His Wisdom Glean in 2013 *

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

New Year's Day marks the anniversary of the first Promise for Today that I sent to a handful of friends and family members in 1996. When I first started sending out the Promise, I used other people's devotions from books I had and then later, I purchased more. We went through quite a few over the years. Sometimes, I'd take them directly from a book, but I always let people know what book we were using. And sometimes I would elaborate and add my own comments. Those of you who know me know that written words are my passion... but I started with the works of others.

Then in 2007, my beloved former pastor, Doc (Dr. Howard O. Jameson) challenged me to step up, to make it personal and write from my heart about how God's Word affects me, rather than from someone else's heart and perspective. It has been the most challenged commitment of my life.

My slogan for this new year is "His Wisdom glean in 2013." I need change in my life and I know beyond the shadow of a doubt, the only true change comes through the Word of God. By God's grace and with His direction, I will redefine - by His Word - the areas of my life that need to be changed. As always, it's all about the choices.

The Promise started with the following excerpt from Max Lucado's book, When God Whispers Your Name. Every year, I send it out again as the first Promise of the New Year to remind us of our choices.

Max Lucado writes:
It's quiet. It's early. The coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I am free to choose. And so I choose.

I Choose Love ... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy ... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical ... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace ... I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose Patience ... I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I Choose Kindness ... I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I Choose Goodness ... I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness ... Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I Choose Gentleness ... Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I Choose Self-Control ... I am a spiritual being ... After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

Prayer:

Father,
         Thank You for the power of Your Word to change our lives and our choices for how we live the life You have given us. Give us the courage to walk in the conviction of Your Word. Father, we ask that You guide us in EACH step of our life. I pray Your provision and protection over those You have allowed me to touch with Your Word. Let us be ever mindful of You, Lord, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
 

* The Promise of Rest

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

We look forward to the weekend so we can sleep in a little. We work hard all week long and we just wanna rest a little. Rest for our bodies is easier to arrange than rest for our souls. Some of the longest nights we have are those nights when our minds won't shut down. If we could just learn to give it all to Jesus... Isaiah 26:3-4 tells us, You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone today - just today - say, I'm tired, I would have enough money to take you to dinner at a great place and leave a generous tip for the tired waiter or waitress. As a child, one of my favorite songs we sang in church was the old hymn, "Come Unto Me," written by Charles Jones, based on our Scripture text for today. It was on page 20 of the old green hymnal. I loved it because it was fast and I could play the tambourine, but when I got older, I loved it because of its message. There's something about the promise of rest.

Our text in The Message Bible reads, Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. Doesn't that sound wonderful? It is! It is our Promise of Rest from Jesus... written in red.

Prayer:

Father,
           Creator of heaven and earth, teach us how to rest in You. Teach us the unforced rhythms of Your grace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* The Ultimate Gift

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27 NLT

We live in troubled times. No great revelation there. Every day, I talk with at least one person who wishes they had peace of mind. They're worried about the economy and the war on terrorism and politics and their 401k and getting old and their health, retirement, Christmas, and now, what the new year will bring! The list seems endless.

Have you met those ones who get upset when you don't get upset with them? They remind me of the takeoff quote from Rudyard Kipling's famous poem, "If" in which he encourages his son to be a man with morals and quiet determination.  However, the takeoff quote is, If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs... you obviously don't understand the situation!

Jesus tells us in Luke 12:21 - 25, "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?"

If you have to worry, worry about your relationship with God the Father and His Son, Jesus. But once you have a rich relationship with God, in the middle of the turmoil, you will have peace. Peace that comes from knowing God is in control. Am I saying we will never have troubles or another concern once we develop a relationship with God? No! In fact, quite the opposite! Christ Himself told us, in John 16:33, I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

Troubles will come as surely as you live and breathe, but God has given us a great gift in His Son, Jesus the Christ, and in the midst of our many trials and sorrows, we can have peace in Him.

Jesus - the ultimate Gift - bringing us the gift of peace.

Prayer:

Father,

          As we hurl headlong to the end of a year that has seemed to fly by, let us be ever mindful that we are that much closer to the coming of Christ. Help us to keep our hearts and minds focused on You, Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Sounds of the Season

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:13-14, KJV

Christmas music is everywhere. At this time of year, one can hardly tune in without hearing a Christmas song of some sort, Christian or secular. Bells ringing... although gone are the sleigh bells, now, it's mostly Salvation Army. The serenity conjured up by "Silent Night" has been lost in the insanity of last minute shopping and Grandma getting “run over by a reindeer.” The hustle and bustle "as the shoppers rush home with their treasures."

