Everday Moments

I piled groceries in my car and carefully exited my parking spot. Suddenly a man darted across the pavement just in front of me, not noticing my approach. I slammed on my brakes, just missing him. Startled, he looked up and meet my gaze. In that moment, I knew I had a choice: respond with rolled-eye frustration or offer a smiling forgiveness. I smiled.
      Relief flickered across his face, raising the edges of his own lips in gratefulness.
     Proverbs 15:13 says, " A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." Is the writer directing us to cheery grins in the face of every interruption, disappointment, and inconvenience life brings? Surely not! There are times for genuine mourning, despair, and even anger at Injustice. But in our everyday moments, a smile can offer relief, hope, and the grace needed to continue.
      Perhaps the point of the proverb is that a smile naturally results from the condition of our inner beings. A " happy heart" is at peace, content, and yielded to God's best. With such a heart, happy from the inside out, we can respond to surprising circumstances with a genuine smile, inviting others to embrace the hope and peace they too can experience with God.
      Dear Father, today as I cross paths with others around me, make my heart happy that I may share with them the hope only You can offer.
      Encourage one another and build each other up. ( 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Thanks Journal

When I was a new believer in Jesus, a spiritual mentor encouraged me to keep a thanks Journal. It was a little booklet I carried with me everywhere I went. Sometimes I would record a Thanksgiving right away. Other times, I would pen it at the end of the week during a time of reflection.
     Taking a note of praise items is.  a good habit-one I'm considering re-establishing in my life. It would help me to be grateful for His provision and care.
     In the shortest of all the Psalms, Psalm 117, the writer encourages every one to praise the Lord because " great is his love toward us."
      Think about it: How has the Lord shown His love toward you today, this week, this month, and this year? Don't just look for the spectacular. His love is seen in the ordinary, everyday circumstances of Life. Then consider how He has shown His love toward your family, your church, and to others. Let your mind soak up the extent of His love for all of us.
     The psalmist added that " the faithfulness of the Lord endured forever." In other words, He will continue to love us! So we will continue to have many things to praise God for in the coming days. As His dearly loved children, may praising and thanking God characterize our lives!
      Father, if we were to record all of Your blessings, we could not complete the task in a lifetime. But we can pause this moment to say a simple " Thank You" for Your faithfulness and goodness.
      Remember to thank God for the ordinary as well as the extraordinary.

What on Earth?

WHen Andrew Cheatle lost his cell phone at the beach, he thought it was gone forever. About a week later, however, fisherman Glen Kerley called him. He had pulled Cheatle's phone, still functional after it dried, out of a 25-pound cod.
     Life is full of odd stories, and we find more than a few of them in the Bible. One day tax collectors came to Peter demanding to know, " Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" ( Matthew 17:24). Jesus turned the situation into a teaching moment. He wanted Peter to understand His role as King. Taxes aren't collected from the children of the King, and the Lord made it clear that neither He nor His children owed any temple tax.
     Yet Jesus wanted to be careful not to " cause offense", so He told Peter to go fishing. ( This is the odd part of the story.) Peter found a coin in the mouth of the first fish he caught.
      What on Earth is Jesus doing here? A better question is, " What in God's kingdom is Jesus doing? He is the rightfully King-even when many do not recognize Him as such. When we accept His role as Lord in our lives, we become His children.
      Life Will still throw it's various demands at us, but Jesus will provide for us. As former pastor David Pompo put it, " When we're fishing for our Father, we can depend on Him for all we need."
      Lord, teach us to basketball in the wonderful realization that You provide everything we need.
      We are children of the King!

Traditions and Christmas

As you savor a candy cane this Christmas, say " danke schon" to the Germans, for that confectionery treat was first created in Cologne. As you admire your poinsettia, say " gracias" to Mexico, where the plant originated. Say " mercies beaucoup" to the French for the term Noel, and give a " cheers" to the English for your mistletoe.
      But as we enjoy our traditions and festivities of the Christmas season-customs that have been cthe world-let's save our most sincere and heartfelt " thank you" for our good, merciful, and loving God. From Him came the reason for our Christmas celebration: the baby born in that Judean manager more than 2,000 years ago. An angel announced the arrival of this gift to mankind by saying " I bring you good news that will cause great joy...a Savior has been born to you."
     This Christmas, even in the light of the sparkling Christmas tree and surrounded by newly opened presents, the true excitement comes when we turn our attention to the baby named Jesus, who came to " save his people from their sins." His birth transcends tradition: It is our Central focus as we send praises to God for this indescribable Christmas gift.
     Lord, we thank YOu for coming to join us on that first Christmas. During a time of the year filled with many traditions help us to keep You first.
     May the Good of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.

A Thrill of Hope

Reginald Fessenden had been working for years to achieve wireless radio communication. Other scientists found his ideas radical and unorthodox, and doubted he would succeed. But he claims that on December 24, 1906, he became the first person to ever play music over the radio.
      Fessenden held a contract with a fruit company which had installed wireless systems on roughly a dozen boats to communicate about the harvesting and marketing of bananas. That Christmas Eve, Fessenden said that he told the wireless operators on board all ships to pay attention. At 9 o'clock they heard his voice.
      He reportedly played a record of an operatic Aria, and then he pulled out his violin, playing " Of Holy Night" and singing the words to the last verse as he played. Finally, he offered Christmas greetings and read from Luke 2 the story of Angels announcing the birth of a Savior to Shepherd's in Bethlehem.
     Both the Shepherd's in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago and the sailors on board the United Fruit Company ships in 1906 heard an unexpected, surprising message of hope on a dark night. And God still speaks that same message of hope to us today. A Savior has been born for us-Christ the Lord!. We can join the choir of Angels and believers through the ages who respond with " Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
     God, we give You glory and thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior!
      Without Christ there is no hope.

God with Us

" Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my right, Christ at my left..." These hymn lyrics, written by the fifth-century Celtic Christian St. Patrick, echo in my mind when I read Matthew's account of Jesus's birth. They feel like a warm embrace, reminding me that I'm never alone.
     Matthew's account tells us that God dwell with His people is at the heart of Christmas. Quoting Isaiah's prophecy of a child who would be called Immanuel, meaning " God with us." Matthew points to the ultimate fulfillment of that prophecy-Jesus, the One born by the power of the Holy Spirit to be God with us. This truth is so Central that Matthew begins and ends his gospel with it, concluding with Jesus's we to His disciples: " And surely I am with you always, to the very end of age."
     St. Patrick's lyrics remind me that Christ is with believers always through His Spirit living within. When I'm nervous of afraid, I can hold fast to HIs promises that He will never leave me. What I can't fall asleep, I can ask Him to give me His peace. When I'm celebrating and filled with joy, I can thank Him for His gracious work in my life.
     Jesus, Immanuel-God with us.
     Father God, thank You for sending Your Soon to be God with us. May we experience Your presence this day.
     God's love be incarnation at Bethlehem.

