Childlike

On January 11, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 131: 1 – 3

Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes arrogant; nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me. I have certainly soothed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child resting against his mother, my soul within me is like a weaned child. Israel, wait for the Lord from this time on and forever.

Well, it’s back to Psalm Monday’s and I hope this is an indication that life is returning to something that at least simulates “normal.”

I began this writing some time ago but pushed it off in favor of things God led me to. Now I find this scriptural text ministers in a way it couldn’t have two weeks ago. We do involve ourselves in great matters and these things are difficult. They are also hard on our souls. Today we are offered a tonic for our weary souls.

Become a child. Jesus taught about the simple faith of a child and how we must become like children, but I see today that those childlike qualities extend beyond a childlike faith. It has more to do with the way a child can completely hide themselves in a parent. We can have the cares of an adult if we can simultaneously have the tender surrender of a child.

I am reminded of my precious nephew. Once, when we took him to a playground, he fell and scraped his knee. Not being a parent myself, I often felt out of my element but all I had to do was hold him. He climbed up in my lap and cried it out. I didn’t do anything except be there. he hid himself and his pain, more emotional than physical probably, in the comfort of my embrace. Then, done with the pain, he got up and went back to playing on the very same playground equipment. He didn’t even seem to remember the scrape or that he had been hurt. Just amazing and what a terrific picture of real life. We get old and forget those lessons of real life and how it is to be lived. Feel the pain, let it wash over you but let it wash out too as you sit in the lap of the Father, embraced by his loving arms.

Perhaps the best thing for us “adults” to do is to turn this psalm into a prayer. “Lord, teach my heart not to be proud, nor my eyes arrogant. Soothe and quiet my soul as I, like a child, rest in you. Remind me who my source of comfort is and teach me how to receive that comfort.”

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Leaders

On January 8, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Luke 22: 26

But it is not this way for you; rather, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.

Today, like many of you, I am stunned at what transpired at our nation’s capital yesterday. (Of course, I am writing this on Thursday.) Maybe you are finding it hard to recover today. I know I am and nothing I studied in Political Science or Law School prepared me for the recent events. We barely even have Political Science terms to explain what we have witnessed.

However, the minister and pastor in me has overridden the political scientist. I am in awe of our God who on Tuesday led me to a Word of the Day from July of 2015 entitled “Leadership Trait” which I reposted yesterday. Yesterday, leadership values were tested at many levels. What stands out to me is God sending that post, for I am now, fully aware that I didn’t send it, nor was it happenstance that I came across it on Tuesday or that my interest was piqued to read it. It was God who sent “Leadership Trait” on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 and I am both awed by that and humbled.

Here is what I wish to say about these events and each one of us. The people we send to Washington or to our state capitals are not the leaders. We are! And unless we take our role seriously, our democracy will fail. Jesus bought our freedom with his life, but it is up to each one of us to guard these precious privileges that have been granted us.

In the church, and certainly in ministry, we talk about servant leaders. God ordained that leaders be first, and foremost, servants. This is a truth needfully remembered. The people we elect to represent us are to serve us and the power is to remain and rest with the people. This is another truth we would do well to remember. I think we need to remind those we elect that their job is to serve us. Equally important is for us to remember that it is incumbent upon each and every one of to be a leader. It is we who are supposed to be role models and teachers.

One of our number commented Wednesday on “Leadership Trait” that he was going to put his leadership to work immediately on his job. I cannot express how grateful I was for his comment for that is the exact work of the ministry. I am called to mine the Word and give you its nuggets, but it is you, my beloved, who go out into the world and demonstrate the compassion of Christ, love, forgiveness, generosity, service and all the other great things Jesus teaches us.

Some of the people in Washington have let us down this week but others have stood up and proclaimed their Christian values. And lest I lead you down the wrong path, by Christian values I do not mean opposing abortion. I am not talking about policy positions. I am talking about character traits and the fruit of the Spirit. We need to send a very strong and very loud message by our words and our actions to all elected officials and others in “leadership” positions about kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, love, etc. (Galatians 5: 22). We need to lead by example every single day in our routine lives and by so doing, we set the bar and proclaim our expectations. We cannot lie, cheat, steal, argue, gossip, backbite or serve our selfish ambitions. If there was ever a sign that it is time for the church to rise up and be counted, you saw it on Wednesday and the fact that our Father sent out a message about leadership on that day without me having a clue what was coming is a prophetic call to each one of you! You are the leaders of this country and I trust your hearts.

