really important things in life? Pray with me:
Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for showing me the importance of friends and friendship in my life. Help me to cherish each and every relationship that enhances my life and offers me the opportunity to be the very best friend that I can be! Amen.
Is there anything cuter than a chuckling baby — happy, curious, and squealing with delight with every new toy? A baby exudes love, trust, and dependence to everyone in the room — often being the centre of attention. But how quickly the laughs of joy and love turn to screams of hunger and frustration! Now that really gets everyone's attention. A friend of mine had to time her shopping carefully for when her baby was happiest and most content, because when he wasn't happy, boy, did everyone hear about it!
The writer of the book of Hebrews used the image of a baby drinking milk to teach about spiritual nourishment to readers who needed God's Word to mature them in the faith.
Hebrews 5:12-14 – For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (NKJV)
Growing up in the church, I thought that only older grownups could be ministers and Sunday school teachers. But the truth is that all Christians can teach others; indeed, teaching another is a step towards spiritual maturity.
There are some funny animated films about adults suddenly being transformed into babies, and we laughed at the candid answers that kids gave to host Art Linkletter. However, it's pretty annoying to see adults acting immaturely, demanding their own way, and screaming for attention. In the Christian life, an unstable believer can be blown around by every wind of questionable teaching (Ephesians 4:14), or be stuck in their own playpen of doctrine or denomination. A baby is fixated on its parent; how easy it is for us to become fixated on Christian celebrities, rather than knowing the Word of God for ourselves! Babies sleep a lot and can become fussy and cranky; someone not mature in the faith may not be spiritually alert, and drive others off by their controlling and cross behaviour.
The phrase that really jumps out at me in this passage of Hebrews is by reason of use. We become spiritually mature by knowing our Bibles and by deciding to exercise what God teaches us by practice and daily habit of prayer and meditation. When we decide to discern this way, we mature as believers. We won't be ready to stick just any teaching in our mouths! Mature believers are recognizable by their discernment and unswerving focus on Christ, and their wariness of teachings not of Him seeking to enter their lives and minds.
How can we exercise our senses to discern good from evil? The Scriptures teach us, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8 NKJV) Today, let's become skilled in the Word of righteousness, and by reason of use become ones whom God uses to teach others in His kingdom.
Prayer: Dearest Lord, we praise You for the gift of the Scriptures, through which You lead, teach, inspire, and nourish Your believers. As children who look to a parent, we look to You as our heavenly Father, to show us how to grow and participate in Your kingdom. Amen.
Psalm 143:4 – I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. (NLT)
It's amazing how one lump of putty can mimic life.
Though I can't imagine many kids being satisfied with it now, Silly Putty™ provided hours of entertainment when I was a child. Unlike Play-Doh™, which would turn hard and crumble if left uncovered, Silly Putty maintained its elasticity.
Sunday was the most exciting day for using Silly Putty. Comics had their very own section and were printed in colour. Pulling the Silly Putty until it was stretched thin and then pressing it on a comic strip resulted in a colour picture on the wad of putty.
More than forty years later, I've discovered that Silly Putty mimics life. Life episodes have caused me to say or think what the psalmist said: "I am losing all hope." I've been pulled and contorted into all types of shapes and sizes by stressful circumstances.
STRESS means Struggle, Tension, Restlessness, Expectations, Stretching, and Satisfaction. When I'm stressed, I Struggle — perhaps with which decision to make. Sometimes, wrong and right are clear-cut, but at other times, they aren't.
Stressful situations have a way of unloading Tension. I find myself wound up like a top that needs someone to let it unwind.
Stress almost always has an inherent Restlessness about it, because I need to decide or change my mind, or because I'm thrown into uncontrollable circumstances.
Expectations can allow stress in — unrealistic expectations of myself, but often those of others that I must endure.
Stretching is a normal part of stress. If I weren't being stretched — willingly or unwillingly — I wouldn't feel the stress.
If I respond to all the previous characteristics positively, I'll experience Satisfaction. Stress isn't inherently negative. The way that I respond determines the outcome. Stress can teach me new ways to handle circumstances, and it can prepare me to handle life — but only if I approach stressful situations from a godly viewpoint.
The psalmist took his stress to God. Letting God take control and teach us the proper way to respond are the only ways to come out ahead in stressful circumstances. Otherwise, we'll find ourselves trying to handle stress in sinful ways, which will only intensify our stress level and set us up for further complications.
Are we handling stress like Play-Doh or Silly Putty?
Prayer: Father, when times of stress stretch us, stretch us toward Yourself. Amen.