Silent Night of the Soul

Long before Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber created the familiar Carol " Silent Night," Angelius Silesius had written:
Love! in the silent night a child to God is born, And all is brought again that are was lost or lorn. Could but they soul, Of man, became a silent night God would be born in the and set all things aright.
     Silesius, a Polish monk, published the poem in 1657 in The Cherubic Pilgrim. During our Church's annual Christmas Eve service, the choir sang beautiful rendition of the song titled " Could but They Soul Become a Silent Night."
     The twofold mystery of Christmas is that God became one of us so that we might become one with Him. Jesus suffered everything that was wrong so that we could be made right. That's why the apostle Paul could write, " If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone; the new is here! All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ."
     Whether our Christmas is filled with family and friends or empty of all we long for, we know that Jesus came to be born in us.
      Ah, would they heart but be a manger for the birth, God would once more become a child on earth.
      Lord Jesus, thank You for being born into this dark world so that we might be born again into Your life and light.
      God became one of us so that we might become one with Him.

Breaking the Silence

At the end of the Old Testament, God seems to be in hiding. For four centuries, the Jews wait and wonder. Good seems passive, unconcerned, and deaf to their prayers. Only one hope remains: the ancient promise of a Messiah. On that promise the Jews stake everything. And then something momentous happens. The birth of a baby is announced.
       You can catch the excitement just by reading the reactions of people in Luke. Events surrounding Jesus's birth resemble a joy-filled musical. Characters crowd into the scene: a white-haired great uncle, an astonished virgin, the old prophetess Anna. Mary herself let's loose with a beautiful hymn. Even Jesus's unborn cousin kicks for joy inside his mother's womb.
      Luke takes care to make direct connections to Old Testament promises of a Messiah. The angel Gabriel even calls John the Baptist an " Elijah" sent to prepare the way for the Lord. CLearly, something is brewing on planet Earth. Among the dreary, defeated villagers in a remote corner of the Room and Empire, something good is breaking out.
      You have come to us, and we rejoice! Jesus, You are the gift of redemption and hope for us. Thank You.
      Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.

Extreme Measures

A few years ago, a friend of mine lost track of her young son while walking through a swarm of people at Union Station in Chicago. Needless to say, it was a terrifying experience. Frantically, she yelled his name and ran back up the escalator, retracing her steps in an effort to find her little boy. The minutes of separation seemed like hours, until suddenly--thankfully her son emerged from the crowd and ran to the safety of her arms.
      Thinking of my friend who would have done anything to find her child fills me with a renewed sense of gratitude for the amazing work God did to save us. From the time God's first image-bearers-Adam and Eve wandered off in sin, He lamented the loss of fellowship with His people. He went to great lengths to restore the relationship by sending His one and only Son " to seek and to save the lost". Without the birth of Jesus, and without His willingness to die to pay the price for our sin and to bring us to God we would have nothing to celebrate at Christmastime.
      So this Christmas, let's be thankful that God took extreme measures by sending Jesus to reclaim our fellowship with Him. Although we once we're lost, because of Jesus we have been found!
      Heavenly Father, in the midst of all the joy of Christmas, remind me that the true meaning of this season lies in the depth of Your love. Thank You for sending Jesus to reclaim undeserving people like me!
Christmas is about Good taking extreme measures to reclaim those who were lost.

Everlasting Hope

The week before Christmas, two months after my mom died, holiday shopping and decorating sat at the bottom of my priority list. I resisted my husband's attempts to comfort me as I grieved the loss of our family's faith filled matriarch. I sulked as our son Xavier, stretched and stapled strands of Christmas lights onto the inside walls of our home. Without a word, he plugged in the cord before he and his dad left for work.
      As the colorful bulbs blinked, God gently Drew me out of my darkness. No matter how painful the circumstances, my hope remained secure in the light of God's truth, which always reveals His unchanging character.
      Psalm 146 affirms what God reminded me on that difficult morning: My endless " hope is in the Lord," my helper, my mighty and merciful God. As Creator of all, He " remains faithful forever." He " upholds the cause of the oppressed," protecting us and providing for us. " The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down." He " watches over" us, " sustains" us and will always be King.
      Sometimes, when Christmas rolls around, our days will overflow with joyful moments. Sometimes, we'll face loss, experience hurt, or feel alone. But at all times, God promises to be our light in the darkness, offering us tangible help and everlasting Hope.
      Father God, thanks for inviting us to know and rely on Your unchanging character as the source of our eternal hope.
       God secures our hope in His unchanging character.

Gentleness

The troubles of Life can make us cranky and out of sorts, but we still should never excuse these bouts of bad behavior, for they can either the hearts of those weeks love and duty to others until we have learned to be pleasant.
       The New Testament has a word for the virtue that corrects our unpleasantness-gentleness, a term that suggests a kind and ND gracious soul. Ephesians 4:2 reminds us, " Be completely humble and gentle."
       Gentleness is a willingness to accept limitations and ailments without taking out our aggravation on others. It shows gratitude for the smallest service rendered and tolerance for those who do not serve us well. It puts up with bothersome people--including noisy, boisterous little people; for kindness to children is a crowning Mark of a good and gentle person. It speaks softly in the face of provocation. It can be silent; for calm, unruffled silence is often the most eloquent response to unkind words.
        Jesus is " gentle and humble in heart." If we ask Him, He will, in time, recreate us in His image. Scottish author George MacDonald says, " God would not hear from us a tone to jar the heart of another, a word to make it ache....From such, as from all other sins, Jesus was born to deliver us."
        Dear Lord, I want to be a gentle person. Please help me to be kind and gracious to others today.
         Humility toward God will make us gentle toward others.

Big World, Bigger God

As we drove through northern Michigan, Marlene exclaimed, " It's unbelievable how big the world is!" She made her comment as we passed a sign marking the 45th parallel-the point halfway between the equator and the North Pole. We talked about how small we are and how vast our world is. Yet, compared to the size of the universe, our tiny planet is only a speck of dust.
     If our world is great, and the universe is vastly greater, how big is the One who powerfully created it? The Bible tells us, " For by Jesus all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him"
      This is good news because the same Jesus who created the universe is the One who has come to rescue us from our sin for everyday and forever. The night before He died, Jesus said, " These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
     When facing the large and small challenges of Life, we call on the one who made the universe, died and rose again, and won victory over this world's brokenness. In our times of struggle, He powerfully offers us His peace.
      Lord, I'm grateful that You are greater than my mind could ever comprehend. Help me to trust You today.
     God's grace is immeasurable, His Mercy inexhaustible, His peace inexpressible.

