Hope To Continue On
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Posted:Sep 3, 2014 6:06 am
Last Updated:Sep 3, 2014 6:08 am 18687 Views
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Read: Lamentations 3:19-33
Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 140-142; 1 Corinthians 14:1-20
The solar-powered airplane Solar Impulse can fly day and night without fuel. Inventors Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg hope to fly it around the world in 2015. While the plane flies all day by solar power, it gathers enough energy to be able to fly all night. When the sun rises, Piccard says, It brings the hope again that you can continue.
The idea of sunrise bringing us hope makes me think of Lamentations 3 from our Bible reading for today: This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning (vv.21-23). Even when God's people were in the depths of despair while the city of Jerusalem was being invaded by the Babylonians, the prophet Jeremiah said they had reason to hopeâthey still had the Lord's mercies and compassions.
Sometimes our struggles seem worse at night, but when sunrise comes it brings hope again that we can continue. Weeping may endure for a night, the psalmist says,but joy comes in the morning (Ps. 30:5).
Thank You, Lord, for the hope You send with each sunrise. Your mercies and compassions are new every morning!
New mercies every morning,
Grace for every day,
New hope for every trial,
And courage all the way.
Each new day gives us new reasons to praise the Lord.
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Not Even A Nod
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Posted:Sep 2, 2014 6:31 am
Last Updated:Sep 2, 2014 6:33 am 18587 Views
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Read: Luke 17:11-19
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God. Luke 17:15
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 137-139; 1 Corinthians 13
Traffic was bad and everyone was cranky on that hot afternoon. I noticed a car with two young men waiting to enter traffic from a fast-food restaurant driveway. I thought it was nice when the driver ahead of me let them in.
But when the nice driver ahead of me didn't get a nod or even a thank you wave, he turned ugly. First he rolled down his window and shouted at the driver he had let in. Then he gunned his engine and raced forward as if to ram into his car, honking and yelling as he continued to vent his anger.
Who was more wrong? Did the young drivers ingratitude justify the nice drivers angry response? Was he owed a thank you?
Certainly the 10 lepers Jesus healed owed gratitude to Him. How could only one return to say thank you? I'm struck by Jesus response: Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? (Luke 17:18. If the King of Kings can get only a 1 in 10 response of thanks, how can we expect more from others? Better to do our deeds to honor God and serve others than to do them to collect gratitude. May the grace of God be seen in us even when our kind acts go unappreciated.
Lord, we like to be recognized for the things we
do. Help us to remember that we are not owed any
recognition or thanks but that we owe You a lifetime
of gratitude for the salvation You offer through Jesus.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may . . . glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
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I Am Not Forgotten
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Posted:Sep 1, 2014 8:23 am
Last Updated:Sep 3, 2014 7:56 am 18648 Views
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Read: Psalm 13
Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 135-136; 1 Corinthians 12
Waiting is hard at any time; but when days, weeks, or even months pass and our prayers seem to go unanswered, it's easy to feel God has forgotten us. Perhaps we can struggle through the day with its distractions, but at night it's doubly difficult to deal with our anxious thoughts. Worries loom large, and the dark hours seem endless. Utter weariness makes it look impossible to face the new day.
The psalmist grew weary as he waited (Ps. 13:1). He felt abandoned as if his enemies were gaining the upper hand (v.2). When we're waiting for God to resolve a difficult situation or to answer often-repeated prayers, it's easy to get discouraged.
Satan whispers that God has forgotten us, and that things will never change. We may be tempted to give in to despair. Why bother to read the Bible or to pray? Why make the effort to worship with fellow believers in Christ? But we need our spiritual lifelines most when we're waiting. They help to hold us steady in the flow of God's love and to become sensitive to His Spirit.
The psalmist had a remedy. He focused on all that he knew of God's love, reminding himself of past blessings and deliberately praising God, who would not forget him. So can we.
Lover of my soul, who draws close
in the darkest and longest night, please
keep me trusting You, talking to You,
and leaning on Your promises.
God is worth waiting for; His time is always best.
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Terms Of Service
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Posted:Aug 29, 2014 1:32 am
Last Updated:Sep 3, 2014 7:57 am 18113 Views
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Read: Luke 6:27-37
Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 126-128; 1 Corinthians 10:19-33
If you're like me, you seldom read the full text of contracts for online services before you agree to them. They go on for pages, and most of the legal jargon makes no sense to ordinary people like me.
