A Tale of Two Kingdoms

 “The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction. Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools. A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:21-24 NIV

As 2022 got underway, at church we were in a series titled “Wisdom for Life”. Going through the book of Proverbs. Two weeks in a row, Pastor Sarah Zaske hit line drives straight at the enemy’s head with the truth and wisdom of God’s Word. I’ll link both messages below. It was after the second of these messages, that I found myself on deck to lead our Tuesday, Open Arms Food Pantry ministry team’s devotional/discussion time. What follows is what I shared with the group.

Pastor Sarah’s challenging question to us about “Whose Kingdom are you building?” Reminded me of an old political joke. I think it is a good analogy for the - Truth & Lies wisdom she shared.

The Joke
A politician dies and finds himself at the pearly gates with Saint Peter. Peter welcomes the politician and tells him there is a problem… They don’t, know what to do with him. Peter, continues saying, “Not to worry though. We have a process for handling these kinds of situations. You must stay 24 hours in each place and after that you can choose if it will be Heaven or Hell for you. The politician says, “Why can’t I just choose now, I am here so I might as well stay.” Peter politely tells him, “You have to follow our process, where would you like to spend your first 24 hours?” The politician says might as well start with Heaven.” Peter opens the gate and allows him to enter. Walking through the gate the politician finds it is beautiful and peaceful. He sees a few friends there and enjoys the outstanding food available. People are happy, so happy they sing all day and work seems more like recreation than labor. When the 24 hours is up the politician return to the gate to meet Peter. Peter asks how his experience was and the politician replies, “He really enjoyed it, I’d like to stay please.” Peter reminds him the process must be followed and escorts him to the elevator that will take him to Hell. When the doors of the elevator open the politician is greeted by Satan himself. Satan, dressed to the nines in black tie and stretched out beyond Satan is a golf course more beautiful than anything the politician could imagine and in the middle of it sat a palatial clubhouse. Satan said, “Come on the party is just starting.” Arriving at the clubhouse, the politician found a lot more of his friends were there. Everyone was dressed elegantly, food was amazing, drinks flowed continually, the music was loud, and the party went on for the entire 24 hours. When it was time, the politician was escorted back to the elevator so he could meet with Peter. Peter greets him and asked what he thought. The politician responded, “It was really great, I enjoyed myself.” Peter tells the politician, “Time to decided where you are spending eternity.” The politician thinks for a moment and answers that he as decided Hell is the place for him. Peter replies, as you wish and escorts him back to the elevator. The politician is quite excited to rejoin his friends and the party. The elevator doors open and there stands Satan, looking like the monster he truly is. The golf course and clubhouse are gone, replaced by mountains of smelly, hot, and burning garbage. The politician’s friends are scavenging through the mess. The politician demands to know, “What happened? I was just here, and it was beautiful.” Satan replied, “yesterday we were campaigning. Today, you voted.”

Isn’t that a great picture of worldly lies, how we so easily fall for them and the consequences of believing them?

That Sunday, Pastor Sarah talked about the Kingdom and how our words need to match the kingdom we are a part of. What captured me about that statement is that this whole series from Proverbs is showing us a picture of the character of the worldly kingdom, ruled by the enemy and the kingdom of God, ruled by Jesus.

Worldly Kingdom                        God’s Kingdom
Foolish                                        Wise
Proud                                            Humble
Envious                                        Content
Deceptive                                    Honest

What else can we add to the lists? What would you add to the lists?

What a contrast. How easily we jump back and forth between these kingdoms. How easily, we walk along the wall dividing the two, looking for something that we think will make us happy.

In 2017, not unlike now, I found myself struggling with what I saw happening in the world and on social media (there is nothing new under the sun). In a devotion I wrote at the time, based on the above passage from Proverbs, I talked about how we need to engage our brains and speak with wisdom and that we need to seek out the truth, rather than just believe everything we see or hear.

In 2016, during Lent I wrote about the importance of listening to Jesus and ended up with a list of things we should be listening for in order to live well in God’s family. Some of the things are truths we can stand on as we seek truth in this world and gain wisdom.

“Follow me.” (John 1:43)
“Don’t turn my Father’s house into a super Wal-Mart” (John 2:16)
“To see the kingdom of God you must be born again – spiritually.” (John 3:3)
“I know everything about you – so you might as well be honest with Me.” (John 4:17-18)
“If you are without sin – go ahead and throw that stone.” (John 8:7)
“I command you to love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12)
“In this world you will have trouble (with a capital T) but don’t worry because I have overcome the world: (John 16:33)
“Love God and love others” (Mark 12:30-31)
“Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37)
“I AM the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)
“I AM the resurrection and the life – believe that and you will live forever. Do you believe?” (John 11:25-26)

In the group discussion questions for the Sunday message this devotion is inspired by, is a list of 6 reasons people lie:

1. Personality disorder, pathological liar, compulsive
2. Preserve one’s self image
3. Protect someone’s feelings
4. Promote ourselves, boost our reputation
5. Pacify pending conflict
6. Personal gratification in the moment.

How do you see these play out in our culture? Which one do you see most? Which ones are you most likely to see in your own life?

As followers of Christ, we are to be building His kingdom. The words we speak and the actions we take should build up, not tear down. They should bring light to a dark world. We must seek His truth in every aspect of our lives. “Whose kingdom are you building?”

A Prayer
Father, thank you that in the seriousness of life and the weight of your truth, that humor can illustrate your truth, at a time when we need the medicine of laughter. May the words on this page causes who ever reads them. To stop and really consider what kingdom they are building and cause them to seek Your truth and the saving grace offered by Jesus our Lord and King. Amen

January 23, 2022 Message: https://youtu.be/Rn-MO0E9qhQ
January 30, 2022 Message: https://youtu.be/kJhHkrq3j_g

Galaxy Maker

“Then God said, ‘Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark seasons, days, and years. Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.’ And that is what happened. God made two great lights – the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.”
Genesis 1:14-18 NLT

To be honest I don’t know who besides me may need these words of truth and encouragement, but God has put them in my mind, so I am writing them down and trusting they will get to whoever needs them. Here we are just past the halfway point in January 2022. The pandemic is still giving the world fits, people are still grumbling about politics and political leaders all over the world and a lot of people are NOT on their best behavior. This is where an article from Carey Nieuwhof appeared in my email at work. It was an interesting article about disrupting trends in 2022 that will affect all of us including church. At the end of the article was a notice of a podcast series that would dive deeper into the topics in the article. Surprise, I went looking for the podcasts and the first one sparked this devotion. For those who may not know Carey Nieuwhof is a pastor, speaker and author. His guest for this particular podcast was pastor, author, speaker Mark Sayer. I know, get on with it already.

Two things in particular stood out for me in this conversation, both from Mark Sayer. The first was something to the effect of this weird time that we find ourselves in is a reset of sorts not back to what we understand as normal, but to what normal really is. That normal is us humans being confronted by the greatness of the world around us and how small we are in it. That normal takes us back to a time where people understood there was something, someone bigger than us and that we needed that someone, just to survive. The second, followed and was the response to a question. It went something like, moving forward the church needs to stop being a star maker (referring to the rise of “rock star” pastors) who just like cosmic stars often fall. Instead, the church needs to become galaxy makers. Something like that – I’ll put the link to the podcast at the end and you can have a listen.

It's this idea of being a galaxy maker that serves as the starting point for what you are reading now. The passage of Scripture above is about when God created the sun, moon and stars – not the sun, moon and a star but lots of stars, a galaxy full of stars. He gave them purpose as well – to be signs that mark the seasons, days and years and to separate day from night and light from darkness. In researching to learn more about stars, I also discovered that all the different types of stars work together to create the elements that give our planet the exact right atmosphere for us to live. What a great purpose the galaxy and everything in it has.