With God's Help

As I've grown older, I've noticed more joint pain, especially when cold weather hits. Some days, I feel less like a conqueror and more like someone conquered by the challenges of becoming a senior citizen.
      That's why my hero is an older man named Caleb-the former spy sent by Moses to scout out Canaan, the Promised Land. After the other spies gave an unfavorable report, Caleb and Joshua were the only spies out of the twelve whom God favored to enter Canaan. Now, in Joshua 14, the time for Caleb to receive his portion of land had come. But there were enemies still to drive out. Not content to retire and leave the battle to the younger generation, Caleb declared, " You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."
     " The Lord helping me. " That's the kind of mindset that kept Caleb battle-ready. He focused on God's power, not his own, nor on his advanced age. God would help him do whatever needed to be done.
      Most of us don't think of taking on anything monumental when we reach certain age. But we can still do great things for God, no matter how old we are. When Caleb-sized opportunities come our way, we don't have to shy away from them. With the Lord helping us, we can conquer!
     Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the strength to get through each day. Help me to do Your will. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

It Isn't Me

As one of the most celebrated orchestral conductors of the twentieth century, Arturo Toscanini is remembered for his desire to give credit to whom credit is due. In David Owen's Dictators of the Baton, the author describes how members of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra rose to there feet and cheered Toscanini at the end of a rehearsal of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. When there was a lull in the ovation, and with tears in his eyes, Arturo's broken voice could be heard exclaiming as he spoke: " It isn't me...it's Beethoven's!... Toscanini is nothing."
     In the apostle Paul's New Testament letters, he also refused to take credit for his spiritual insight and influence. He knew he was like a spiritual Father and mother to many who had put their faith in Christ. He admitted he had worked hard and suffered much to encourage the faith, hope, and love so many. But he could not, in Good conscience, accept the applause of those who were inspired by his faith, love, and insight.
      So for his readers' sake, and for ours, Paul said, in effect, " It isn't me, brothers and sisters. It's Christ... Paul is nothing." We are only Messengers of the One who deserves our cheers.
      Father in heaven, without You we would have nothing. Without Your grace we would be hopeless. Without the Spirit of Your Soon we would be helpless. Please show us how to give You the honor You deserve.
Wise is the person who would rather give honor than receive it.

     

The Cure for Anxiety

We were excited about moving for my husband's job. But the unknowns and challenges left me feeling anxious. Thoughts of sorting and packing up belongings. Looking for a place to live. My finding a new job too. Making my way around a new city, and getting settled. It was all....unsettling. As I thought about my " to-do" list, words written by the apostle Paul echoed in my mind: " Don't worry, but pray.
     If anyone could have been anxious about unknowns and challenges, it would have been Paul. He was shipwrecked. He was beaten. He was mailed. I his letter to the Philippians church, he encouraged his friends who also were facing unknowns, telling them, " Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
     Paul's words encourage me. Life is not without uncertainties-whether they come in the form of a major life transition, family issues, health scares, or financial trouble. What I continue to learn is that God cares. He invites us to let go of our fears of the unknown by giving them to Him. When we do, He, who knows all things, promises that His peace, " which transcends all understanding, will guard" our heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
      Dear God, what a blessing to know we do not have to be anxious about anything! Remind us that we can come to You and tell You about everything. Thank You for who You are and what You are doing in our lives.
God's care for me eases my mind.

It's All a Gift!

London's Cafe Rendezvous has nice lighting, comfortable couches, and the smell of coffee in the air. What it doesn't have are prices. Originally started as a business by a local church, the cafe was transformed a year after it started. Thanks managers felt that God was calling them to do something radical-make everything on the menu free. Today you can order a coffee, cake, or sandwich without cost. There isn't even a donation jar. It's all a gift.
      I asked the manager why they were so generous. " We're just trying to treat people the way God treats us," he said. "God gives to us whether we thank him or not. He's generous to us beyond our imaginations."
      Jesus died to rescue us from our sins and reconcile us with God. He rose from the grave and is alive now. Because of this, every wrong thing we've done can be forgiven, and we can have a new life today. And one of the most amazing things about this is that it is all free. We can't buy the new life Jesus offers. We can't even donate toward the cost. It's all free.
      As the folks at Cafe Rendezvous serve their cakes and coffees, they give people a glimpse of God's generousity. You and I are offered eternal life for free because Jesus paid the bill.
     Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water off life. Eternal life is a free gift ready to be received.
     

Restored Failures

A guest band was leading praise and worship at our church, and their passion for the Lord was moving. We could see-and feel-their enthusiasm.
     Then the musicians revealed that they were all exprisoners. Suddenly their songs took on special meaning, and I saw why their words of praise meant so much to them. Their worship was a testimony of lives broken and restored.
        The world may embrace success. But stories of past failure offer people hope too. They assured us that God loves us no matter how many times we have failed. Pastor Gary Inrig says that what we call the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 could well be entitled God's Hall of Reclaimed Failures. " There is scarcely an individual in that chapter without a serious blemish in his or her life," he observes. " But God is in the business of restoring failures....That is great principle of God's grace."
      I love the comfort of Psalm 145, which speaks of God's " wonderful works" and glorious kingdom. It describes His compassion and faithfulness-then immediately tells us that He lifts up those who have fallen. All His attributes are expressed when He picks us up. He is indeed in the business of restoration.
      Have you failed before? We all have. Have you been restored? All who have been redeemed are stories of God's grace.
     Our stories of failure can be God's stories of success.

Unexpected Grace

It was an early Saturday morning in my sophomore year of high school, and I was eager to get to my job at the local bowling lanes. The evening before, I had stayed late to mop the muddy tile floors because the janitor called in sick. I hadn't bothered to tell them boss about the janitor so I could surprise him. After all, What could go wrong? I thought.
     Plenty, as it turns out. Stepping in the door, I saw inches of standing water, with bowling pins, rolls of toilet paper, and boxes of paper scoresheets bobbing on top. Then I realized what I had done: We doing the floors, I have left a large faucet running overnight! Incredibly, my boss greeted me with a huge and big smile--" for trying," he said.
      Saul was actively punishing and harassing Christians we he came face to face with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Jesus confronted the soon-to-be-called apostle Paul with his sinful actions. Blinded by the experience, Saul/Paul would need a Christian-Ananias-to restore his sight to him in an act of courage and grace.
      Both Saul and I received unexpected Grace. Most people knew they're messed up. Instead of lectures, they need a hope for redemption. Stern faces or sharp words can block their view of that hope. Like Ananias, or even my boss followers of Jesus must become the face of grace in these life changing encounters with others.
     A Christian's grace-filled actions can smooth someone's path to the Savior's presence.

First Things First

When you travel by air, before the flight takes off an airplane employee presents a safety briefing, which explains what to do if there is a loss of cabin pressure. Passengers are told that oxygen masks will drop from the compartment above and they are to put one on themselves before helping others. Why? Because before you can help anyone else, you need to be physically alert yourself.
     When Paul wrote to Timothy, he stressed the importance of maintaining his own spiritual health benefits helping and serving others. He reminded Timothy of his many responsibilities as a patient=story: There were false teachings to contend with and strong doctrines to correct. But to discharge his duties well, what was the most important was to " watch his life and doctrine closely and persevere in them." He needed to take care of his own relationship with the Lord first before he could attend to others.
     What Paul told Timothy applies to us too. Each day we encounter people who do not know the Lord. When we talk up on our spiritual oxygen first through time in God's Word, prayer, and enabling of the Holy Spirit, we keep our relationship right with God. THen we will be spiritually alert to help others.
     Lord, open Your Word to me now. Let me breathe in it's freshness before I go out to be Your light to the world.
      A Christian's life is the window through which others can see Jesus.