I do not intend to sound meek or quiet. I am explicitly calling upon you to stand for what Christ died for. It is time for each of us to, daily, take our role in God’s great plan seriously. You have been called, by God, and we must each one answer that call devotedly and solemnly. I beg you to write yourself a 3 X 5 card and post it prominently where you will see it routinely and be reminded how important, nay, vital you are to the Kingdom. In His grace.

 

Forward this to everyone you know.

 

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Radical Trust

On January 7, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Jeremiah 17: 7 – 8

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream, and does not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought, nor cease to yield fruit.

Peace and trust have much to do with one another. I particularly was intrigued by the line that reads, “whose trust is the Lord.” Trust has become a person. It is more than a feeling. The Lord, our God, and Jesus his son have become to us trust and peace. We don’t just trust in them, they become trust within us. The fruit of who they are strengthens the spirit within us that we abide in trust.

I have a friend who is going through chemo. She said the key for her was trusting God and having the fortitude to do what He says. That’s it. I used to talk about radical trust. That is what this is. It is the continual intertwining with Him such that we hear His thoughts and aren’t afraid to follow through with what he says.

In this space where the Lord is our trust, where He provides the sustenance of trust within us, we too are free of anxiety. We are like that tree that continues to put forth its fruit regardless of the earthly circumstances. Don’t just trust the Lord; don’t just trust in Him. Spend some quiet time with Him and ask Him to be your trust, to be the confidence within your soul. Bless you!

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Leadership Trait

On January 6, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   2 Comments

Reposted from July 2, 2015

2 Chronicles 32: 1 – 8

After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself. Now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war on Jerusalem, he decided with his officers and his warriors to cut off the supply of water from the springs which were outside the city, and they helped him. So many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream which flowed through the region, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find abundant water?” And he took courage and rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down and erected towers on it, and built another outside wall and strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in great number. He appointed military officers over the people and gathered them to him in the square at the city gate, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, “Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

I had planned on a verse from Jeremiah for today but I was working on some research yesterday morning and ran across this post from 2015. It jumped out at me and I knew at once I needed the reminder. Perhaps others do too. Please feel free, even be encouraged, to share this widely. Enjoy this message from July 2015.

You’ve heard it said that attitude determines altitude. A person’s attitude towards the situations of life determines how they will come through those circumstances. King Hezekiah shows us the attitude of a good leader.

The scripture says that in the face of Sennacherib’s threats Hezekiah gathered the people and spoke encouragingly to them. That is what we should be doing. Encouragement is a big deal. In fact, God has told us to encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5: 11). Since discovering that God commands us to be encouragers, I have been watching people. Some people are very good at it. Some people even seem anointed of God as encouragers. Then I discovered something. Leaders are encouragers. It turns out that encouraging others is a big part of what it means to be a leader. I didn’t know that.

Hezekiah saw that the threat to the people of Judah was not only to their persons but first to their psyche. The Assyrians were not knocking on their door for a tea party. Hezekiah knew that people would begin to be afraid so he gathered them together and encouraged them. You don’t have to hang out with God, the Father very long to find out where Hezekiah learned this skill. God constantly encourages and uplifts. We have all heard this verse from Ephesians, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4: 29). We have focused on restricting unwholesome words but there is a second mandate; make it a point to speak words which build people up. That is what edification is, building people up. When someone does a good job, leaders tell them so.

I wonder sometimes if we have become such a broken people that we feel like we are diminishing ourselves if we lift others up. Really the opposite is true. We build ourselves when we lift others. This is such a big deal that the Apostle Paul wrote about it at least five times. I like what he wrote in Romans 15: 2, “Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.” Did you know this was the message of Christianity? Can’t say that I did but now none of us have the excuse of ignorance any longer. We have all been called by Christ as leaders. We are the ones who are supposed to be encouraging the frightened, and lifting up the weary. Start today being an encourager. If you cannot find someone to encourage, you aren’t trying very hard. Be a blessing of the Lord.

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Peace

On January 5, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   2 Comments

2 Thessalonians 3: 16

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

I have been thinking about the peace of Jesus much lately. 2020 was an attack on our peace. We have struggled to maintain our peace. I had to turn off the news and Facebook in order to retain my peace. We must guard our peace zealously. Your emotional and even physical well-being depend on it.