Now we humans love stars – the cosmic kind and the human kind. We have all sorts of stars on the planet. Sports stars, music stars, movie stars, TV stars, corporate stars, political stars and yes even church stars. Think about it for a bit and you can probably come up with names that fit those categories. I will assume that many of us when we were younger perhaps dreamed of being some sort of star. Cosmic stars have life spans just like we do and some of them when they are dying fall. The stars here on earth are also prone to falling, not at the end of their lives – but because of… oh say, pride, power and selfishness. So what if in our world the church and all the other segments of our society that produce stars instead produced galaxies? What if we recognized that we each have a purpose on this planet and that all of our purposes are meant to work together so we can live and thrive. What if we as followers of Jesus that part of our purpose is to shine the light of God’s truth and grace to hold back the darkness of this world so the light can get in. What if we became an earthly galaxy? Now don’t get me wrong we need leaders, we need leaders who create a gravitational pull that lifts others to their purpose and place in the galaxy of our society.

Psalm 147:4 says “He counts the stars and calls them by name.” HE knows each one of our names and HE’s calling each of us to our purpose and place in His kingdom, a kingdom of light. In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he writes, “The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory” (1 Corinthians 15:41). The sun, moon and stars have their own kind of glory, yet they all work together to fulfill their purpose. So it is with us as well, that's what I think anyway. We’ll each have our own kind of glory and we should all be working together to fulfill the Kingdom purpose we have been given. In another of Paul’s letters he says, “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people” (Philippians 2:14-15).

When I was young for a bit I dreamed of being a star, but it didn’t take me long to figure out I didn’t have the stuff to be a “star”. These days I don’t want to be a star, I am quite happy to be a point of light among a galaxy filled with points of light – just trying to make my little part of it a better place. I’m still working on what that means for my life, Luckily I serve a God who is more than happy to give me wisdom and guidance and to be the bright light for me to follow. What about you? Are you still trying to be a star of something? How about asking the Galaxy Maker what he wants of you and see where that journey takes you? I think it will take you to somewhere way better than earthly stardom – it’ll take you to an eternity filled with light.

A Prayer
Father – what an amazing and miraculous galaxy you made for us, it reveals much of who You are if we look with open hearts and minds. Help us desire for our lives the things You desire for them. Help us to find our purpose in Your kingdom. If we are called to “stardom” give wise and humble hearts that desire to lift others up. If we are called to just be a point of light among a galaxy filled with points of light, grant us the wisdom to thrive, finding contentment and joy while also lifting others up. In the name of Jesus who knows the name of every star and all of our names as well – amen.

Podcast: https://careynieuwhof.com/episode469/

Think About It

“The simple believe anything but the prudent give thought to their steps.”
Proverbs 14:15

What do Winnie the Pooh, Pahla Cragg Bowers, Pastor Craig Groeschel and Pastor Jake Zaske have in common? They all believe how and what you think is important. I’ll explain as we go.

When something gets repeated in Scripture – it usually means that idea or principle is important and that we should take heed. For instance, the phrase “Be strong and courageous” appears at least 11 times in the Old Testament and the phrase “Fear not” appears at least 82 times right across the whole of the Scriptures. Should we then trust God and with the help of the Holy Spirit be strong and courageous, fearing not? What do you reckon?

This idea of managing your mind had been cropping up in my life for months now, so it must be important. If it’s important for me, there is a good chance that it is important for you too.

Let’s start with the scripture above. At the time of this writing, it is being used as a foundational Scripture in a sermon series at the church we attend. When I heard it – I thought of Winnie the Pooh – well because that’s how my brain works. Pooh recognized that he was a “bear of little brains” Some would say Pooh was simple. Yet when he would sit and “think, think, think” he often came up with some solid wisdom (or prudent thoughts) with which to act.

This idea of mindfulness first showed itself earlier this year when I stumbled across Pahla Cragg Bowers of PahlaB Fitness on YouTube. Pahla is a fitness trainer/life coach who developed the Five-Oh Method for weight loss. Of the five things she discusses, the most important is managing your mind. She is constantly telling those participating in the program that it is crucial to treat ourselves with self-love, speaking against the lies the world and our minds tells us. Sound familiar? “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). The Psalmist reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 134:14). Jeremiah the prophet also reminds the people of his time and us millennia away that “God has plans for us, plans to prosper, not harm. Plans that bring us hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). God sees us always as beloved children that are very good. Do you believe it or are you believing something less than the truth?

Pastor Jake Zaske in the third installment of the message series we are going through now basically told us to “Put a helmet on and guard your hearts (my paraphrase).” Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:13,17). Interesting side note – did you get that God gives us His personal armor to wear and that the helmet in this battle analogy is meant to protect not only our heads physically but also our minds and thoughts. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). Paul in all his practical wisdom also tells us not to listen to the world. Instead, he wants us to allow God’s truth to transform us by letting us renew our minds (Romans 12:2).

Then there is the email that invited me to participate in a five-day leadership master class from Pastor Craig Groeschel on “Winning the War in Your Mind”. Coincidence? I think not. Divine timing? Most likely.

Why so much focus on managing our minds right now? As we enter this sort of post pandemic, but not really time – I believe God is telling his people – ok, for the last almost two years you have let all sorts of lies, half-truths, and worldly culture into your minds and hearts – it’s time to refocus back on me, back on the truth of who I AM and who you are in Me.

I don’t know what’s going around in your mind right now – anxiety, fear, doubt, feelings of not being enough of whatever, thinking you’re not lovable. Whatever it is – think about it, using the filter of God’s grace, mercy and love.

A Prayer
Father – You know us so well. You know that we are prone to believing all sorts of things, that we were never meant to believe. Like believing we could be like You by being disobedient. Like believing we are less than perfect if we don’t look like the people on magazine covers. With the help of Your Spirit remind us that we were made in your image from the very beginning. Help us to weed out the lies that fill our minds and plant Your truth in their place. Remind us also that we are not alone. In the name of Jesus who restores us to our right minds and guards our hearts – amen.

Rejected

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”
Isaiah 53:3

The dictionary defines the word reject as: to refuge to have, take, recognize, grant, accept; to discard as useless or unsatisfactory; to cast out or eject, vomit. Based on the definition, it is probably safe to say that most people have a least one if not many experiences of being rejected. A failed relationship could leave that feeling of being rejected. Not getting that job or promotion can also leave us feeling rejected. What about those sometimes cruel words others or ourselves speak into our lives? It doesn’t feel good to feel useless or unwanted. Did you know that God knows the feeling of being rejected?

In the Scripture above, Isaiah speaking about the coming Messiah tells the people that the one they are waiting for will be despised and rejected, that he will understand the pain and suffering that comes with rejection. Even before this we see God feeling the sting of rejection. The nation of Israel is demanding a human king, rather than being satisfied with God as king. We read in Samuel: “But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,’ this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the LORD told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king” (1 Samuel 8:6-7). People continue to reject God and in spite of that He still loves us, He still sent Jesus.

Jesus certainly understood rejection. The people of His “home town” couldn’t or wouldn’t believe that “the carpenter’s son” could be anything but a carpenter. One of Jesus’ friends betrayed Him, another denied knowing Him and many others abandoned Him. He entered Jerusalem to a hero’s welcome but left the city as a condemned criminal. Even as He was hanging on the cross, he felt the sting of rejection as His Father turned temporarily away.