And while we may be tired of hearing nothing but Christmas music, when was the last time we listened to the words of a Christmas carol and actually reflected on their meaning - our spirit moved by the passion and truth in them?

…Let every heart prepare Him room... 

…But in Bethlehem's home there was found no room for Thy holy nativity. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus: There is room in my heart for Thee!... 

…O lay aside each earthly thing, and with thy heart as offering, come worship…  

…The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone Him… 

…Born a child and yet a King. Born to reign in us forever… 

…Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord, that hath made heaven and earth of naught, and with His Blood mankind hath bought…Noel, noel… 

…Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled…

…O come, Desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind: Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, and be Thyself our King of peace…Rejoice! Rejoice!

...And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Ah, yes! The true sounds of the season…

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for loving us enough to send Your Son to save us from our sin and ourselves. Help us to lay aside each earthly thing and with our hearts as offering, come to worship. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

More Than Self +

[Jesus] told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.'  "Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.'"  Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."

Luke 18:9-14 The Message 

There is a series of books about The YadaYada Prayer Group, it's the story of a bunch of women who went to a conference and all wound up in the same prayer group. If you looked up 'diverse' in the dictionary, the illustration next to it would be one of this imaginary group of women. Although light reading, it had some real nuggets in it; one of which was our text for today... And I've been thinking about it ever since.

...if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself. Only God can take nothing and make the nothing something and even more... In the book, one of the women figured she was "ahead of the game" because she didn't drink, smoke or participate in whatever other sin du jour, and she tried to stay away from people who did. And lots of times, we get just like that. Well, at least I don't drink.  No, but that's judging.

Scripture is very clear about telling us to not think more highly of ourselves than we should. In fact, we're to always prefer the other guy more than ourselves.  

...if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.

Prayer:

Father,
         I want so much to be more than just me, but not by my own actions or words. Father, Let my light so shine, LORD, that people will see YOUR good works in and through me and will glorify You. For You are SO Worthy! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* A New Wardrobe

You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.
Colossians 3:9b-10 The Message

So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.

Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Colossians 3:1-14 The Message

Prayer:

Father,
           According to Your Word in Colossians 3, Let the peace of Christ keep us in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing our own thing. Remind us to cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Help us to give it plenty of room in our lives. Cause us to instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And to sing, sing our hearts out to You! Let every detail in our lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Deliberately

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:12-14 NLT

There I was, minding my own business, or so I thought... I have to tell you that I discovered I was definitely NOT being deliberate about 'minding my business.' I was headed home, singing along with the CD, and thought I was engaged in the music until a guy cut me off. I went right from perfect four-part harmony to a very discordant "JERK!!" And immediately, conviction flooded the car... James 3:9-10 - about the tongue - seemed to bounce off every interior surface - Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

There were so many Scriptures that came flooding in right behind it, I didn't know whether to beg for mercy or to praise God for His faithfulness in correcting me! But here's what I know according to His Word. Proverbs 3 (and Hebrews repeats it), My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

God has ALWAYS been very deliberate about His love for us. John 3:16 tells us He sent His Son to die for us so that we might live forever with Him. You can't get more deliberate than that!

So should I live haphazardly? Or should I live so deliberately for Him that I wouldn't even think about calling someone who is made in the image of God a JERK?!?

Prayer:

Father,
          How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

* The Price is Right

[Jesus speaking] I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.
John 14:27-28a NLT

I hate shopping. Recently, I had occasion to go to a mall for a specific shopping trip with some ladies from church. I haven't been to a mall in years, and if Jesus tarries, I may never go back. I came out of there feeling as though I had lived a sheltered life... and if you know me at all, you know I have not... and yet, I was appalled at some of the things I saw there.

But I digress, what I really wanted to tell you about was this one HUGE gumball machine I saw. It was one of those new ones - an action gumball machine. No more do you have the put-the-coin-in-twist-the-knob-gumball-drops-out kind of machine. Now it goes through loops and hoops and entertains you before it ever gets to the dispenser. And by the way, it's not a penny or a nickel, it's a quarter - for one gumball! -but even that wasn't what caught my eye.