Trusting God Even If

Due to an injury that occurred in 1992, I suffer from chronic pain in my upper back, shoulders, and neck. During the most excruciating and disheartening moments, it's not always easy to trust or praise the Lord. But when my situation feels unbearable, God's constant presence comforts me. He strengthens me and reassures me of His unchanging goodness, limitless power, and sustaining grace. And when I'm tempted to doubt my Lord, I'm encouraged by determined faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They worshiped Good and trusted He was with them, even when their situation seemed hopeless.
      When King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to throw them into a blazing furnace if they didn't turn away from the true God to worship his golden statue, these three men displayed courageous and confident faith. They never doubted the Lord was worthy of their worship, " even if" He didn't rescue them from their current predicament. And God didn't leave them alone in their time of need; He joined and protected them in the furnace.
      Good doesn't leave us alone either. He remains with us through trials that can feel as destructive as Nebuchadnezzar's furnace. Even if our suffering doesn't end on this side of eternity, God is and always will be mighty, trustworthy, and good. We can rely on His constant and loving presence.
     Lord, thank You for being with us, no matter what we're going through.
     Faith relies on our Almighty God's unchanging character, not on our circumstances.

Jesus Loves Maysel

When my sister Maysel was little, she would sing a familiar song in her own way: " Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells Maysel." This irritated me to no end! As one of her older, " wiser" sisters, I knew the words were " me so," not Maysel." Yet she persisted in singing it her way.
      Now I think my sister had it right all along. The Bible does indeed tell Maysel, and all of us, that Jesus loves us. Over and over again we read that truth. Take, for example, the writings of the apostle John, " the disciples whom Jesus loved." He tells us about God's love in one of the best-known verses of the Bible: 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."
      John reinforces that message of love in 1 John 4:10: " This is love: not that we indeed loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." Just as John knew Jesus loved him, we too can have that same assurance: Jesus does love us. The Bible tells us so.
     Dear Lord, thank You for the assurance that You love us. We are filled with gratitude that You love us so much that You died for us.
     Jesus loves me! This I know.
     

Christmas at MacPherson

About 230 families and individuals live at MacPherson Gardens, Block 72 in my neighborhood. Each person has his or her own life story. On the tenth floor resides an elderly woman whose children have grown up, gotten married, and moved out. She lives by herself now. Just a few doors away from her young couple with two kids-a boy and a girl. And a few floors below lives a young man serving in the army. He has been to church before; maybe he will visit again on Christmas Day. I met these people last Christmas when our church where caroling in the neighborhood to spread Christmas cheer.
       Every Christmas-as on the first Christmas-as are many people who do not know that God has entered into our world as a baby whose name is Jesus. On they do not know the significance of that event- it is " good news that will cause great joy for all the people." Yes, all the people! Regardless of our nationality, culture, gender, or financial status, Jesus came to die for us and offer us completely forgiveness so that we can be reconciled with Him and enjoy His love, joy, peace, and hope. All people, from the woman next door to the colleagues we have lunch with, need to hear this wonderful news!
       On the first Christmas, the Angels were the bearers of this joyous news. Today, God desires to work through us to take the story to others.
      Lord, use me to touch the lives of others with the news of Your coming.
     The good news of Jesus's birth is a source of joy for all people.

Imperfect, Yet Loved

In Japan, food products are immaculately prepared and packaged. Not only must they taste good but they must look good too. Often I wonder if I am purchasing the food or the packaging! Because of the Japanese emphasis on Good quality, products with slight defects are often discarded. However, in recent years wakeari means " there is a reason" in Japanese. These products are not thrown away but are sold at a cheap price " for a reason"--for example, a crack in a rice cracker.
      My friend who lives in Japan tells me that wakeari is also a catchphrase for people who are obviously less than perfect.
     Jesus loves all people--including the wakeari who society casts aside. When a woman who had lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at a Pharisee's house, she went there and knelt behind Jesus at His feet, weeping. The Pharisee's labeled he " a dinner", but Jesus accepted he. He spoke gently to her, assuring he that he sins were forgiven.
     Jesus loves imperfect, wakeari people-which includes you and me. And the greatest demonstration of His love for us is that " while we were all still sinners, Christ died for us." As recipients of His love, may we be conduits of His love to the flawed people around us so they too may know that they can receive God's love despite their imperfections.
     I know I'm not perfect, Lord, so help me not to be hypocritical and pretend I have it all together. Open my heart to others in acceptance and love so that they might know Jesus's concern for them. Broken People are made whole by God's love.
   

Lay Down Your Cares

Praise the Lord, God our Savior, who helps us everyday. Psalm 68:19

      Perhaps the heaviest burden we try to carry is the burden of mistakes and failures. What do you do with failures?
      Even if you've fallen, even if you've failed, even if everyone else has rejected you, Christ will not turn away from from you. He came first and foremost to those who have no hope. He goes to those no one else would go to and says, " I'll give you eternity."
      Only you can surrender your concerns to the Father. No one else can take those away and give them to God. Only you can cast all your anxieties on the one who cares for you. What better way to start the day than by laying your cares at his feet?

The Power Of Empathy

Put on the R701 Age Suit and you immediately feel forty years older as you experience impaired vision, hearing loss, and reduced mobility. The Age Suit was designed to help caregivers better understand their patients. Wall Street Journal correspondent Geoffrey Fowler wore one and wrote, " The unforgettable, and at times distressing, experience she'd light not just on aging, but also how virtually reality equipment can teach empathy and shape our perceptions of the world around us."
     Empathy is the power to understand and share the feelings of another. During a time of severe persecution against the followers of Jesus, the writer of Hebrews urged fellow believers to " continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." This is exactly what our Savior has done for us. Jesus was made like us, " fully human in everyway... that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."
      Christ Lord, who became like us, calls us to stand with others " as if [we] were together with them" during their time of need.
     Lord Jesus, we marvelous at Your willingness to share our flesh and blood in order to purchase our salvation. Give us grace to stand with others who are in need today.
     Jesus calls us to stand with others as if we were in their place.

Nothing Less than Jesus

I have obeyed my Father's commands, and I remain in his love. In the same way, if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. John 15:10

     Good rewards those who seek him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or Creed's. Many settle for these lesser passions, but the reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself. And what is the reward? What awaits those who seek Jesus? Nothing short of the heart of Jesus. " And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him."
      Can you think of a greater gift than to be like Jesus? Christ felt no guilt; God wants to banish yours. Jesus had no bad habits; God wants to remove yourself. Jesus had no fear of death; God wants you to be fearless. Jesus had kindness for the diseased and mercy for the rebellious and courage for the challenges. Good wants you to have the same... He wants you to be just like Jesus.

Our Powerful God

One day by the seaside, I delighted in watching some kite surfers as they bounced along the water, moved by the force of the wind. When one came to shore, I asked him if the experience was as difficult as it looked. " No," he said, " It's actually easier than regular surfing because you harness the power of the wind."
      Afterward as I walked by the sea, thinking about the wind's ability not only to propel the surfers but also to whip my hair into my face, I paused to wonder at our Good the Creator. As we see in the Old Testament book of Amos, He who " forms the mountains" and " creates the wind" can turn " dawn to darkness."
      Through this prophet, the Lord reminded His people of His power as He called them back to Himself. Because they had not obeyed Him, He said He would reveal Himself to them. Although we see His judgment here, we know from elsewhere in the Bible of His judgment here, we know His Son to save us.
      The power of the wind on this breezy day in the South of England reminded me of the sheer immensity of the Lord. If you feel the wind today, why not stop and ponder our all powerful God?
      Father, thank You for Your power and love. Help us to daily rely on you.