We live in a broken world, surrounded by broken people and we ourselves often feel broken and rejected. But there is someone who stands ready every day to welcome us into His family. To let us know we are wanted, that we have purpose, that we are loved and that we are enough. He knows what it means to be despised and rejected but He still loved us enough to die on the cross for us, to make us whole again when we accept His gift of forgiveness and life.

Tired of feeling rejected? Seek out Jesus, accept His gift and be welcomed into the abundant life He made you for. He is waiting for you right where you are.

A Prayer
Our Father – As we ponder the miracle of Your resurrection may we seek after You will our whole hearts, allowing your love, mercy and grace to welcome us into the life You have planned for us. A life filled with purpose and belonging. For those feeling the sting of being rejected right now bring Your comfort and Your healing. In the name of Jesus who understands – amen.

Just Keep Praying, Just Keep Praying

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Anyone who knows me personally or has been reading Something Special for You for a while, will know that one of my prayers had been for a certain vehicle. It took nearly 20 years of prayers and a move half way across the country for that prayer to finally be answered a couple of years ago – just keep praying. A friend of mine was given a scripture to hold on to while she and her prayer partners prayed for a family member to return to the Lord. I’ve lost track of time but I guess it has been 20 years or more and we just keep praying. Not unlike Dory from Finding Nemo who throughout the film said, “just keep swimming, just keep swimming.” Scripture tells us to just keep praying.

When the disciples weren’t sure how to pray, in the powerful way that Jesus did, He taught them a model prayer – we know it now as The Lord’s Prayer. It is a prayer that rises above being a simple prayer. It can be seen as an act of worship, a desire not for our will but for God’s will, a cry for mercy and provision and a call for protection against the one who seeks to take our lives rather than give us life. Early church fathers like Augustine used to say this prayer at least three times a day, a practice I follow myself.

God is not a wish grantor. We can’t just ask for things we want and expect them to magically appear. God does find joy in giving us good gifts – but they are usually the gifts He desires for us to have and in His timing. Sometimes what we ask for in prayer gets a very sound no from Him. When Jesus is praying in the garden just before his arrest. He prays a painful and stress filled prayer three times: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). We all know that the Father’s will was done. The apostle Paul also pleaded with the Lord three times to have the thorn he’s been given removed. The response he got? “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Clearly God says no sometimes, maybe more times than we would like. God also says yes –sometimes right way and sometimes it takes years. I suspect that most of the time it just seems like He isn’t listening, because we don’t get that definite answer. It is what we experience as a lack of response that causes us to doubt. That silence in my opinion should be seen as a just wait, as a just keep praying time. See ultimately prayer is meant to be an ongoing conversation with the One who made us and knows everything about and still wants to have a relationship with us. Prayer is a conversation so sometimes we speak and sometimes we must listen.

The prophetess and widow Anna never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying” (Luke 2:36-37) – just keep praying.

Want your church to grow and thrive? “Devote yourself to scripture, fellowship, of sharing meals and to prayer” (Acts 2:42) – just keep praying.

Want a strong faith, that doesn’t doubt even when God seems silent? “Put on the Armor of God and pray in the Spirit on all occasions will all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:11, 18) – just keep praying.

For me I am praying about what the Lord would have me do next for Him, it’s been a year since I left God’s provided position so I’ll just keep praying. I don’t know what you are praying for, what is causing doubt in your life, what frustration you may be feeling if God hasn’t answered that prayer. So I can just encourage you to read his word and just keep praying.

A Prayer 

Our Father – You reign over all creation from the throne room of heaven. You alone are worthy of our praise and worship, Your name inspires awe and wonder. Your kingdom is coming; is here even now so let you will be done in our lives as it is in heaven. Thank you for giving us the things we need to live and grant us strength and peace in these troubling times. Thank you for your forgiveness and help us by Your Spirit to forgive those who have wronged us. Keep us from falling into the traps this world sets for us and protect us from the one who wants to take us for You. Amen. Help us to just keep praying. Amen

Be the One (Be Cowboy, part 2)

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your father in heaven.”
Matthew 6:1

Last week, I encouraged you and myself to display the characteristics listed in the chorus of Chevel Shepherd’s song Be Cowboy. We were encouraged to be tough, to love, to be strong for others, be honest, to stand on a firm foundation even if it means standing alone. We were encouraged to be Better, Braver, Bolder.

The bridge of this great song says: “There’s a whole lotta people, in this world today. Who don’t even know that they got what it takes to be cowboy.”

I believe there are a whole lotta people in this world who don’t think they can be a Christian because of what they’ve done, because they feel unworthy, because for whatever reason God can’t love them.

This week, I want encourage all of us to be the one. The one who lives in such a way that shows the world God can and does love it and all the people in it and all they have to do is believe.

The verse of Be Cowboy:

“Be the one who does the right thing when there’s no one else around.

Be the one who runs into the flames when the house is burning down.”

Both of these lines talk about doing the right sing for the sake of the right thing. Matthew talks about not doing things in order to bring attention and honor to ourselves. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do… and on the streets, to be honored by men” (Matthew 6:2). He goes further saying that rather than drawing attention to ourselves by praying long, eloquent prayers in public, we should pray privately (Matthew 6:5-6). In both instances those who chose to bring glory to themselves forfeit what God has waiting for them. So just do the next right thing because it is the right thing to do. God is watching and so are the unbelievers among us.

“Be the one that holds on harder when it’s harder to hold one.
Be the one who keeps believing when you think that your hope is gone.”

King David and the Psalmists speak often about holding on and about being held when it seems like the worst is about to happen. “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters” (2 Samuel 22:17). In the New Testament book of Hebrews we are encouraged by these words: “But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast” (Hebrews 3:6). Scripture is all about holding on when it appears that all hope is gone and those that do find healing and future of abundant living.

I know that things seem pretty bleak right now but as followers of Jesus, we have the power to be better, braver and bolder as we stand firmly in our faith. A faith that when we live it out and speak the truth of the Gospel will show others there is a way to hope, a way to forgiveness and healing, a way to an abundant life that lasts for eternity. What do you think? Will you be better, braver, bolder – will you be the one who brings a person in need all that Jesus has to offer.

Check out Chevel Shepherd’s Be Cowboy https://youtu.be/uVYh6ZmBS9A

A Prayer
Father – You see everything we do. Help us to only care about pleasing you and bringing you glory and honor. Help us to be the ones who are bringing your hope, peace, forgiveness, healing and love to a world filled with people who are afraid, angry, selfish and feeling unworthy. Thank you for giving us everything we need to do your will. In the name of Jesus, who is The ONE who makes us better, braver, bolder way. Amen.

Better, Braver, Bolder (Be Cowboy, part 1)

“Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them.” 1 Timothy 6:2

“Have I not 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

“Therefore, since we have such hope, we are very bold.” 2 Corinthians 3:12

Another awesome song has inspired me. Every couple of years the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) commission a new anthem and ask artists to sing it for the opening of the televised events. Think “Are You Ready for Some Football” only for bull riding instead. 2020 which has already seen the release of some great music perfect for the times in which we are living, has just delivered the new PBR anthem. It’s a song called Be Cowboy, written by Wynn Varble and David Frazier. Three artists have been given the nod to sing it. I think the best version of the song has been done by Chevel Shepherd, 2018 winner of the voice.

The reality is I think the song could really be the back drop for a sermon series or a couple of devotions – there is so much good stuff in it.

The chorus of Be Cowboy:

Be tough as ya gotta be

Love seven days a week

Be strong for those who are weak

Honest as the day is long

Be square as a cornerstone

Dare to stand alone

When you’re scared just carry on

Be better, Be braver, Be bolder

Be cowboy

We need to be tough living in these times on a fallen planet – but tough doesn’t mean hardened or compassionless. Being tough means getting back up when the world knocks you down. It means being compassionate and empathetic. Sometimes being tough means letting others see us persevere with the tears that often come in life’s storms – being authentic and transparent.