I was quite surprised, therefore, when a friend from Africa made me aware of this one-of-a-kind service agreement for online software. Instead of a wordy license telling people how not to use it, the developer offers a simple blessing urging people to use it for good:
May you do good and not evil. May you find forgiveness for yourself and forgive others. May you share freely, never taking more than you give.
At first I thought, Wow. Imagine if more terms of service agreements were written as blessings instead of legal documents. Then I thought, The agreement Jesus makes with us is like that. He offers us forgiveness of sin, peace with God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. In return, all He asks is that we do good (Gal. 6:10), forgive as we've been forgiven (Luke 6:37), and love others as He loves us (John 13:34).
The beauty of Jesus agreement with us is that even though we fail to live up to the terms, we still receive the blessing.
Bestowed with benefits daily,
Sent from the Father above;
Mercies and blessings abounding,
Gifts of His marvelous love.
As we have opportunity, let us do good to all. Galatians 6:10
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A Picture Of Humility
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Posted:Aug 28, 2014 5:23 am
Last Updated:Aug 28, 2014 5:26 am 18145 Views
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Read: John 13:1-11
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. âJames 4:6
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 123-125; 1 Corinthians 10:1-18
During the Easter season, my wife and I attended a church service where the participants sought to model the events that Jesus and His disciples experienced on the night before He was crucified. As part of the service, the church staff members washed the feet of some of the church volunteers. As I watched, I wondered which was more humbling in our day to wash another persons feet or to have someone else wash yours. Both those who were serving and those being served were presenting distinct pictures of humility.
When Jesus and His disciples were gathered for the Last Supper
(John 13:1-20), Jesus, in humble servanthood, washed His disciples feet. But Simon Peter resisted, saying, You shall never wash my feet! Then Jesus answered, If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me 13.8. Washing their feet was not a mere ritual. It could also be seen as a picture of our need of Christ's cleansing a cleansing that will never be realized unless we are willing to be humble before the Savior.
James wrote, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). We receive God's grace when we acknowledge the greatness of God, who humbled Himself at the cross (Phil. 2:5-11).
My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine;
Now hear me when I pray, take all my sin away,
O let me from this day be wholly Thine!
The most powerful position on earth is kneeling before the Lord of the universe.
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Life's Darkest Moments
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Posted:Aug 27, 2014 4:41 am
Last Updated:Sep 3, 2014 7:58 am 18163 Views
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Read: 1 Kings 19:1-8
An angel touched [Elijah], and said to him, Arise and eat.1 Kings 19:5
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 120-122; 1 Corinthians 9
Charles Whittlesey was a heros hero. Leader of the so-called Lost Battalion in World War I, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery when his unit was trapped behind enemy lines. When the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated, Charles was chosen to serve as pallbearer for the first soldier laid to rest there. Two weeks later, it is presumed that he ended his own life by stepping off a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean.
Like Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-7), Charles was publicly strong, but in the quiet, post-public moments, his feelings of despair set in. People today frequently face situations bigger than they can handle. Sometimes it's temporary despair brought on by fatigue, as in Elijah's case. He had been part of a great victory over the prophets of Baal (18:20-40), but then he feared for his life and ran into the wilderness (19:1-3). But often, it's more than despair and it's more than temporary. That's why it is imperative that we talk about depression openly and compassionately.
God offers His presence to us in life's darkest moments, which enables us, in turn, to be His presence to the hurting. Crying out for help from others and from God may be the strongest moment of our lives.
Father, grant us the candor to admit to each
other that sometimes life overwhelms us. And
grant us the courage to help others find
helpâand to seek it when we need it.
Hope comes with help from God and others.
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Spiritual Navigation
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Posted:Aug 26, 2014 5:52 am
Last Updated:Aug 26, 2014 5:55 am 18186 Views
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Read: Psalm 119:97-106
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
Bible in a Year:
Psalm 119:89-176; 1 Corinthians 8
Dava Sobel's award-winning book Longitude describes a dilemma faced by early sailors. They could readily determine their latitude north or south of the equator by the length of the day or height of the sun. Calculating east/west longitude, however, remained complex and unreliable until English clockmaker John Harrison invented the marine chronometer. This was a clock that would carry the true time from the home port . . . to any remote corner of the world,â thus enabling sailors to determine longitude.