God Knows Us By Name

The Lord is my Shepherd; I have everything I need. Psalm 23:1

     Sheep aren't smart. They tend to wander into running Creeks for water, then their wool grows heavy and they drown. They need a Shepherd to lead them to "calm water". They have no natural defense--no claws, no horns, no fangs. They are helpless. Sheep need a Shepherd with a "rod and walking stick" to protect them. They have no sense of direction. They need someone to lead them " on paths that are right."
      So do we. We, too, get lost. We need a shepherd. We need a Shepherd to care for us and to guide us. And we have one. One who knows us by name.

Knowing Better

When we brought our adoptive soon home from over seas, I was eager to shower him with love and provide what he had lacked over the preceding months, especially quality food, since he had a nutritional deficit. But despite our best efforts, including consulting specialists, he grew very little. After nearly three years, we learned he had some severe food intolerances. After removing those items from his diet, he grew five inches in just a few months. While I grieved at how long I'd unwittingly fed him foods that impaired his growth, I rejoiced at this surgery in his health!
     I suspect Josiah felt similarly when the Book of the Law was discovered after having been lost in the temple for years. Just as I grieved having unintentionally hindered my son's growth, Josiah grieved having ignorantly missed God's fullest and best intentions for His people. Although he is commended for doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, he learned better how to honor God after finding the Law. With his newfound knowledge, he led the people to worship again as God had instructed them.
     As we learn through the Bible how to honor Him, we may grieved the ways we've fallen short of God's will for us. Yet we can be comforted that He heals and restores us, and leads us gentle into deeper understanding.
     Thank You, God, for showing me how to live in a way that pleases You. I'm sorry for the ways I've not done that in the past. Help me to honor and obey You now.
God gives us a new start.

Being Human Beings

When asked to define his role in a community that was sometimes uncooperative with law enforcement, a sheriff didn't flash his badge or respond with the rank of his office. Rather he offered, " We are human beings who work with human beings in crisis."
     His humility-his started equality with fellow human beings-reminds me off Peter's words when writing to first century Christians suffering under Roman persecution. Peter direct; " All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be Compassionate and humble." Perhaps Peter was saying that the best response to humans in crisis is to be human, to be aware that we are all the same. After all, isn't that what God Himself did when He sent His Son-became human in order to help us? Gazing only at the core of our fallen hearts, it's tempting to disdain our human status. But what if we consider our humanness to be part of our offering in the world? Jesus teaches us how to live fully human, as servants recognizing we are all the same. " Human" is how God made us, created in His image and redeemed by His unconditional love. Today we're sure to encounter folks in various struggles. Imagine the difference we might make when we respond humbly-as fellow humans who work together with other humans in crisis. Father, help us to be humble as we respond to one another, human being to human being. Humility is the result of knowing God and knowing yourself.

A True Family

My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants. Mark 3:35

     Does Jesu have anything to say about dealing with difficult relatives? Is there an example of Jesus bringing peace to a painful family? Yes there is. His own...
     It may surprise you to know that Jesus had a family at all! You may not be aware that Jesus had brothers and sisters. He did. Quoting Jesus' hometown critics, Mark wrote, " [ Jesus] is just the Carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sister's are here with us."
     And it may surprise you to know that his family was less than perfect. They were. If your family doesn't appreciate you, take heart, neither did Jesus'....
     [ Yet] he didn't try to control his family's behavior, nor did he let their behavior control his. He didn't demand that they agree with him. He didn't sulk when they insulted him. He didn't make it his mission to try to please them.

Thanks Heart's True Home

We had a West Highland Terrier for a number of years. " Westies" are tough little dogs, bred to tunnel into badger holes and engage the " enemy" in it's lair. Our Westies was many generations removed from her origins, but she still retained that instict, put into her through years of breeding. On one occasion she became obsessed by some " critter" under a rock in our backyard. Nothing could dissuade her. She dug until she tunneled several feet under the rock.
     Now consider this question: Why do we as humans pursue, pursue, pursue? Why must we climbed unclimbed mountains, ski near-vertical slopes? Run the most difficult and dangerous rapids, challenge the forces of nature? Part of it is a desire for adventure and enjoyment, but it's much more. It's an instinct for God that has been implanted in us. We cannot not want to find God.
     We don't know that, of course. We only know that we long for something. " You don't know what it is you want," Mark Twain said, " but you want it so much you could almost died."
     God is our Heart's True Home. As church father Augustine said in that most famous quotation: " You have made us for Yourself, Of Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."
     And what is the heart? A deep void within us that only God can fill.
     Help me Lord, to recognize my deep longing for You. Then fill me with the knowledge of You. Draw me near.
Beneath all our longings is a deep desire for God.

God's Great Gifts

Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful for words. 2 Corinthians 9:15

     Why did he do it? A shack would have sufficed, but he gave us a mansion. Did he have to give the birds are song and the mountains a peak? Was he required to put stripes on the zebra and the hump on the camel?...Why wrap creation in such splendor? Why go to such trouble to give such gifts?
     Why do you? You do the same. I've seen you searching for a gift. I've seen you stalking the malls and walking the aisles. I'm not talking about the obligatory gifts...I'm talking about the extra special person and that extra special gift...Why do you do it?...You do it so the heart will stop. You do it so the jaw will drop. You do it to hear those words of disbelief, " You did this for me?"
     That's why you do it. And that is why God did it. Next time a sunrise steals your breath or meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, " Do you like it? I did it just for you."

Harvest and Thanksgiving

Several thousand years ago, God spoke to Moses and instituted a new festival for His people. In Exodus 23:16, according to Moose's record, God said, " Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the fruitfulness of the crops you sow in your field."
      Today countries around the world do something similar by celebrating the Land's bounty. In Ghana, the people celebrate the Yam Festival as a harvest event. In Brazil, Diagnosed de Acao de Gracas is a time to be grateful for the crops that yielded their food. In China, there is the Mid-Autumn ( Moon) Festival. In the United States and Canada: Thanksgiving.
     To Understand the fitting goal of a harvest celebration, we visit Noah right after the flood. God reminded Noah and his family-and us-of His provision for our flourishing existence on the Earth. Earth would have seasons, daylight and darkness and " seedtime and harvest." Our gratitude for the harvest, which sustains us, goes to God alone.
     No matter where you live or how you celebrate your Land's bounty, take time today to express gratitude to God-for we would have no harvest to celebrate without His Grand creative design.
     Dear Creator God, thank You so much for the wondrous way You fashioned the world-with seasons, with harvest-time, with everything we need to exist. Please accept our gratitude.
     Gratitude is the memory of a glad heart.

When God Says No

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

      There are times when the one thing you want is the one thing you never get... You pray and wait, No answer. You pray and wait, May I ask a very important question? What if God says no? What if the request is delayed or even denied? When God says no to you, how will you respond? If God says, " I've given you my grace, and that is enough," will you be content? Content. That's the word. A state of heart in which you would be at peace if God gave you nothing more than he already has.