We need to love one another. Even when we don’t feel like loving people – even when we don’t feel lovable. Paul in his first letter to the church in Corinth tells us all about what love is, in what has become known as the love chapter. This chapter closes with these words: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13) John tells us that perfect love drives out fear. We need to be showing people the perfect love of Christ because people seem to be filled with fear right now.

We need to be strong for others. God makes us strong when we are weak so we can be strong when others are weak. In the story of the exodus Moses had two people who gave him strength when he grew weak. You see there was a battle going on and as long as Moses held up the staff of God the Israelites were winning, but if he lowered his hands the other side would start winning. So Aaron and Hur held Moses’ hands up. I’ve been lucky to have people like Aaron and Hur in my life who have held me up when I was weak. We should be keeping our hearts open to do the same for those around us.

Honesty is always the best policy and as Christian we need to speak the truth to others in such a way that it leads them to the foot of the cross. A cornerstone is what provides the foundation of anything with its firm, straight and true starting point. Jesus is identified as being the cornerstone of our faith and in some translations He is both the cornerstone and the capstone – He is what holds our faith together.

It can be hard to stand alone when your beliefs go against what the world seems to be saying but it is so important, even if you risk being laughed at or it makes others mad – both things I have experienced. But standing alone can change what others think, or bring about a needed victory. David stood alone before Goliath and beat the giant.

So come on Christian – stop complaining, stop feeling sorry for yourself, stop blaming others for the storms of this life. If you hold on to your faith, God will help you Be better, Be braver, Be bolder.

Check out Chevel Shepherd’s Be Cowboy https://youtu.be/uVYh6ZmBS9A

A Prayer
Father – You know everything we are facing on this planet right now. You know that some of your people aren’t behaving very well right now. Help us to be better, be braver, be bolder. Help us to be who you called us to be. Thank you for your love that drives out fear, for the strength you give to us. In the name of Jesus, who shows us a better, braver, bolder way. Amen.

Broken? Let the Light In

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6

I heard the following quote while watching an art journaling video: “There is a crack in everything that’s how the light gets in.” The instructor on the video didn’t say who the quote was from yet it struck me as being truthful and perhaps truth filled, so I did some research to find out who said it.

Interestingly, there are three variations of this quote out in the world.
The oldest variation is attributed to 13th century Persian poet Rumi. His version reads:
“The wound is the place where the light enters you.”

The next version is attributed to American Author Earnest Hemingway, his reads:
“We are all broken that’s how the light gets in.”

Finally, the third version is attributed to Canadian poet, singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen:
“Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything that’s how the light gets in.”

The last one is the one in the art journaling video for sure, but, I have to say I think I prefer the other two better.

The passage of Scripture above talks about the God who in the beginning said “let there be light” also puts His light into our hearts. But how and why does he do this? Scripture tells that “He replaces our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). It tells us that “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

Every time He heals our brokenness and binds up a wound He leaves some of His light to keep the life transforming healing going. But what causes us to be broken? We are born a bit broken, a result of the choice Adam and Eve made. Then our own selfish choices break us more. Whenever we choose to follow the world, to satisfy our needs in a way that causes God’s heart to hurt for us – when we sin, when we are disobedient, when we hurt others, when we act like we are ruling the universe – we break more, we get wounded in the battle of life.

When we reach a crisis point in our lives, when we realize that nothing we’ve done has truly satisfied our soul and filled the emptiness we have. When we are at the end of ourselves and cry out for help, even if we don’t know if there is someone out there to hear our call for help. He is there and the God who spoke our world into existence will come and heal your heart, bind up your wounds and leave His light in your heart to light your way all the way back to His heart.

Scripture is filled with stories of broken people who let His light in and found a new life, a life that will last for eternity. Are you broken today, shattered even? Call on Him and let the light in.

A Prayer Father – Some of our brokenness is out of our control and some of it is a direct result of our own selfish choices. We need you Lord now perhaps more than ever to come and bind up our wounds, heal our broken hearts and fill us with your light. Thank you for loving us so much. In the name of Jesus, who is the light of the world and the light in us. Amen.

A World Paralyzed

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 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.
Romans 5:3-5 NLT

Seriously! 2020 is going to go down in history as the year that the whole world was paralyzed by a virus and worldwide unrest. The year thus far has shown us the worst and thankfully the best of humankind. Amidst the best is some great music. Music that no doubt has been long planned, with words that reach to our very souls have been released at just the perfect moment. This has not been an accident, but in my opinion divine appointments.

One of my favorite singers is Australian singer/songwriter Delta Goodrem. Delta has released two such perfectly timed songs in the past couple of weeks and this is not the first time one of her songs has inspired Something Special For You. The two songs from an upcoming album have words that speak into the times we are living in. It is the very newest of these a song titled Paralyzed that serves as the inspiration of this particular installment of Something Special For You.

The whole song is great but these words in particular grabbed ahold of my heart:

“With a little time
With a little hope
With a little light you’ll never know
For a little space
For a lot of love
Close your eyes and think of
Better time, big dreams
Open your mind for you
To find a little strength inside
Stop and rewind”

In the passage above Paul in his letter to the Christians in Rome is telling them in essence that in those times of trial when life seems paralyzed, that they and so we should rejoice because that time where we feel like we can’t move can build endurance in us, which leads to a bit more strength and gives us hope – a hope that will not disappoint us because of how much God loves us.

Scripture actually says a lot about hope, strength and love. Here are just few good ones to hang onto. King David reminds us: “GOD make his people strong. God gives his people peace” (Psalm 29:11 MSG). Isaiah writes: “…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” (Isaiah 40_31 NIV). Paul later in his letter to the Romans reminds them and us to: “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying” (Romans 12:12 NLT).

What besides this viral pandemic has you paralyzed? Some other sort of health issue? Finances? Unemployment? A problem with a relationship? No matter what it is, remember – “a little time, a little hope, a little light, a little space and a lot of love will help you think of better times and bigger dreams and to find strength. No matter what has you paralyzed it’s ok to stop and rewind.”

A Prayer
Father – thank you for the words of your servant Paul. May his prayer for the people of Ephesus be our prayer. “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower those who read this with inner strength through his Spirit. Thank you Lord for walking with us in this time where our world feels paralyzed. In the name of Jesus, who is always with us. Amen.

Oh and be sure to check Delta Goodrem’s Paralyzed here: https://youtu.be/J_LeOqIXMUg

Show Yourself

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior.”
Psalms 25:4-5

Another Frozen 2 inspired offering, this time inspired by one of the amazing songs from the movie. Written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez “Show Yourself” is a powerful anthem. My daughter Elizabeth sent me a text that said: “That song in Frozen 2 where she’s (Elsa) arriving at the voice place, that ‘Show Yourself’ song. If you picture singing that as a worship song talking to God… oof.” She was right. Let me try to explain.

Spoiler Alert – once again if you haven’t seen the movie you may not want to read on or you might want to watch the clip for this song on YouTube.

While technically the song begins “Every inch of me is trembling…” I really think it starts with the line: “I hear you and I’m coming.” This line could have two perspectives – the first as God calling and us responding. Not unlike Samuel responding to hearing God call his name (1 Samuel 3:4-10). The Lord called Samuel three times and then on the fourth time Samuel responded “Speak, for your servant is listening.” The second as us calling and God responding, not unlike the many times David calls out, for instance “When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted” (Psalm 138:3). Either works although for me the first perspective is the more powerful of the two. I suppose it depend on where you find yourself in this moment.