The machine was selling "Peace of Mind" for a quarter. Yes, you read that correctly. Peace of mind... Just drop your quarter in, twist the knob, and watch the gumball / jawbreaker / whatever it was, come jumping through the hoops and loops and deliver peace of mind straight into your waiting fingers. In my mind, I just kept hearing Rod Roddy boom out, "This, too, can be yours if the Price is Right!"

I was struck to the very core of my being by the deception of all satan's lies being boiled down into a gumball machine. To think that peace can be obtained by purchasing anything that feeds your senses is a lie. That's counterfeit like every other lie satan sells and marketing has built an entire economy on it. We want it cheaper and faster and we'll swap it all if we can have it now. We don't want to make the commitment for excellence, or to wait for those things worth waiting for. And the world wants to sell it to you...for a quarter from a gumball machine at the mall. This, too, can be yours if the Price is Right!

Jesus said, I am leaving you with A GIFT - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give... Jesus paid the price - the highest price - and then He gave it to us as a gift. satan wants you to sell your soul. What price will you pay?

Prayer:

Father,
           Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still! We want Your peace, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* I Plan to Do That Right After...

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
James 4:14-17 NLT

I'm gonna start with "Ouch!" because sometimes the Truth really does hurt...

Here we are in the thick of the Christmas season. I had planned to decorate my home and office this PAST weekend. Let me just say that nothing was accomplished that I had planned to do Friday through Sunday evening. In the eternal measure of it, does that matter? No, of course not. I bless the day our Saviour was born as a man - whatever day it was - so I'm not worried about decorating. It's true that I'd like to. It's true I was planning to... but will I do it to the extent I had originally planned? Probably not. 

As I was contemplating that thought, I'm sure I heard an echo in my spirit. Something I'd heard before... something about being too busy. Do you remember me writing about how God went the extra mile with me to make the point and provide the lesson on how to slow down and how to say 'no'? Remember? (Ouch)  I wanted to slow down. I planned to... but combine the insane pace of today's world with the electronic sensory surfeit and...probably not.

Here's the big "Ouch!" When I ignore God's leading; when I dare to try to justify having to get "this" done first? I may want to hear from God, I may even plan to do what He speaks to me at some point, but combine the insane pace of today's world with the electronic sensory surfeit and... probably not.

Lord, I plan to do that right after I... 

My plans or God's? What we ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise, we are boasting about our own plans, and all such boasting is evil.

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. 

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us our sins. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Real Change

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

Isaiah 55:6-7 NLT

Everywhere we turn, someone is talking about change. However, change for the sake of change? I can't say that is always for the better. Sometimes, it's much worse.

The Truth is, in order to have change, you have to want to be changed, and then you have to choose to act on it. I wish I had a clean house without getting up to do anything about it, is not going to get your house clean. I wish I spoke another language is not going to make you bilingual. I wish I was a better Christian...  What? Like poof! Here, Child, I'll make you a better person, you just sit back and eat bon-bons and watch TV? Yeah, right.

What can you do to bring about change in your life and in the lives of those around you? Timothy tells us in his second letter, Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.
2nd Timothy 2:25 NLT

That will be REAL change!

Prayer:

Father,

           Bring Your Word to our remembrance. Help us to be instant in season to speak Your Truth, so it can set the captive free, and so we can effect change for Your glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Self-Inflicted Conflict

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other...

Galatians 5:16-17b NIV

When we haven't made up our minds about certain issues, we are often in conflict within ourselves. When we don't make a conscious choice, we have - in effect - chosen to walk without direction. Indecision sets us up as targets for the enemy of our souls.

Consider this. Depending on how well a human being is hydrated, one can live anywhere from 3-12 days without water, and 3-6 weeks without food...although obviously neither scenario is suggested. And yet, wars have been won or lost based on food supplies that were or were not readily available.

Battle-weary soldiers who have not eaten in days and who have no water supply will voluntarily surrender to the enemy for the promise of food and water. Why? Because we don't want to die. And as desperate as some may be, not all things wet or chewable are good for consumption. Many will cause death if we ingest them.