The key thought is that we can have peace. Jesus left his kind of peace here when he left earth. Think about Jesus’ life for a moment. Only once do we know of that he lost his peace and that was in fulfillment of prophecy. In the gospel of John Jesus characterized his peace as “not as the world gives,” (John 14: 27). This is a different kind of peace, a kind of peace the world cannot comprehend. It is beyond human expression but not beyond human experience because it is this peace which the Lord has given us. We may have peace even in the most tumultuous of times. Many of you have witnessed this miracle of grace in the past eleven months. Jesus went on to say, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.” Great Jesus, but how do we do that?

If Jesus gave us his peace, then why are we not all walking around in perfect peace? Do we have to earn what was granted? By no means! It doesn’t, however, fall out of the sky on us either. We get to choose whether to abide in this grace or not. I find I lose my peace more readily when I do not spend sufficient time with my Lord. It’s not just praying either. It might just be making myself aware of his presence and abiding there. Sometimes I just look out the window and ponder things. The key is that I get to choose whether I abide in that presence or not. That is why I will not be on Facebook anytime soon nor will I be watching the news. Those things will rob me of my peace, and I am under command from Jesus to protect my heart.

We are blessed to enjoy a kind of peace the world does not know. Protect your heart and abide in Jesus’ peace.

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Happiest New Year Ever

On January 4, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Revelation 21: 5

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

We will resume our Psalm Mondays next week. I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year and to bless your year and heart in the name of our Lord, Jesus, who is the long-awaited Christ.

Never have we been so glad to kiss a year good-bye. It feels good to type 2021 because of the hope a new year brings. 2020 was particularly challenging but each January we enjoy a sense of renewal. We get a “do over” and enjoy a certain freedom in plans and hopes. I pray that your hope is renewed. Behold, all things are new. Whoo Hoo!

It is appropriate that the New Year comes on the heels of Christmas. Christmas is about hope. It is the celebration of the answer for the problems of the world being sent to every human being. Do you feel joy knowing that Jesus was born to us, that he came into the earth bringing salvation? Glory to God because we do have hope and joy and victory in Jesus. We can rejoice because he is! Let the earth continue to ring with the good news of a child born who brings healing in his wings.

I want to celebrate Christmas all year this year. The heart is most sensitive at Christmas, and people remember what is important. Additionally, hope is renewed in Christ our beloved. Speaking to a friend recently, we expressed our great thankfulness for the hope we have in Jesus. We also lamented the truth that some people live without that hope, the hope and peace which sustains us. Even through the most tumultuous times, we have the peace which surpasses understanding and we have hope.

My New Year’s wish is that all the world will know and experience the peace and hope which is only in Christ Jesus. May your heart and spirit enjoy a renewal of these great gifts from a loving Father and may those without hope see upon your face the light of those endowments.

God bless you, each one, and may this year be one of great hope and rejoicing. Set your expectations high and let’s go get some rainbows. Love you all!

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Christmas Tidings

On December 18, 2020   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Merry Christmas!

 

Christmas tidings to every one of you. I pray that this Christmas Season will be a warm reminder of why you became a Christian.  I pray that your relationship with Christ will be rejuvenated and renewed.  It is also my hope that you will receive healing for the stress this year has brought.

This arrangement, done by Diane Jones, reminds me that we can arrange our lives and thoughts according to the limitless grace of our dear Lord.  Though 2020 handed us many lemons, they can be squeezed and made into lemonade.  Diane’s arrangement encourages my spirit with its beauty and its whimsical hints.  It brings joy and even a sense of peace.  Even in this sometimes horrible year, we can still make something beautiful.  Santa’s boot reminds me of a giver whose name means “holy.”  The jolly man in the red suit represents the first and greatest of all givers, our beloved Father who gave the first and greatest of all gifts, the dear Lord Jesus.

May your heart also be overwhelmed by the goodness that is still evident in this beaten up world.  May you receive, again, the greatest of all gifts, a sweet baby sent to save us from torment and hell.

All hail the Lord.  Praise and glory to his holy name and beauty and kindness to all people in his blessed name.  Be blessed my beloved.  Let your heart be renewed and soar in the love that is Christ at Christmas.

Until January fourth when the Word of the Day returns, let us pray for each other, everyone who receives this devotional, please pray for everyone else who receives the Word of the Day.  Let us look forward to joy and peace in this season and the new year.  God bless you all!

 

 

 

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