Elsa in many way has known that something was missing, she understands that in some ways she is lost and not where she is meant to be (but that’s another song). In the first verse Elsa has fully surrendered to this voice that has been calling her – a voice she somehow knows is good and has the answers she has been searching for. Arriving it feels familiar, it feels like home. Can you relate to those feelings in response to your own moment of surrender to that still small voice of God whispering to your heart, a moment when you realize that, that missing something was within reach?

Then Elsa sings about how she’s been a fortress and not the best kind. She was a fortress stuffing her emotions and hiding her gift out of fear. The physical place she has arrived at looks like a fortress and while there may be mystery and secrets to be discovered inside - this fortress does not hide. Quite like our God. David often refers to God as a fortress like in Psalm 31 “Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me” (v. 3). God also does not keep secrets from those who dare answer His call; “And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure…” (Ephesians 1:9).

In the first chorus Elsa wants to see who has been calling her, to know if she will really find the answers she seeks and she is ready to learn about her gifts and her purpose. In a numbers of the Psalms the psalmist is asking the Lord to “teach me, O Lord.” We should often be asking the Lord to teach us about His ways, about the path He has for us and about our purpose.

In the second set of verses Elsa’s countenance is already changing. She feels certain, she is no longer trembling she has found a new boldness – remember David in Psalm 138:3. The journey has been long, but her response to the voice calling her is making her whole. Just has our response to Jesus calling us makes us whole.

At the bridge of the song the lyrics go:
“Come to me now; Open your door; Don’t make me wait, One moment more.
Come to me now; Open your door; Don’t make me wait, Once moment more.”

This is another point in the song where it could either be us speaking or God speaking. Like Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be open.” Or perhaps you need this to be God talking as in Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Just like a friend we’ve always known.

The song includes a reprise from the song that opens the film and thus brings the movie full circle so to speak. The line here “Come, my darling (change darling to child), homeward bound and we too can sing I am found. Just as I was writing this it made me think of the prodigal son.

At the end of the song Elsa can now step boldly and without fear into the power and purpose she has been given. She is whole, she is new – she may still be a fortress but she will no longer hide she will step fully into who she was created to be.

When we step boldly into the power of the Holy Spirit we can step into the world without fear to be who we were created to be, to be made new day by day.

Today in the midst of this pandemic storm let’s step into His power so we can step fully into who we were created to be, without fear.

A Prayer
Father – thank you for showing yourself to us in ways and places that we would never expect. Call to us and grant us the courage to follow your voice to the place where we find our true selves. Thank you for the power that makes us new and lets us go boldly into our world to make your love known. In the name of Jesus, who calls us. Amen.

The Next Right Thing

“Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path.”
Proverbs 2:9

Spoiler Alert – If you haven’t seen Frozen 2 you might not want to read this and I highly recommend seeing it.

In Disney’s Frozen 2, Princess Anna has once again been pushed away by her sister. Anna and Olaf who was pushed away at the same time find themselves in a deep dark cavern, when they receive a frozen message from Elsa. Anna understands the meaning of the message and sadly tells Olaf, “I know what needs to be done, we need to destroy the dam.” You see destroy this dam will right a wrong done long before Elsa and Anna were born. Why was Anna so sad, breaking the dam would also destroy her home and kingdom. Olaf spot the way out and as they turn to go something happens to Olaf leading him to the conclusion that “Elsa had gone too far.” Anna says goodbye to Olaf as he flurries away. Anna now alone in the dark, her sister presumed dead, having sacrificed herself for the truth, without her friend Olaf and now faced with overwhelming grief and the need, the call to do the next right thing.

And some of us think we’ve got it hard.

In this interesting time, we find ourselves in – a time where many are fearful, lots are sick, we are all somewhat isolated although some more than others. It can be overwhelming and the next right thing can be hard to see.

I have to be honest, my life personally hasn’t at this point been terribly disrupted – I still shop for groceries once a week, non-groceries every two weeks, my husband still goes to work and our off time is spent at home, which is how it would be normally. We had been hunting for a new church when this hit, but I have known how important church online is, for quite a long time. So in some ways or us church is really good right now – we can go to church with friends in Australia and back at home in California. We can listen to amazing music and listen to powerful messages of hope from all over the world.

Figuring out the next right thing to do is the challenge. For me trying to encourage others is on the list, as is being extra grateful for all I have and being extra thankful for people who normally get taken for granted – supermarket clerks, Walmart employees, restaurant staff, truck drivers, people who work in the trades, the list gets longer the more I think about it.

I don’t know how you are going at this time but I want to encourage you especially if you are a follower of Jesus to not be afraid, and to just do the next right thing. What is the next right thing? Maybe it’s not watching the new as much and taking care of your own mental, physical and spiritual health. Maybe it’s checking in on an elderly neighbor or a friend who you know struggles with mental health issues. Maybe it is making sure the people who work in the shops and restaurants you visit that you are thankful that they are there doing the best they can to serve you. Maybe for some of you it’s looking over all that stuff you purchased in a panic and giving some of it away so that those in need can have it.

Ask God to show you what your next right thing is. I know things can seem pretty dark and lonely right now, but things will get better and maybe if we all focus doing the next right thing our lives will be better for it when this storm is over.

As with all Disney movies Frozen 2 has a happy ending, actually it is an extraordinary ending. We’ll get to a happy ending eventually too if we will seek His face, hold on to faith, accept His peace and do the next right thing.

A Prayer
Father – thank you for walking with us in the midst of this world wide storm. Help us to show our gratitude to you and to all the people who are working so that life can be as normal as possible in this time. Show each of us what next right thing you have for us to do and grant us the courage to do it. In the name of Jesus, whose next right thing bring us new life. Amen.

Ruins Restored

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
1 Peter 5:10

I’d been watching a series on YouTube called Restoration Home. Now this is not your ordinary home renovation program – in this program ordinary people (some with deep pockets and some with basically no pockets) are purchasing historically significant properties that have been long abandoned and left to ruin. Their new owners, pour life back into them – perhaps making them better than new, while preserving their beauty and history.

The interesting thing about many of the properties being featured is that from the outside and a short distance away, these buildings look beautiful. It is not until you get up close and go inside to the heart of the building that the depth of the ruin is truly discovered. Buildings fall to ruin from the inside out, not unlike we humans.

Thanks to Eve and Adam’s selfish disobedience, all of us and our planet are ruins. In the passage above Peter is encouraging his readers that the suffering they are facing – some brought on by their own sinfulness and some by the persecution they are facing from the culture around them, will only last a short time and then God Himself will restore them, making them strong once again. We are all ruins – yes, but we are not abandoned. The original architect of our world stands ready to do an amazing work of restoration in our lives if we let Him, if we find the courage to realize that we are ruins, that we need new life breathed into us. As each ruined human allows God to do His work in them, they become strong, they show the beauty God placed in them from the beginning, they find purpose and the relationship between Creator and creature is restored and that is the very best part. As we are restored, God is working out His plan to restore our planet as well. In Scripture we read that He is making all things new.

How are you looking? From the outside do you look beautiful and whole, while on the inside you are living ruined and broken? Is your heart and soul in need of a total restoration? Will you deny that anything is wrong or will you find the courage to recognize that a chat with the Architect is in order so that restoration work can begin or be continued?

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, remember that the reason for the celebration is Jesus – God in the form of a man come to open the way to restoration for those who believe and know they are ruined.

Let your life be restored by the original Architect and in the process your relationship with the Holy God who loves you will be restored as well.