For instance, if we're dehydrated, we need something wet, a liquid of some kind, but obviously, we're not going to drink gasoline or coal oil or bleach. Yes, they are all liquids, but they are deadly contaminants. It would definitely put your body in severe conflict and it would be self-inflicted. Anyone in their right mind would not drink these liquids. We want to live and - hear me now - what we feed and water will live.

The same is true in our walk with the Lord. We are in a battle. The war between our flesh and spirit wages every day. And quite simply, what we feed and water will live. If we feed our sinful nature the things it craves, our sinful nature will thrive and survive... but we CAN starve it to death. Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is the Word - the Living Water. Our text for today tells us the Spirit and the sinful nature are in conflict with each other...the question is, how much of it is self-inflicted?

WE can choose which one will thrive and survive. Victorious overcomer...or self-inflicted conflict?

Prayer:

Father,

         You are the Master Nutritionist. Sustain us on Your Word, O Bread of Life and Living Water. Help us to hide it in our hearts so we will flourish in Your will for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

* I Believe I'll Testify...

I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

Psalm 18:1-2 NLT

I was sitting here tonight, thinking of my beloved father-in-law who went to be with the Lord in February of 2012. I can't believe it's been that long. I miss him. As I reminisced, I was reminded of the miraculous protection of God on one of the many visits I made to San Antonio to see Lee.  

It was always good to see him. We would talk and talk, and then go out for lunch. In the latter years of his life, Lee always wanted to eat Chinese food. Although he was in a nursing home, he wanted to go OUT to eat… Others tried to convince him that we could just get take-out and bring it back to eat with him at the nursing home.

But you see, when it came to going to the restaurant of choice, Lee and I had been cohorts since the beginning of our relationship, and this particular time, he looked me right in the eye and said, “I want to go to Panda.”  I looked him right back in the eye and said, “I’ll pick you up at 11.” And so the next morning, by the grace of God, I got my little father-in-law into the car and we took in all the beautiful scenery - crepe myrtles and lovely oaks - on the way to the restaurant. Once there, I watched him eat Chinese food to his heart’s content. It was a precious time. He was tired when we got him back to his room, but he trusted me to get him back into his bed and settled, and he was one happy camper.

About an hour later, I was on the road heading back home… Now, you know those white signs on the side of the road with numbers on them? In Texas, they’re considered to be more of a suggestion, so we try it and if we don’t like it, we do it faster. And we were all doing it faster… I was about 150 miles outside of San Antonio, and had been traveling with the same 6 or 8 vehicles for the last 50 miles or so. One was a large pickup, hauling an RV trailer, and he and I seemed to do cat-and-mouse the whole time at the back of the pack, when all of a sudden, all the tire warning lights came on in my car! My left rear tire showed no pressure at all and my dashboard was lit up like a bookie’s scoreboard!  

I was right at an exit when it happened, so I was able to get off the road immediately (that’s SO God…). I got down to the intersection and pulled into the gas station, and then all the warning lights reset themselves. All the tires were fine – exactly at the pressure they were supposed to be. Go figure… the gauges all reset by themselves. Nothing wrong. I was tempted to be a little frustrated, but I thought, “No, whatever that was about, Father, thank You. I’m sure You have a reason for it.” 

I headed back onto the freeway…only to discover that in the time it took for me to get off the road, the RV that I had been cat-and-mousing had come off the hitch of the pickup and rolled completely over across the highway. Had I not pulled off at the exit because of the flashing warning signs, I would have either been smashed by the RV or I would have hit it…going at a high rate of speed. I had to pull over again, but this time, it was because I was crying tears of gratitude for God’s protection over my life. Had it not been for His grace and mercy, I would have been killed or severely maimed.

Can I get a witness to the loving protection of God, our Father? I had to testify…

Prayer:

Father,

            I love you, Lord; You are my strength. You, Lord, are my rock, my fortress, and my savior; in whom I find protection. You are my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. On behalf of my children and grandchildren, and the rest of my family, I thank You, Father, for sparing my life. You never cease to amaze me. Help us to walk worthy of the life You give us every day. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen 

Nevertheless, Thy Will Be Done +

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Psalm 37:23 NLT

I can personally confirm the news reports that MANY people are travelling during this Thanksgiving holiday. Even with the purchase of a guaranteed "early bird check-in," I was still the 42nd person in line to board. Logically, I was pretty sure there weren't going to be any front row, leg room or aisle seats available. Nevertheless, I prayed and asked God for a front row seat. I went one step further and also asked for someone kind enough to assist me in getting my bag into the overhead bin.