Make A Joyful Noise

Back when I was searching for a church to attend regularly, a friend invited me to a service at her church. The worship leaders led the congregation in a song I particularly loved. So I sang with gusto, remembering my college choir director's advice to " Project!"
     After the song, my friend's husband turned to me and said, " You really sang loud." This remark we not intended as a compliment! After that, I self-consciously monitored my singing, making sure I sang softer than those around me and always wondering if the people around me judged my singing.
     But one Sunday, I noticed the singing of a woman in the New beside me. She seemed to sing with adoration, without a Trace of self-consciousness. Her worship reminded me of the ethusiastic, spontaneous worship that David demonstrated in his life. In Psalm 98, in fact, David suggests that " all the earth" should " burst into jubilant song" in worship.
      Verse one of Psalm 98 tells us why we should worship joyfully, reminding us that " God has done marvelous things." God's faithfulness and Justice to all nation's, His Mercy, and salvation. Dwelling. on who God is and what He's done can fill our hearts with praise.
     What " marvelous things" have God done in your life? Thanksgiving I the perfect time to recall His wondrous works and give Good thanks. Lift your voice and sing!
      Lord, thank You for who You are and for what You've done.
     Worship takes the focus off us and places it where it belongs-on God.

Diligent Search

Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him. Hebrews 11:6

     One translation renders Hebrews 11:6: " God...rewards those who earnestly seek him." I like the King James translation: " He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
     Diligently--what is a great word. Be diligent in your search. Be hungry in your questions, relentless in your pilgrimage. Let this book be but one of dozens you read about Jesus...Step away from the puny pursuits of possessions and positions, and seek your King.
     Don't be satisfied with Angels. Don't be content with stars in the sky. Seek him out as the Shepherd's did. Long for him as Simeon did. Worship him as the wise men did. Do as John and Andrew did: ask your house. Imitate Zacchaeus. Risk whatever it takes to see Christ.

Helicopter Seeds

When our children were young, they loved trying to catch the " helicopter Seeds" that fell from our neighbor's silver Maple trees. Each seed resembles a wing. In late spring they twirl to the ground like a helicopter's rotor blades. The ' seeds' purpose is not to fly, but to fall to Earth and grow into trees.
      Before Jesus was crucified, He told His followers, " The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified... {U}nless a kennel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."
     While Jesus's disciples wanted Him to be honored as the Messiah, He came to give His life so we could be forgiven and transformed through faith in Him. As Jesus's followers, we hear His words, " Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."
      Helicopter Seeds can point us to the miracle of Jesus, the Savior, who died that we might live for Him.
     Lord Jesus, we are amazed by Your love. Give us grace to serve You today as we long to do.
     Jesus calls us to give our lives in serving Him.

Run to Jesus

If we live, we are living for the Lord, and if we die, we are dying for the Lord. Romans 14:8

     Do you wonder where you can go for encouragement and motivations? Go back to that moment when you first saw the Love of Jesus Christ. Remember the day when you were separated from Christ? You knew only guilt and confusion and the --more light. Someone opened a door and light came into your darkness, and you said in your heart, " I a redeemed!"
     Run to Jesus. Jesus wants you to go to him. He wants to become the most important person in your life, the greatest love you'll ever know. He wants you to love him so much that there's no room in your heart and in your life for sin. Invite him to take up residence in your heart.

Take A Number

We have an ancient cherry tree in our backyard that had seen better days and looked liked it was dying, so I called and arborist. He checked it out and declared that it was " unduly stressed" and needed immediate attention. " Take a number," my wife, Carolyn, muttered to the tree as she walked away. It had been one of those weeks.
     Indeed, we all have anxious weeks filled with worries over the direction our culture is drifting or concerns for our children, our marriages, our businesses, our finances, our personal health and our well-being. Nevertheless, Jesus assured us that despite disturbing circumstances we can be at peace. He said, " My peace I give to you."
      Jesus's days were filled with distress and disorder: He was beleaguered by His enemies and misunderstood by His family and friends. He often had no place to lay His head. Yet there was no Trace of anxiety or fretfulness in His manner. He possessed an inner calm, a quiet tranquility. This is the peace He has given us--freedom from anxiety concerning the past, present, and future. The peace He exhibited; His peace.
     In any circumstances, no matter how direction or trivial, we can turn to Jesus in prayer. There in His presence we can make our worries and fears known to Him. Then, Paul assures us, the peace of God will come to guard [ our] hearts and [ our] minds in Christ Jesus." Even if we've had " one of those weeks," we can have His peace.
     Dear Lord, thank You that I can come to You with every care and Your peace will guard my mind. In the midst of troubles, peace can be found in Jesus.

It's Your Choice

If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing even to give up their lives to follow me. Mark 8:34

     On one side stands the crowd. Jeering. Baiting. Demanding. On the other stands a pleasant. Swollen lips. Lumpy eye. Lofty promise. One promises acceptance, the other a cross. One offers flesh and flash, the other offers faith. The crowd challenges, " Follow us and fit in." Jesus promises, " Follow me and stand out." They promise to please. Good promises to save. Good looks at you and asks, " Which will be your choice?

Spiritual Life From the Spirit

Now we do not live following our sinfulness selves, but we live following the Spirit. Romans 8:4.

     Perhaps your childhood memories bring more hurt than inspiration. The voices of your past cursed you, belittled you, ignored you. At the time, you thought such treatment was typical. Now you see it isn't.
     And now you find yourself trying to explain your past. Do you risen above the past and make a difference? Or do you remain controlled by the past and make excuses?
     Think about this. Spiritual life comes from the Spirit! Your parents may have given you Genesis, but God gives you grace. Your parents may be responsible for your body, but God has taken charge of your soul. You may get your looks from your mother, but you get eternity from your Father, your heavenly Father. And God is willing to give you what your family didn't.

Hide and Seek

" You can't see me!"
     When small children play " hide and seek," they sometimes believe they're hiding just by covering their eyes. If they can't see you, they assume you can't see them.
     Naive as that may seem to adults, we sometimes do something similar with God. When we find ourselves desiring to do something we know is wrong, our tendency may be too shut God out as we willfully go our own way.
     The prophet Ezekiel discovered his truth in the vision God gave him for his people, exiled in Babylon. The Lord told him, " Have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at a shrine of his own idol? they say, ' The Lord does not see us.'"
      But God misses nothing, and Ezekiel's vision was proof of it. Yet even though they had sinned, God offered His repentant people hope through a new promise: " I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit in you."
     For us, God met the brokenness and rebellion of sin with His tender Mercy at the cross, paying the ultimate penalty for it. Through Jesus Christ, God not only offers a new beginning, but He also works within us to change our hearts as we follow Him. How good is Good! What we were lost and hiding in our sinfulness, God Drew near through Jesus, who " came to seek and to save" us.
     Thank You for Your kindness to me, Lord. Help me to seek You and follow You faithfully today. Good knows us completely... and loves us just as much.

God Knows The Answers

If any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. James 1:5

     Thomas came with doubts. Did Christ turn him away? Moses had his reservations. Did God tell him to go home? Job had his struggles. Did God avoid him? Paul had his hard times. Did God abandon him? No. God never turns away the sincere heart. Tough questions don't stump God. He invites our probing. Mark it down. God never turns away the honest seekers. Go to God with your questions. You may not find all the answers, but in finding God, you know the One who does.