A Prayer
Father – grant us the courage to recognized that we have fallen into ruin because of our selfishness and disobedient choices. Thank you for giving us Your Son, that we can be restored from the inside out. Restore our hearts that we long to serve You with everything in our being. Restore us, making us strong and steadfast. In the name of Jesus, who has made our restoration possible – Amen.

Grateful for Lint

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Colossians 4:2

How many of you really love doing the laundry? Ok, now I know there are some out there who find ironing relaxing, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I am talking about the chore of washing, drying, folding and putting it all away. A necessary, menial task that gets done but isn’t necessarily a means of joy and thankfulness or is it?

Our oldest daughter admitted to lamenting about having to do the laundry, watching her family walk around clothed (how dare they) and realizing as soon as she had finished the laundry she would have to start the “vicious” cycle of laundry again. I get it. I helped her with the laundry once. Doing laundry at her house is a big task – the laundry room is in the lowest part of their house, it’s in the sub-basement and the master bedroom is on the highest level of the house – four flights of stairs away from the laundry room. Makes me very thankful for my tiny, single story house.

Then one day as she once again cleaned the dryer’s lint trap, she slowed down enough to actually see the lint. She discovered she could see all her reasons for being thankful in that lint. If the lint was dark, navy blue she could tell she had washed her firefighter husband’s work clothes. If the lint was tinted a paler color like pink, the clothes for her beautiful daughters had been washed. With each colored ball of lint taken from the dryer that day, she could see a reason to be grateful for what God had given her. What a change in perspective!

In the scripture passage above, Paul is preparing to close his letter to the Christians in Colosse. This church was feeling the pressures of other religious philosophies and Paul was writing to remind them of the truth of Jesus Christ and to encourage them to stay the course. As he prepares to close the letter he tells them to devote themselves to prayer – meaning to spend time with God communicating with Him, to stay focused on Him. To be watchful – watchful for the false teachers who would be trying to lead them from the truth and freedom they had found in Jesus and to keep a proper perspective on what it means to be a Christ following human. To be thankful – thankful for everything.

Thankful for the menial tasks that need to be done. Thankful for the celebrations of life. Thankful for the struggles and storms we often encounter in this life. Thankful for the perspective changing, course correcting moments in life. The kinds of moments that turn a disliked chore into a moment of thankfulness.

What are you not looking forward to? Do you have a never ending pile of laundry? Are you facing a more significant challenge in life – a health issue, the loss of a loved one, finances that never seem to keep up? Whatever it is – devote yourself to prayer. Pour out your heart to the God who loves you and listen for His heart to speak to yours. Be watchful, on the lookout for perspective changing moments and be thankful always and for everything.

A Prayer
Father – help us to wade through the piles of stuff we face in this life. Help us to seek you first in everything situation by being devoted to spending time with you in prayer. Help us to be watchful not only for the things and people who would try distract us from Your truth, but for those moment in life that can change our perspective and turn our laments into songs of thankfulness and praise. Help us to be thankful regardless of the situations we find ourselves in – because we can count on You to keep Your promises to finish the good work you have started in us. In the name of Jesus, who loves us more than we can possibly know. – Amen.

With Sacrificial Obedience Comes Freedom

“Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.”
Luke 23:46

Hours earlier, before Jesus willingly gave up his spirit he had been at Gethsemane, overwhelmed with sorrow, sweating blood and asking his Father if there was anyway… Let’s rewind, just a bit. Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell us that Jesus was not alone in the garden that evening – his disciples were with him. He told them to sit here while I go over there to pray and he took Peter, James and John with him. Peter, James and John were asked to “keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:38). Jesus went a bit further, falls on His face in prayer and in great emotional turmoil prays “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Jesus agonizing with the Father over the act of sacrificial obedience he is about carry out – finds his friends asleep, not able to carry out a simple request.

Throughout scripture God demonstrates is preference of obedience over sacrifice. But I believe those who are willing to be sacrificially obedient, find themselves in closer relationship God. Abraham is a good example. Abraham and Sarah finally have the desire of their hearts a son. Then God tells Abraham to take his beloved Isaac and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Abraham did not hesitate – but what agony must he have felt, was his soul overwhelmed with sorrow? God provides a lamb; Isaac is spared and Abraham walks closely with God all the days of his life.

Jesus’ willingness to act in sacrificial obedience to his Father, to be beaten almost to the point of death, to have the rough wood of the cross dig into his back and to die the torturous death that being crucified was, not only returned Jesus to his rightful place. It freed him from his earthly limitations and enabled Him to create and sustain a life transforming change on our planet – but it also sets everyone who believes in Him free, to be who they were created to be, to fulfill the purpose they were made for, to walk in close relationship with the creator of the universe.

Jesus’ disciples would carry out their commission with sacrificial obedience, all but one dying painful deaths. All being persecuted in one way or another, all facing painful storms. Yet they walked in freedom with the One who made them free and gave them the power they needed. The One who promised a forever life with Him in a forever kingdom.

What is God calling you to that requires sacrificial obedience? Do you trust Him to give you what you need to endure the pain of sacrificial obedience? Do you believe that Jesus will be with you in every storm, until you are filled with His light and the fullness of His kingdom?

With sacrificial obedience comes freedom. Embrace His freedom.

A Prayer
Father – We humans want to live a life that has as little pain as possible, we don’t want to sacrifice what we think we should have. We don’t even like to be obedient to anyone but ourselves. Help us Lord to see the freedom that comes with being sacrificially obedient to the things You are calling us to. Yes, it will be painful possibly very painful. But to be a fully restored image bearers in close relationship with the God who made us and loves us is worth it. In the name of Jesus, who showed us what sacrificial obedience looks like – Amen.

Seasons Come and Go

Greetings to everyone who still checks in on this blog every now and again.

There is a time and a season for everything and that means seasons change. It would seem that the Something Special For You season has come to an end. There are 7 books after all and perhaps that's all of this format there was meant to be.

I feel something new coming, something called Simple Words - maybe?

Something like: If you want to find your place in this world, seek His face.

This blog will remain with its archive of Something Special Devotions for as long as, well as long as Blogger continues to be available. 

It appears the winds of change may be a blowing so if you are inclined to pray - I'd appreciate it. Let me know what you think and what would encourage you.

HE is There Even When You Doubt

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?... But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.”
Psalm 13:1-2, 5-6

Once again someone I love has gotten the dreaded ‘C’ diagnosis. My heart breaks for the battle that must be faced in the midst of other health issues. I am too far away to offer a hug or to be by their side when chemo starts. I cry out in my prayers asking for a miracle that only He can do and for my friend’s comfort and peace. My friend is asking God hard questions – you know the kind – why me? What have I done? Why Lord, do you hate me? These are questions of anguish and doubt. Not unlike the many conversations David has with God.

In the passages above, David is once again crying out to the Lord for relief. He is demanding to know how long it is going to be before the Lord his God acts on his behalf. He feels like God isn’t there, is not listening and apparently doesn’t care that his mind is being ravaged by doubt and fear or that his heart is being crushed by sorrow.

I love how David always expresses his rawest emotions, speaking to God like you would someone you have a deep bond with. Sometimes, demanding that God act on his behalf. Sometimes, falling on his face in total surrender to whatever God’s will is. David doubts – I believe not because he doubts that God exists or that God can do great and mighty things – but because he doubts his own faith, his own understanding and his own identity in God’s plan.

When David finishes his lament – he praises God with equal emotion. Proclaiming that he WILL TRUST and that his heart though currently being crushed by sorrow, fear and doubt will rejoice because the Lord’s salvation is sure. David sings praise to the Lord even in the midst of the struggles he is facing.

One friend is just starting the cancer battle, the daughter of another in the midst of the same battle, one son-in-law dealing with his own serious health issue. What battle are you trying to stare down? What is filling your heart with sorrow?