In verse 4 of the text chapter we're using today, the Word reads,Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. As I rounded the corner of the forward galley, I stood for a quick moment, checking the availability of aisle seats. Then I looked to my right, straight into the faces of one woman about my age and a young man about 30, both seated on the front row, who both smiled and asked, "Would you like to sit here?"

"Yes, thank you," I replied, as I stepped into the front row area, mentioning that I would wait until the human traffic flow died down before attempting to put up my carry on. A few moments passed, and the young man stood and asked if he could put up my case for me.(Thank you, Jesus!!!!)

MY plan was to read the book I'd brought with me. My seat guests on either side of me had other plans. Rob, the young man, was on the way to say good-bye to his mother. She was being kept on life-support until Rob could arrive.

On my other side, Ms. Sandy had an extremely rare form of cancer, and was returning home after her trip to Houston's MD Anderson Center for a target drug treatment. Halfway through the flight, Ms. Sandy remarked, "I don't know why I'm telling you all these things about me, I'm normally a very private person." She and I encouraged one another in the Lord, and God gave me the opportunity to pray with Rob during our descent. 

My plan was to read the book I brought. HIS plan was to read the hearts of the ones He brought. Thank You, Father, for trusting me and for ordering my steps aright.

Prayer:

Father, 
         Thank You for Sandy and for Rob. I pray continued comfort and blessings for them. Thank you for getting us all safely to our destinations. Please be with Rob and his extended family during this time. Heal Sandy, Lord, she believes in Your healing touch. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Waiting for the Day +

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24 NKJV

Have you seen the ad for recordable greeting cards? A young mother tries to teach her toddler to say a certain phrase. It flits from one scene to the next of situations throughout the day with the mother prompting the child and trying to get the child to say it, and the child trying his best to say it. Why? Because children love to impress their parents. I remember well the days of Mom, look! Mom, watch me! Mom, did you see me? Mom, did I do good?

As adults, there are all sorts of awards and recognitions and raises that go along with doing well. It's in our nature to want to be recognized for doing well. We just need to be very careful about whom we're trying to please. I think we also have to be more careful about what motivates us to do well, to be pleasing. Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:1 to not grandstand with our good deeds.

So, what is our motivation? Is it, Father, look! Father, watch me! Father, did You see me? Father, did I do good? I don't know about you, but I'm waiting for The Day - I just wanna hear my Father say, Well done!

Prayer:

Father,

        Often times, we work so hard to do life well. Day after day, trying to go the extra mile, many times for those who don't even understand or appreciate the extra time or effort. Father, give us a heart check up. Shine Your Light of Truth on any area that is motivated by anything other than wanting to please You. Lord, when the time comes, we want to hear You say, Well done! Come on in! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* The Majority Rules

So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He sent out twelve men, all tribal leaders of Israel, from their camp in the wilderness of Paran.

This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak!"

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!” 

But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”

Numbers 13:3, 27-28, 30-33 NLT

If you've been a Christian for very long, you are more than likely very familiar with this story about the exodus from Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea and the trek toward the Promised Land. Twelve men went and upon their return, ten basically said, "No way. No how." And only two - Caleb and Joshua - stood before the assembly and did the B.C. version of Bob the Builder - "Yes, we can!" Well, actually the KJV reads, "We are well able..." But the report was 10 - 2. Ten against, two for. Majority rule...And the report of the 10 swayed the crowd and all assembled there wanted to turn back.

Of the projected 2.5 MILLION people Moses led out of Egypt, only two - Moses and Aaron - fell on their faces before the congregation. When a relative or important leader died, or if there was a great calamity, it was customary for the Hebrews to tear their garments. Rending their clothes is the term used to describe this Hebrew custom which indicated DEEP sorrow. And two - Caleb and Joshua - rent their clothes and pleaded with the people to not rebel. How did they respond to Joshua and Caleb? Of the projected 2.5 million people, approximately 2,499,995 wanted to stone the two of them to death...(and get rid of Moses and Aaron). Would you take those odds? 2,499,995 to four (five, if you count Miriam). Sounds like a majority, doesn't it? That is until God showed up. And then there was a new majority...