In His Presence

The seventeenth-century monk Brother Lawrence, before a day's work as cook in his community, would pray, " Of my Good...Grant me your grace to stay in your presence. Help me in my labor. Possess all my affections." As he worked, he kept talking to God, listening for His leading and dedicating his work to Him. Even when he was the busiest, he would use intervals of relative calm to ask for His Grace. No matter what was happening, he sought for and found a sense of his Maker's love.
     As Psalm 89 confesses, the fitting response to the Creator of all who rules the oceans and is worshipped by hosts of Angels is to lift up our lives--our whole lives to Him. When we understand the beauty of who God is we " hear the joyful call to worship"--whenever and whenever we are, " all day long."
     Whether it's standing in store or airport lines, or waiting on hold minute after minute, our lives are full of moments like these, times when we could get annoyed. Or these can be times when we catch our breath and see each of these pauses as an opportunity to learn to " walk in the light of [ God's] presence."
     The " wasted" moments of our lives, when we wait or lay I'll or wonder what to do next, are all possible pauses to consider our lives in the light of His presence.
Every moment can be lived in God's presence.

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

May he enlightened the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you. Ephesians 1:18.

     What [ does] it mean to be just like Jesus? The world has never known a heart so pure, a character so flawless. His spiritual hearing was so Keen he never missed a heavenly whisper. His Mercy so abundant he never missed a chance to forgive. No lie left his lips, no distractions marred his vision. He touched when others recoiled. He endured when others quit. Jesus is the ultimate model for every person... God urges you to fix your eyes upon Jesus. Heaven invites you to set the lens of your heart on the heart of the Savior and make him the object of your life.

How Much More!

In October 1915, during World War 1, Oswald Chambers arrived at Zeitoun Camp, a military training center near Cairo, Egypt, to serve a YMCA Chaplin to British Commonwealth soldiers. When he announced a weeknight religious service, 400 men packed the large YMCA hut to hear Chamber's talk titled, " What is the Good of Prayer?" Later, when he spoke individually with men who were trying to find God in the midst of war, Oswald often quoted Luke 11:13, " If you then, though you are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
      The free gift of God through His Son, Jesus, is forgiveness, hope, and His living presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit. " For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
      On November 15, 1917, Oswald Chambers died unexpectedly from a ruptured appendix. To honor him, a soldier led to faith in Christ by Oswald purchased a marble carving of a Bible with the message of Luke 11:13 on its open page and placed it beside his grave: " How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" This amazing gift from God is available to each of us today.
     Father, You are the giver of all good gifts. We thank You for the great gift of the Holy Spirit who lives in us and guides us in Your truth today.
      God's gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives is available to each of us today.

He Wore Our Coat

They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb ( Revelation 7:14).

     God has only one requirement for entrance into heaven: that we be clothed in Christ. Listen to how Jesus describes the inhabitants of heaven: " They will walk with me and wear white clothes, because they are worthy...." ( Revelation 3:4). Listen to the description of the elders: " Around the throne there were...twenty-four elders.... They were dressed in white and had golden crowns on their heads" ( Revelation 4:4)... All are dressed in white. The saints. The elders.... How would you suppose Jesus is dressed? In white?... " He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God" ( Revelation 19:13).
     Why is Christ's robe not white? Why is his cloak not spotless? Why is his garment dipped in blood?... Paul says simply, " He changed places with us." ( Galatians 3:13) He wore our coat of sin to the cross.

The Good Earth

While orbiting the moon in 1968, Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders described the crew's close-up view of the moonscape. He called it " a foreboding horizon... a Stark and unappetizing-looking place." Then the crew took turns reading to a watching world from Genesis 1:1-10. After Commander Frank Borman finished verse 10, " And God saw that it was good," he signed off with, " God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth."
     The opening chapter of the Bible insist on two facts:
Creation is God's work. The phrase " and God said..." beats in cadence all the way through the chapter. The entire magnificent world we live in is the product of His creative work. All that follows in the Bible reinforces the message of Genesis 1: Behind all of history, there is God. Creation is good. Another sentence tolls softly, like a bell, through the this chapter." And God saw that it was good." Much has changed since that first moment of creation. Genesis 1 describes the world as God wanted it, before any spoiling. Whatever beauty we sense in nature today is a faint echo of the pristine state God created.
     The Apollo 8 astronauts saw Earth as a brightly colored ball hanging alone in space. It looked at once awesomely beautiful and fragile. It looked like the view from Genesis 1.
     Or tell of His might, Of sing of His Grace, whose robe is the light, whose canopy space; His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, and dark is His path on the wings of the storm.
     In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.

The Verdict

Jesus said [ to her], " I. also don't judge the guilty. You may go now, but don't single anymore." ( John 8:11).

     If you have ever wondered how God reacts when you failed, frame the words [ of that verse] and hang them on the wall. Read them. Ponder them... Or better still, take him with you to your canyon of shame. Invite Christ to journey with you...to stand beside you as you retell the events of the darkest nights of your soul. And then listen. Listen carefully. He's speaking.... " I don't judge you guilty." And watch. Watch carefully. He's writing. He's leaving a message. Not in the sand, but on a cross. Not with his hand, but with his blood. His message has two words: Not guilty.

The Hand Of Comfort

" Patient is combative," the nurse's notes read. What she didn't realize until later was that I was having an allergic-reaction as I awakened after a complicated open heart surgery. I was a message, with a tube down my throat. My body began shaking violently, straining against the straps on my arms, which were to keep me from suddenly pulling out the breathing tube. It was a frightening and painful episode. At one point, a nurse's assistant to the right side of my bed reached down and simply held my hand. It was an unexpected move, and it struck me as especially gentle. I began to relax, which caused my body to stop shaking so badly.
     Having experienced this with other patients, the nurse's assistant knew that a hand off comfort could minister to me as well. It was a vivid example of how God uses comfort when His children suffer.
     Comfort is a powerful and memorable tool for any caregiver, and Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 it's an important part of God's toolbox. Not only that, but God also multiplies the impact He gives us to comfort others in similar situations. It is but another sign of His great love; and one we can share with others--sometimes in the simplest of gestures.
      Thank You, Father, for the comfort You provide to us, either directly or through the acts of Your children to others in and for You name.
      Simple gestures can bring powerful comfort.

A Compassionate God

He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have troubles, we can comfort them. ( 2 Corinthians 1:4)

     My child's feelings are hurt. I tell her she's special. My child's is injured. I do whatever it takes to make her feel better. My child is afraid. I won't go to sleep until she is secure. I'm not a hero....I'm a parent. When a child hurts, a parent does what comes naturally. He helps.... Why don't I let my Father do for me what I a more than willing to do for my own children? I'm learning....Being a father is teaching me that when I a criticized, injured, it afraid, there is a Father who will hold me until I'm better, help me until I can live with the hurt, and who won't go to sleep when I'm afraid of waking up and seeking the dark. Ever

A Good Evening

As the lights dimmed and we prepared to watch Apollo 13, my friend said under his breath, " Shame they all died." I watched the movie about the 1970 spaceflight with apprehension, waiting for tragedy to strike, and only near the closing credits did I realize I'd been duped. I hadn't known or remembered the end of the true story--that although the astronauts faced many hardships, they made it home alive.
     In Christ, we can know the end of the story--that we too will make it home alive. By that I mean we will live forever with our heavenly Father, as we see in the book of Revelation. The Lord will create a " new heaven and a new Earth: as He makes all things new. In the new city, the Lord God will welcome His people to live with Him, without fear and without the night. We have hope in knowing the end of the story.
     What difference does this make? It can transform times of extreme difficulty, such as when people face the loss of a loved one or even their own death. Though we recoil at the thought of dying, yet we can embrace the joy of the promise of eternity. We long for the city where no longer will there be any curse, where we'll live forever by God's lights.
     Lord Jesus Christ, give me unfailing hope, that I might rest in Your promises and welcome Your life eternal.
     God promises His people a good end to the story.

                          

Think Before You Speak

Cheung was upset with his wife for failing to check the directions to the famous restaurant where they hoped to dine. The family had planned to round out their holiday in Japan with a scrumptous meal before catching the flight home. Now they were running late and would have to miss that meal. Frustrated, Cheung critizied his wife for her poor planning.
     Later Cheung regretted his words. He had been too harsh, plus he realized that he could have checked the directions himself and he had failed to thank his wife for the other seven days of planning.
      Many of us identify with Cheung. We are tempted to blow up when angry and to let words fly without control. Oh, how we need to pray as the psalmist did: " Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips".
      But how can we do that? Here's a helpful tip: Think before you speak. Are your words good and helpful, gracious and kind?
     Setting a guard over our mouth requires that we keep our mouth shut when we're irritated and that we seek the Lord's help to say the right words with the right tone or, perhaps, not speak at all. When it comes to controlling our speech, it's a lifelong work. Thankfully, God is working in us " the desire and the power to do what pleases him."
      Dear Lord, help us always to think before speaking. Give us the words to say and the wisdom to know when to keep silent.
     Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. ( Proverbs 16:24)

God Loves You Dearly

We love because God first loved us. 1 John 4:19

     Untethered by time, he sees us all. From the backwoods of Virginia to the business district of London; from the Vikings to the astronauts, from the cave-dwellers to the kings. From the hut-builders to the finger-pointers to the rock-stackers, he sees us. Vagabonds and ragmuffins all, he saw us before we were born. And he loves what he sees. Flooded by emotion. Overcome by pride, the Starmaker turns to us, one by one, and says, " You are my child. I love you dearly. I'm aware that someday you'll turn from me and walk away. But I want you to know, I've already provided you a way back."

Second Chances

" How can you be so kind if you don't even know me!" By making some wrong decisions, Linda had ended up in jail in a country not her own. For six years she remained in prison, and when she was  set free she didn't have anywhere to go. She thought her life was over! While her family gathered money to buy her ticket home, a kind couple offered her lodging, food, and a helping hand. Linda was so touched by their kindness that she willingly listened as they told her the good news of a God who loves her and wants to give her a second chance. Linda reminds me Naomi, a widow in the Bible who lost her husband and two sons in a foreign land and thought her life was over. However, the Lord hadn't forgotten Naomi, and through the love of her daughter-in-law and was given a second chance. The same God cares for us today. Through the love of others we can be reminded of His presence. We can see God's grace in the helping hand of people we may not even know well. But above all, God is willing to give us a fresh start. We just need, like Linda and Naomi, to see God's hand in our everyday lives and realize He never stops showing us His kindness.
Dear Lord, thank You that You let us begin again and again. God gives us second chances.

The High Cost of Getting Even

Do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger. Romans 12:19

      Have you ever noticed in the western movies how the bounty hunter travels alone? It's not hard to see why. Who wants to hang out with a guy who settles scores for a living? Who wants to risk getting on his bad side? More than once I've heard a person spew his anger. He thought I was listening, when really I was thinking, I hope I never get on his list. Cantankerous sorts, these bounty hunters. Best leave them alone. Hang out with the angry and you might catch a stray bullet. Debt-settling is a lonely occupation. It's also an unhealthy occupation....

     If you're out to settle the score, you'll never rest. How can you? For one thing, your enemy may never pay up. As much as you think you deserve an apology, your debtor may not agree. The racist may never repent. The chauvinist may never change. As justified as you are in your quest for vengeance, you may never get a penny's worth of justce. And if you do, will it be enough?

Our Prayers, God's Timing

Sometimes God takes His time in answering our prayers, and that isn't always easy for us to understand.
     That was the situation for Zechariah, a priest whom the angel Gabriel appeared to one day near an altar in the temple in Jerusalem. Gabriel told him,  " Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. " But zacheriah had probably asked God for a child years before, and he struggled with Gabriel's message because Elizabeth was now well beyond the expected age for childbirth. Still, God answered his prayer. God's memory is perfect. He is able to remember our prayers not only for years but also for generations beyond our lifetime. He never forgets them and may move in response long after long after we first brought our requests to Him. SOmetimes His answer is " no," other times it is " wait"-but His response is always measured with love. God's ways are beyond us, but we can trust that they are good. Zechariah learned this. He asked for a son, but God gave him even more. His son John would grow up to be the very prophet who would announce the arrival of the Messiah. Zechariah's experience demonstrates a vital truth that should also encourage us as we pray: God's timing is rarely our own, but it is always worth waiting for. When we cannot see God's hand at work, we can still trust His heart.

Run The Race

Let us run the race that is before us and never give up, Hebrews 12:1
     The word race is from the Greek agon, from which we get the word agony. The Christian's race is not a jog but rather a demanding and grueling, sometimes agonizing race. It takes a massive effort to finish strong. Likely you've noticed that many don't? Surely you've observed there are many on the side of the trail They used to be running. There was a time when they kept the pace. But then weariness set in. They didn't think the run would be this tough... By contrast, Jesus' best work was his final work, and his strongest step was his last step. Our Master is the classic example of one who endured....He could have quit the race. But he didn't.

Psalms 28:6-9

Praise be to the Lord,
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people,
    a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;
    be their shepherd and carry them forever.

That Famous Smile

After my wife and I had the privlege of visiting the Louvre in Paris, I called our eleven-year-old granddaughter Addie on the phone. When I mentioned seeing da Vinci's famous painting Mona Lisa, Addie asked, " Is she smiling? More than 600 years after Leonardo captured this subject in oil, we still don't know if the lady was smiling or not. Though enraptured by the painting's beauty, we are unsure about Mona Lisa's demeanor.  The " Smile" is part of the intrigue of the painting. But how important is this anyway? Is smiling something the Bible mentions? In reality, the word appears less than five times in Scripture, and never as something we are told to do. However, the Bible does suggest for us an attitude that leads to smiles-and that is the word joy. Nearly 250 times we read about joy: " My heart leaps for joy," David says as he thinks about the Lord. We are to " sing joyfully to the Lord"; God's statutes are " the joy of [our] heart"; and we are " filled with joy" because " the Lord has done great things for us". Clearly, the joy God provides through everything He has done for us can bring a smile to our face. You are a good Father, dear God, and You do make us smile. You provide joy that is beyond what anything the world can offer. Help us show that joy to others by our countenance. Hope in the heart puts a smile on the face.

Psalm 13

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

A Living Sacrifice

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.