HE is there in the midst of everything – so trust in His unfailing love and sing praise to Him, and sing loudly – it will make your heart and mind feel better.

A Prayer
Father – thank you for the raw emotion of your servant David’s lament and proclamation of trust even in the midst of the battle. He teaches us that we can be equally raw in our cries of anguish and we reach out to You. Help to rejoice and sing You praise once we have asked our hard questions and poured out our pain at your feet. Bring us peace and comfort and healing. Remind us that you love us with an unfailing love. In the name of Jesus, who is with us even when we doubt. – Amen.

Don't Get Too Comfortable

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”
Hebrews 11:39-40

I’d been having a discussion in my heart and mind with God over what helps grow our trust and faith in him. There are of course a number of things – worship, obedience, being in relationship with others who are living life following Jesus and living actively in the world but in a way that is so different that others notice. But I kept coming back to one thing more than all the others, that idea that God grows us by making us uncomfortable.

The passage above comes at the end of a list of Old Testament people who are commended for their faith. Even though things happened in their lives as they followed after God that prevented them from fully experiencing what God had promised them – they had remained faithful. As I looked at this list and thought not only of the people listed but also other Old Testament people and New Testament people whose faith can be commended, I found a common thread of faith building – many, if not all of them had been called out of their places of comfort to be part of God’s bigger and better plan for mankind.

Noah was asked to build a giant ship, a ship that would allow mankind to live on after the flood. Abraham was told to leave his family behind and follow God to a land God would show him and then be asked to sacrifice his beloved son, so that the nation God was going to build would have a place to live and to be an example for what faithful obedience looks like. Joseph must have been comfortable as the bratty younger brother who was “dad’s favorite” until his brothers sold him into slavery, that would eventually allow Joseph to keep them alive in the midst of famine. I am guessing Moses had gotten comfortable with being a shepherd when God spoke to him from a blazing bush and told to go and lead His people – a people that were comfortable in their bondage - out of Egypt. What about Ruth, having left the comfort of her land and family to stay with Naomi and be found in the line of David. How about Esther, was she comfortable in her life, before she was queen and risked her life to save her people? Many of the disciples left the comfort of their trades and families to follow after Jesus and become world changers. Even Jesus – can you imagine what comfort the Father called him out of, so He could come and die for us?

Leaving California and the comfort of family and friends to go to a new place was hard, but the faith building was amazing. Standing on the platform to preach and teach the Word of God – way out of my comfort zone, also great for faith building though. I was asked after having done that several times, if I was getting more comfortable with it. After thinking about the answer to that question, I responded that I wasn’t sure it was a good thing to get comfortable with it, because it is too important a thing to take for granted – which is something we human are inclined to do when we get comfortable in life – take things for granted that is.

A day may come when others will commend us for our faith, recognizing that even we hadn’t fully received the promise yet. That will come some day when all of us who call Jesus Lord, will be in his presence.

Until then - don’t get too comfortable, He wants to build a Christ like character in you and He will make you uncomfortable to do it.

A Prayer
Father – You know how we humans are so inclined to live comfortably, so comfortably that we take each other, our stuff, our faith and You for granted. Saying thank you for the times that you pull us out of our comfort zone, to build our faith and grow our character is hard, but may we thank you with everything in us as your grow us into the people you planned for us to be from the beginning. As we live out our faith outside our comfort zones may those around us recognize You in our lives and allow their hearts to answer Your call to them. In the name of Jesus, who calls us out of our comfort zones – Amen.

Can I Get a Witness?

“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.”
Psalm 57:7-11

In my experience I have found that when things are going well – it is easy to praise the Lord. Can I get a witness? When things start going wrong, when the storm clouds of life begin to gather, when life seems to have lost the plot leading to the happily ever after – praising the Lord gets difficult. More difficult that getting angry, than questioning His faithfulness, than turning away. Can I get a witness?

In the course of less than 24 hours I learned that someone I care about had gotten a cancer diagnosis and that another person I care about was waiting to see if that diagnosis was headed their way and then that a new friend’s mother had just gotten the big C battle added to her life. Add to that a faraway friend who had just finished gaining a second victory over that insidious disease and someone I work with is waging all-out war on it. I was doing some questioning of God myself. Can I get a witness?

Then my heart drew my mind to David – Shepherd King and how in the midst of the many battles he found himself in he would find a way to praise God. Oh he would cry out in fear, he would ask God to destroy his enemies in no uncertain terms, he would lie on his face consumed by the guilt of his own failings, his own sin and then he would praise God. That’s what is going on in Psalm 57. David cries out for protections and deliverance and then praises God so that the whole world would know how great his God is. Wonder if David asked – can I get a witness?

Paul is another one who was good at praising God even as he questioned why he couldn’t go where he wanted to go, why God wouldn’t take the thorn from him? It was to remind Paul and us that God’s divine strength give us the greatest power when we are at our weakest, lowest points. It is to remind us that God grace, mercy and love are sufficient for whatever we are facing. I wonder if Paul ever asked – Can I get a witness?

Where are you today? Praising God because the sky is blue and there is nothing but smooth sailing in your life. Can I get a witness? I’ll celebrate that with you. Maybe life isn’t so great right now, and being angry at God is way easier than praising Him is. Can I get a witness? I’ll be praying for you in that. Maybe the storm has passed and you have found Him to be faithful, that His strength was enough and even though you were angry and questioning you have found your heart steadfast and ready to raise the roof singing praise to God. Can I get a witness? I’ll sing with you.

Can I get a witness?

A Prayer
Father – you are so patient with us. You put up with our lack of faith because you love us so much. You let us throw our little tantrums and then you show us that when we are at our weakest Your divine power will make us stronger than we realize. Help us to live our lives in such a way that even in the midst of the worst of life’s storms our hearts will be steadfast and so much so that we are indeed a witness to your power, love, mercy and grace. May our witness show those around us that what you have done for us you will do for them too. In the name of Jesus – Amen.

Restored

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
Psalm 51:10-12

As someone who has walked after Jesus for a long time, making something so familiar as Easter, even though it is an awe inspiring, life changing event – fresh can and filled with a new sense of wonder and gratitude can be hard sometimes. As I listened to a powerful resurrection message from our pastor and jotted down some possible titles for some post Easter encouragement. I thought I had landed on one, but the words just wouldn’t come, even as I studied and reflected on the cross and the risen Jesus. Then as is often the case inspiration came from an unexpected source.

I don’t know how many of you watch Grey’s Anatomy, but Dan and I do regularly and the inspiration for this word of encouragement comes from an episode that aired on March 29, just days before Easter.

There is a character on the show whose name is April Kepner. April is a doctor and since she first arrived on the scene (years ago), it was no secret that she was a woman of faith, a Christian. Now like all of us who follow after Christ, she was not perfect but she was doing her best to live out what she believed. A number of episodes before this one just before Easter – April had a really bad day at work – so bad that by the end of it she is having a full blown crisis of faith. April goes completely off the rails – drinking, sleeping with any man that was interested, being mean to people she cares about, treating the interns harshly – the only thing she hadn’t done was curse God. Oh she was plenty mad, shaking her fists and wanting to know what good is it to believe something and live something. In one episode following the start of the crisis one of the men she’s been with shares his own struggles with God following the death of his son, but also shares that he still managed to find comfort in church. Some of the pain, a little of the pain April is feeling starts to break away. Then in the episode the aired before Easter – April is at the bedside of a man dying an incredibly painful death, the result of a rare reaction to antibiotics. The man is a Rabbi. At first April is angry at the doctor who originally treated the man and she is trying to focus on keeping him comfortable.