You can read the rest of the story beginning in Numbers 14.

The point I want to make is this, if God has told you to do it, it doesn't matter what you see - how big the obstacles are between you and the goal - how many people tell you you can't do it. If God is in it - and it's just you and God - He IS the majority... and the Majority rules.

Prayer:

Father,

         In You, we are WELL able. Deliver us from the Grasshopper complex. BLIND us to the can't and shan't and find us in Your will fulfilled. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Faithful Love *

Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Hebrews 13:4-6 NLT

So many stories of love gone awry. There are WAY too many stories of unfaithful love in the headlines, and none of them sadder than when it involves someone who is supposed to be a Christian. Let’s just be very clear about this. It was NEVER – and has never – and WILL NEVER be in God’s plan for us to be unfaithful because HE is not unfaithful, nor can He be… and we are to be like Him.

Oh, we hear all the excuses…”There are too many temptations out there.” “I couldn’t help myself.” “It’s not my fault…”  If the temptations are “out there,” then don’t GO “out there.” You can go to work and NOT have to be the most popular person. You CAN help yourself when you CHOOSE to follow God. One of the fruits of His Holy Spirit is self-control… I don’t need Webster’s, Oxford’s or Funk & Wagnall’s to tell me that means to control myself. I’m not even going to address “It’s not my fault…” Puh-lease!

What does it mean to be faithful? What does it take to be faithful? If we don’t know the answer to either of those, how can we be faithful? Either way - by whatever means we take - it’s only through God and striving to be like Him.

1^st Corinthians 1:9 NKJV, God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

1^st Thessalonians 5: 23-24 NKJV, Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

2nd Thessalonians 3:2-3 NKJV, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

And while learning the process and in all things, Psalm 107:1 NLT, Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Prayer:

Father,

          Establish our hearts in You so that our whole spirit, soul, and body may be preserved blameless at the coming of Jesus Christ. You are faithful, Father, who also will do it. Cause us to be faithful to You and to the ones You have placed in our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Say Amen *

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;  I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.

Isaiah 42:16 NKJV

The game of golf has an O-Factor. It refers to giving the ball extra oomph by the way you follow through with a certain body part. You have to raise it high - according to the pros, the higher the better. Focus and put your mind to it. And if you incorporate the O-Factor in your golf game, the pros guarantee not only a stronger drive down the fairway, but a straight one, and a winning one. No weeds, no water. And all the golfers said, Amen... which simply means let it be established or confirmed.

Well, if you know anything about God, you know that He is the original O-Factor. Omnipotent. Omnipresent. Omniscient...which my dictionary defines as all-knowing, having all knowledge and then adds, an attribute peculiar to God. If we want to put some oomph in our lives, we need to give our hearts to Him. We have to focus and bring every thought into captivity, to obedience to Christ. In following through with that, we will finish strong where God has made the darkness light and the crooked places straight - because that's the path God has prepared for us. Amen?

Prayer:

Father,

         We present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You. We choose to give You our everything, flaws and all, so that our path will be clear. We want a straight shot to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Let it be established and confirmed. Amen

Doing It All +

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1st Corinthians 15:58 NLT

Nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. The Message bible reads that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. Nothing. Being faithful...to God. To your wife/husband. To your children. To your employer. Changing diapers, dusting, or counting the offering. Whether you're parking cars, cleaning the potty, or preaching. Doing it all, we may wonder - What am I doing here? Why am I doing this? Why is this my lot in life?

Sometimes it's about poor life choices, but sometimes it's just about learning the life of Christ; developing His character in us. But ALWAYS, it's about finding Him in the moment. And doing it all for Him.

In Ephesians 2:7-10, the Message bible reads, Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. Maybe it's not about the work. Maybe it's about the people or person we will meet and influence WHILE we're doing it all.

So, how DO we do it? Philippians 2:14-16, the Apostle Paul writing from prison to the church at Philippi, Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing. Doing it all through Christ who gives me strength,  Philippians 4:13. 

Colossians 3:15-17 instructs us to, Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Or as I learned it from the King James, whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus...