As we navigate the seas of life, we also have a reliable source of spiritual direction the Bible. The psalmist wrote, Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day (Ps. 119:97). Rather than occasionally glancing at Godâs Word, he spoke of pondering the Lord's directions throughout each day: Your testimonies are my meditation (v.99). This was coupled with a commitment to obey the Author: I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments (v.106).
Like the mariners of old, we need a constant guide to help us find our way and stay on course. That's what happens when we seek the Lord day by day with an open heart and a willing spirit that says, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
We need God's guidance from above,
His daily leading and His love;
As we trust Him for direction,
To our course Heâll give correction.
With God as your navigator, youâre headed in the right direction.
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More Than Waiting
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Posted:Aug 25, 2014 5:54 am
Last Updated:Sep 3, 2014 7:58 am 18359 Views
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Read: Acts 1:1-11
A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father. John 16:16
Bible in a Year:
Psalm 119:1-88; 1 Corinthians 7:20-40
I don't know how it works where you live, but when I have to call for a repair for one of my appliances, the company says something like, The repairman will be there between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.â Since I don't know when the repair person will arrive, all I can do is wait.
Jesus told His followers that He would soon be leaving them and they would need to wait for His return in a little while (John 16:16). After His resurrection, they saw Him again and they hoped He would be establishing His kingdom on earth at that time. But He told them, It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authorityActs 1.7. They would have to wait even longer.
But they were to do more than wait. Jesus told His followers that they were to âbe witnesses to [Him] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth v.8. And He gave them the Holy Spirit to empower them to do this.
We still wait for Jesus return. And while we do, it's our delight, in the Holy Spirit's power, to tell and show others who He is, what He has done for all of us through His death and resurrection, and that He has promised to return.
Dear Lord, we love You so much. We want
our words and our lives to be a witness
of Your goodness and grace. Please use
us in ways we never thought possible.
Wait and witness till Jesus returns.
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Live In Love
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Posted:Aug 22, 2014 4:13 am
Last Updated:Aug 22, 2014 4:15 am 18321 Views
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Read: Psalm 112
Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; he is gracious, and full of compassion. Psalm 112:4
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 110-112; 1 Corinthians 5
In the African country where my friend Roxanne lives, water is a precious commodity. People often have to travel long distances to collect water from small, contaminated creeksâleading to sickness and death. Itâs difficult for organizations like orphanages and churches to serve the people because of a lack of water. But thatâs beginning to change.
Through Roxanne's leadership and the unselfish gifts of some loving people in established churches, clean water wells are being dug. At least six new wells are now operational, allowing churches to be centers of hope and encouragement. A health center and a home for 700 orphans will also be able to be opened because of access to water.
That's the kind of love that can flow from believers in Christ when we have experienced the love and generosity of God. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13 that if we don't have love, our voices clang on peoples ears and our faith means nothing. And the apostle John says that if we have material possessions and see others in need and take action, thatâs evidence that God's love is abiding in us(1 John 3.16.
God desires that we deal graciously (Ps. 112:5) with those in need, for His heart is gracious toward us.
Be not weary in your serving;
Do your best for those in need;
Kindnesses will be rewarded
By the Lord who prompts the deed.
Kindness is Christianity with its working clothes on.
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A Word For The Struggler
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Posted:Aug 21, 2014 10:31 am
Last Updated:Aug 21, 2014 10:34 am 18383 Views
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Read: Hebrews 10:32-39
Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
Hebrews 10:35
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 107-109; 1 Corinthians 4
There is an old adage that says, âDonât bite off more than you can chew. It's wise not to take on more responsibilities than we can handle. At some time, however, we will likely feel overwhelmed by the size and difficulty of a task we have agreed to do.
This can happen even in our walk of faith in Christ when our commitment to God seems too much to bear. But the Lord has an encouraging word for us when our confidence wavers.
The writer of Hebrews urged his readers to recall the courage they demonstrated during the early days of their faith (10:32-33). Despite public insults and persecution, they aided believers in prison, and they joyfully accepted the confiscation of their own property (vv.33-34). With that in mind, he says, Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise (vv.35-36).
Our confidence is not in ourselves but in Jesus and His promise to return at just the right time (v.37).
It is God's power that enables us to continue in our journey of faith. Recalling the Lord's faithfulness in days past stirs our confidence in Him today.
When life becomes a heavy load,
An upward climb, a winding road,
In daily tasks, Lord, let me see
That with me You will always be.
Trusting Godâ's faithfulness stirs up our confidence.
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