But then there is a fierce conversation between the Rabbi and April - about God, about how this dying man can see that April is trying to hide her own pain and in doing so is acting like a child. He questions why she thinks that she was ever meant to understand everything or to think that there wouldn’t be unfair suffering in the world. This Rabbi whose skin is basically just falling apart asks April to tell the other doctor that he forgives her. At the end of the show it turns out that, that fierce conversation with a dying rabbi restores April’s faith. Oh, April’s heart will still have some healing to do and she’ll have to mend the wounds that she inflicted on others but you could see that the weight had been lifted and she could once again see Jesus as her Savior.

In the passage above, King David had been confronted with his sin and cries out for his God to restore him, so that he would once again feel the joy of his salvation. That's really what Jesus’ journey to the cross was for, so that by His death, He could take away the sins of all had and would believe in him and in so doing restore us to a right relationship with the God who made us and loves us more than we can ever truly understand. And on that day when the tomb was empty, because Jesus had defeated death - what joy the disciples had. A joy that continues to ripple out from that moment and fills all of us who call Jesus – Savior and Lord.

Maybe you are not having a faith crisis – but your faith is feeling a little dry, spend some time with Jesus ask him to restore the joy of your salvation and breathe new life into your faith.

Maybe you are in full crisis mode wondering if it's even worth trying to live the way Jesus wants you to – with all the pain, suffering and unanswered questions. Cry out to Him and then seek out someone of faith you trust and respect and have a fierce conversation, maybe have more than one.

Maybe you don’t know Jesus or don’t believe He is who said he is, or that He died for you and your sins. Seek Him and you will find Him. Chances are He is very near to you already, just waiting for you to want to know Him.

No matter where you are in life or what you are facing, remember that Jesus is a Rabbi who died to take away your sins and then rose victorious from the grave - to give you a new and more abundant life in this moment and into eternity.

I am glad to be restored. What about you?

A Prayer
Father – thank you for your Son, thank you that He surrendered himself to the cross to take away our sins, bring us healing and restore our relationship with You. Thank you for raising Him to life again, that we too might live, not just in the here and now but forever. Help those of us who call Jesus Lord, to live our lives in such a way as to attract others to the cross and the empty and into the very presence of the savior. Give us eyes to see hurting hearts around us. In the name of Jesus, who restores all who believe – Amen.

The Cross: More Than Dead Wood

“For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Luke 23:31

This Good Friday devotion has been excerpted from a sermon I gave on March 18, 2018.

The truth of it is that sometimes what Jesus said is hard to swallow. Hard enough that people turn away from Him.

I need to confess that preparing message was hard, because what Jesus says in the above verse is hard. Then just a week or so before I was to take the platform to deliver a Lenten message, something happened that left me feeling a bit battered. That battered feeling helped me get past Jesus’ difficult words and recognize the importance of following His agenda.

In Luke 23:26-30 We see Simon of Cyrene pressed into service to carry the cross that had become too heavy for the severely beaten Jesus to carry all the way to Golgotha. Relieved of that mortal burden, Jesus then turns his attention to the women who were mourning and wailing for Him as they followed with the rest of the crowd. He tells them “don’t cry for me, you still don’t understand what’s happening, I know fully what is going to happen and what is coming – so cry for yourselves instead, cry for your children – there is a day coming when the people will cry for the mountains to fall on them.” Remember that their beloved Jerusalem with its beautiful temple would be destroyed and many would lose their lives to the sword or be once again exiles as they fled the destruction. Then He say something really dark and hard – we are gonna soak in those words for a bit to see how The Cross is more than dead wood.

As I read the about verse over and over I thought – wow, that is really tough – I knew what I thought is meant after I had sat with it for a bit and let it roll around in my head. A Bible translation called The Voice speaks this verse more plainly by saying “For if they treat Me like this when I’m like green unseasoned wood, what will they do to a nation that’s ready to burn like seasoned firewood?”

Let’s talk about green and dry trees.

Green trees, they can be young, but regardless of their age if sap is flowing through them and no pests or diseases are harming them - they are vibrant, they bear fruit. Green wood is hard to cut and hard to burn. Jesus is the green tree – He is relatively young, being a 30 something at the time, He was certainly vibrant and His life had been very fruitful. He was also innocent, pure and holy. He had done nothing to deserve the punishment He was about to endure – nothing except to love the people who in his context were responsible –

The Jewish leaders – whose fear of change and pride blinded them to the truth they should have known. The Jewish people who turn against Him as their leaders incited the mob - despite the fact that he had fed them, healed them, welcomed them into fellowship with Him. The women whom He tells not to cry for him but instead for themselves and their children – that they should be weeping for their sin worn souls - that we should weep for our own sin worn souls. That they should weep for the judgement that was coming - that we should weep for the judgement that is coming.

Peter had denied Him when the going got tough, even though he had recognized that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

Even Pilate – who recognized that Jesus was an innocent man – going so far as to wash his hands of the matter so that they would not be stained by the blood of an innocent man, had not the courage or the strength to put down the mob in his courtyard and so surrendered Jesus to be brutally beaten and nailed to some dead wood.

If this was how the Romans would treat the innocent – how would they treat the guilty?

If God would cause His own innocent Son to suffer on our behalf. What will HE do to us if we fail to live lives that reflect the love of Jesus Christ?

Now let’s look at dry trees – they are fruitless, dead, no life giving sap runs through them, the wood from them burns easily. The dry tree is guilty, corrupt, wicked and ready for judgement good for nothing but the fire.

If Jesus is the green tree – then in His context it was the Jewish nation and to some extent the Romans who were the dry trees – Jerusalem would be destroyed and eventually the Roman empire would fall. Today – If we like the disciples of old turn our backs on Jesus because of His hard teaching or if we fail to take on Jesus’ agenda; allowing our pride, our fear or whatever to keep us from becoming the people, the nation, the kingdom he has purposed us to be - we too risk becoming dry trees as our sin worn souls suck the life out of us. Because we are all sinners – yes, some of us, many who are reading this have been saved by grace - but we all fall short sometimes, because our humanness gets in the way.

Has it gotten dark enough for you?

Let’s try to bring the light back in.

In Mark chapter 10 we encounter the rich young man, who walks away sad because Jesus’ words were too hard. The disciples where so amazed at the severity of Jesus saying it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God that they asked “Who can be saved?” Jesus was honest in his response “With man – with us this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” – There is hope.

Both Mark and Luke call our attention to the poor widow who put all she had into the treasury and how Jesus commended her. He commended her not for her money but for her total surrender to God. It is in our total surrender that we find our real reward.

In John Jesus talks of being the vine and of believers being the branches – we when abide in Him we find a fruitful life.

Following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension Peter and the others faced persecution, they were arrested and commanded to stop talking about Jesus – They responded they had no choice but to obey God. You (Peter said) speaking to the religious leaders - hung him on piece of dead wood to die, but he had been raised to life and exalted to His rightful place by the God of our fathers – HIS FATHER. Because this is true - when we repent we are forgiven.

What good news for us – Amen!

So here’s the bottom line – here is the amazing grace filled light that shines for this dark world,

Jesus’ Sacrifice – on that cross made of dead wood - Plus - Our belief, because we are saved by grace through faith in the Son that was given – Equals – Eternal Life! That makes the Cross way more than dead wood!

A Prayer
Father – thank you for your words – even when they are difficult to hear. Send your Holy Spirit to be with us as we soak in the Words of Your Son Jesus – grant us eyes that see, ears that hear and hearts ready to be filled with all you have for us. In the name of Jesus, who make the cross more than dead wood – Amen.