Prayer:

Father,

         We can't do everything. Help us to recognize and understand that You did not call us to do everything. But You did call us and You did line out work that we are to do. And we're to do all that You've given us to do with the strength You provide us, with the wisdom You've given us and without murmuring and complaining. Help us to do it all in the Name of our Lord Jesus. Amen

Remember, Resist and Rejoice *

Then Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters in the presence of the Lord our God.
1st Kings 8:65 NLT

In a random read from the New Living Translation, I came across a verse in 1st Kings 6:7, that reads, The stones used in the construction of the Temple were finished at the quarry, so there was no sound of hammer, ax, or any other iron tool at the building site.  While thinking about the significance of that, I also read our text for today, in chapter 8, verse 65. I don’t remember ever hearing about the Festival of Shelters. But they celebrated it at the end of the dedication of the Temple.

The Festival of Shelters is an ancient Hebrew festival that calls us to remember, resist and rejoice. We remember that we are all homeless wanderers in a land that is not our own. We resist the powers of pride and greed that create wealth for a few and poverty for many. And we rejoice that God has given us a harvest which provides more than enough for abundant life. 

The Festival commemorates God’s instructions to Moses and the Hebrews: “You shall live in shelters seven days: all citizens of the land shall live in shelters…” (Leviticus 23:42). The Festival calls all of God’s people, especially those who live in good houses and celebrate plentiful harvest, to not forget the God who rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt and who fully provided for His people in the wilderness, despite their rebellion. 

As we remember where we’ve come from, let us resist the temptation to be self-seeking and self-serving, and rejoice that God – in His infinite mercy – has made a way for us where there was no way. 

Prayer:

Father,
           Just as we applied ourselves to learn The Three R’s at school, let us more so abide by these: Remembering Your goodness toward us, resisting pride and self-sufficiency, and rejoicing that You go before us and make the crooked way straight, loving us and teaching us to be true followers of You. Help us to finish the race You have called us to. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

A Change of Scenery *

Then the word of the LORD came to him, [Elijah] saying, “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
1st Kings 17:2-7 NKJV

Elijah was many things, but one thing he was not was politically correct. At the Lord's command, Elijah delivered the message to Ahab that there would be a drought and that there would be neither dew nor rain until he said so. And then immediately, God said, "Get outta town, son." (Texas vernacular).

If you walk with the Lord, you know that God has changed your path. First and foremost, He changed the direction of where you are heading for eternity. That's a biggie... and have you noticed, He doesn't stop there?  He's either changed your employment or super-charged your passion in life - probably both - and that usually brings a change of scenery. I'll bet you've moved a time or two. Yes?

Has He ever taken you someplace - so totally NOT in your plans or scheme of life - and made provision beyond what you expected? And when you get there, you wind up so completely amazed at His working in your life and the blessings that overtake you! You just KNOW the only way you're going to leave that place is if you die or Jesus comes back... but then the brook dries up (see the last sentence of our text.) And there you have a choice. What do you do?

I'd like to share an excerpt from a book titled Lead Vertically, written by Craig Johnson. The message of it is profound. The following excerpt is "Who is in Charge of Your Change?"

Change can mask itself to look like a problem, when in reality it is the answer in disguise. We can't always see that the thing that might be holding us back is the very thing we have been holding on to the tightest. Change will force you to step onto the playing field when you have been comfortable in the stands. You always have a choice: you either run from change or you respond to it. You can either be afraid or affirming; passive or powerful. It all depends on whether you are handling the change or God is handling the change. Have you ever experienced more change than you could bear? It's overwhelming...but it's not over!
I encourage you to allow God to be in charge of your change. The change of scenery will do you good.

Prayer:

Father,
          Give us the courage to step out as Elijah did and do what You tell us to do, say what You tell us to say, and go where You direct our path. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
 

* A Secret Life

They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
Romans 2:15-16 NLT

Are you ever concerned with what other people think? Does opinion govern your course of action? To what extent do you do things differently if and when someone is watching? Do you live by a "what they don't know won't hurt them" philosophy? Unfortunately, there are very public stories about Christians who fall into sin. No one wants to have their sin exposed publicly. No one. Would you?

We can "put our best foot forward" and make people believe just about anything, but just like God told the prophet, Samuel, when He sent him to anoint Jesse's son, The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (1st Samuel 16:7b).

You may be struggling with something right now. I encourage you to put it on the altar before God. He sees it anyway. If you bring it to Him, expose it to the Light of the world, He will wash it away and make you whole and pure before Him.  And then there will be nothing left for you to be afraid of in the dark. Psalm 91 tells us he that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty... make THAT secret place your secret life.

Prayer:

Father,
        We lay our lives before You, open to Your inspection and correction. Give us clean hands and pure hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Double Standard +

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. 
Galatians 5:16-17b NLT

Living with a double standard has always been a source of contention for those who have to deal with it. We are quick to fly in with blazing sword (or tongue) when we see an injustice based on a double standard – which is commendable, but can also be laughable… 

What? You don’t think so? Well, let me ask you this. Have many times have you been on the road behind someone who is driving less than desirably (by your standards) and when you finally get the opportunity to get around them, you discover they’re talking on a cell phone or even worse - texting? And from the so-called safety of your moving vehicle with the windows rolled up, you react with something like, “Quit texting before you kill somebody!” or “Hang up and drive!” and then YOUR cell phone rings with a call or buzzes with a text… and you answer it because after all, you know how to drive and talk on the phone, right? Double standard.

Or, as Christians, we’re quick to spout off about those who follow the desires of their sinful nature according to Galatians 5…sexual immorality, lustful pleasures, drunkenness, wild parties, idolatry, sorcery… Why, Henry, that’s devil worship! Scripture is clear that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God!!   That’s what it states alright - a clear standard – however, that passage in its entirety reads,  19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 

Imagine that! Hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, and envy right smack dab in the middle between sorcery and drunkenness… oh, my!

There is only one standard. One God. One Way. God said through Jeremiah in chapter 32, verse 39,  And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me forever, for the good of them, and of their children after them…  One heart – no division, no dissension…

Is there no hope? Yes, there is always hope in God through Christ our Lord! Our text (Galatians 5) in the New King James version tells us if we walk in the Spirit, we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Go on down a little in the chapter and we find, 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Continuing on, the good news is that 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

One God. One Way – Jesus. There is only one standard. His. Pure and simple and undefiled by our double standards.

Prayer:

Father,
         Help us to walk in the Spirit, so that we won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. Let the Holy Spirit have His way in our lives so we may walk according to Your divine plan – in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

* Friendship with God

He [Jesus] told them a story. "Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter. When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner. The same here—when you see these things happen, you know God's kingdom is about here. Don't brush this off: I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out. But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."
Luke 21:29-36 The Message

I want to ask you something. Let's say you meet someone for the first time while you are with some dear friends - people you've known. You have a history with them. Then you all get into a weighty conversation. The new acquaintance has a differing viewpoint than several of the people with whom you have a relationship. With whose viewpoint are you more likely to agree? Nine times out of ten, you are going to give more weight to the words of your friends - those you know. The ones you've spent time with. You don't really know the full weight or value behind the words of the acquaintance because you don't know his or her life. You have no idea whether or not he or she is trustworthy. There is no relationship.

Let's take it one step further. We all have what I call Fringe Friends. They're the ones you share a few laughs with, maybe grab a coffee together or perhaps take in a show. You like them okay. Push come to shove, you'd probably stand up for them, but the friendship is decidedly one-sided. The only time you hear from them is when they want or need your time or something. Then there are those who not only know your middle name, but they also know your kids and/or your siblings, your work history, and all your annoying personality traits. They're the ones defined by the statement "He or she knows everything about me but likes me anyway." They know your good times and bad. They don't use you or abuse you. If you got a phone call from a friend in both of these categories - both with the same need, which one would you more likely respond to?

A friend sent me the following anecdote:

The pastor asked the little boy if he said his prayers every night. 'Yes, sir,' the boy replied.'And, do you always say them in the morning, too?' the pastor asked.
'No sir,' the boy replied. 'I ain't scared in the daytime.'

As humorous as this story is, the spirit of it is too often true in real life. And that's not a laughing matter. Our text today tells us we need to pray constantly because tough times are coming and prayer is the key.

How is our relationship with God? How often do we spend time with Him? Do you think there is Truth in what He has to say? Do we only talk to Him when we need something?  Do His words carry any weight in our lives? Do we know Him well enough to trust His Words?

Prayer:

Father,
         Thank You for loving us enough to want to have a relationship with us and for doing everything necessary to make that possible. Thank You for taking the extra time to make sure we can find our way to You whenever we are in need. We pray that we will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on our feet before You. Speak to us, Father, Your Word carries all the weight in any conversation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen