Pastor Terry Lema's Daily Devotions
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TerryLema

TerryLema

Two: I Will Not Fail You

by TerryLema June 11, 2025

I will not fail you. That’s the second of 10 things I want to remember about God.  He will not fail us.

Remember that wonderful Scripture in Lamentations 3:22? “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.” 

 God’s compassions will never fail us.  But what exactly did Jeremiah mean when He referred to God’s compassions.

The OT word for ‘compassions’ in this instance is racham.  Racham means compassion.  (In our English that is kindness, concern, care, consideration.)

Racham also refers to tender love, mercy, pity, and surprisingly something else.  Racham refers to the womb as cherishing the fetus.

As the womb envelops, protects, nourishes, and treasures the fetus until the fullness of time for that child to be born, so God’s compassions envelop, protect, nourish and treasure us until the fullness of time when we will be brought into His presence.

He will not fail us. Amen

June 11, 2025 0 comment
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One: I Will Bless You

by TerryLema June 10, 2025

I will bless you. This is the first of the 10 things God wants me to remember—at least according to the magnet I found on Bob’s gun cabinet.

The first occurrence of the words I will bless you is recorded in Genesis. God’s main promise (covenant) to Abraham began with those words. “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.” [22:17 NIV]

This promise of blessing was given to Abraham despite Abraham’s sins and failings. God kept His promise and Isaac was born. Some of God’s promises are contingent upon our response. Those are the “if/then” promises; if you do this/then I will do that. However, many of God’s promises do not depend on our character but on His faithfulness, and this promise to Abraham was absolutely dependent on God’s faithfulness.

The promise of blessing to Abraham is also referenced in Hebrews. The writer of Hebrews tells us that God did not promise this blessing only to Abraham but also gave His promise and oath to “the heirs of promise.” While Isaac and his descendants are the first of these heirs, all believers are included in the promise as “Abraham’s [spiritual] seed.” [Hebrews 6:14-20, 11:9, Galatians. 3:29]

God even confirmed His promise with an oath. In an oath the greater always witnesses for the lesser, and in this instance, there is no greater one than God, who cannot lie, and who always keeps His promises. God has promised to bless us as spiritual descendants of Abraham.

Too often we trivialize blessing, God blessed me with a good parking space. We need to remember the depth, width and length of the blessing that is the foundation of all blessing, that blessing which flows through the greatest descendant of Abraham, Jesus Christ.

I [we] have been blessed in Christ, that’s God’s promise, that’s God’s oath…I will bless you.

June 10, 2025 0 comment
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Pebbles in My Shoes

by TerryLema June 9, 2025

I have had a few tough months. I was talking to my friend the other day and said it’s been like walking with a pebble in my shoe. Then getting another pebble, and another, and another, and …. One problem or trial is difficult, but compound problems or trials is often overwhelming and awakens emotions (even doubts) I thought I had already conquered in the power of God’s Spirit.

I was walking around the house as I was wrestling with the “pebbles.” Walking through Bob’s office I spotted a magnet on Bob’s gun cabinet. It said in large letters “10 Things God Wants You to Remember.” I walked past it a couple times until my curiosity got the better of me and I finally pulled it off the cabinet.

What 10 things does God want us to remember?  At least what 10 things does the magnet’s creator think God wants us to remember?

1-I will bless you. 2-I will not fail you. 3-I will provide for you. 4-I will be with you. 5-I love you. 6-I am for you. 7-I believe in you. 8-I will answer you. 9-I will strengthen you. 10-I will give you rest.

I don’t know about you, but I “know” all those things. But it is one thing to “know” them, it is another thing to “live” them … and still another thing to “live” them amid the trials and difficulties that are so much a part of this life.

In professional sports, such as baseball, when a player is struggling, they are often sent “down to Triple-A” so that they can refresh the basics. Maybe I need to refresh the basics too.  Often the simplest truths are the weightiest. You are welcome to join me over the next ten days.

June 9, 2025 0 comment
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Jesus is LORD

by TerryLema June 8, 2025

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” [Rom 10:9 NIV]

If you are reading this devotion this morning more than likely at some point in your life you did exactly what Paul wrote in Romans 10. You confessed that Jesus is Lord, you believed that He died, was buried and rose from the grave. And you know that through that confession, you are saved now and will be with Him one day.

Jesus is Lord.  Lord, NT:2962, kurios (koo’-ree-os); from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority. Jesus is Lord. He is the supreme authority over and in our salvation. Salvation, of course, is our greatest need, but I wonder what would happen if we, His church, started claiming and confessing His Lordship over more than just our salvation.

What if we started seeking His Lordship over our bodies, our minds, our wills? What if we started claiming His Lordship over our jobs, our families, our finances, our marriages? What would happen if we started claiming His Supreme authority over our churches, our neighborhoods, our politicians, our scientists, our doctors, and our lawyers?

I wonder if we are stopping short of what God’s great will is. Jesus said that we are to pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We acknowledge with our minds that God’s will is the supremacy, the Lordship of Christ over all things, but are we praying that way? Are we expecting God’s Spirit to move in answer to those kinds of prayers? Or, are we stopping short? Something I am surely going to be thinking and praying about today.

June 8, 2025 0 comment
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Fear Repeats!

by TerryLema June 7, 2025

I wrote a few days ago about fear. It is ugly and can pop up at any moment. I had an event that caused fear to rise in me. I spent a day fearing what the outcome might be, but the following morning I surrendered that fear to the LORD Jesus and I accepted His love and peace.

I found out a few days later than fear does not like to remain surrendered. It likes to re-appear and attempt once again to immobilize. That must be why there are so many Scriptures addressing fear in the Bible. God knew we would need each one!

I was looking at a few “fear” verses this morning and my heart grabbed hold of Psalm 27. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” [vs1 NKJV]

The LORD, the LORD God Almighty is my light and my salvation. I accepted His invitation to be HIS more than one half century ago. Since I belong to the LORD, to God Almighty, is there anyone on earth that I should fear?

Is there anyone on earth greater than my LORD? Is there anyone on earth that is stronger than my LORD? Is there anyone on this earth that can overpower God’s love for me? No.

So, “Of whom shall I be afraid?” No One! Praise the LORD.

June 7, 2025 0 comment
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I Believe

by TerryLema June 6, 2025

There is so much wrong with this world. I support the Tim Tebow Foundation, and I am often overwhelmed with sorrow when I read some of the stories told by the children that it rescues from slavery and exploitation around this world. But I don’t have to go to other parts of the world, I can find that same evil in my own backyard.

There are so many unanswered questions. Whenever we hear about tragedies, about how cruel people can be, about how evil often seems to flourish unhindered, we are confronted with the question … “Why does God allow this to happen?”

I truly wish I could answer that in a way that satisfies everyone, but that is not possible. What I can say is that no matter what I see in this life, I believe.

Evil things will happen, still I believe.

This world may be horribly broken, still I believe.

Illness, suffering and death may come, still I believe.

I believe God is Good.

I believe God loves us.

I believe Jesus died to take away our sins and opened the way to God our Father.

I believe Jesus is coming again and that one day all will be made right.

I believe.

“I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.” [2 Timothy 1:12 HCSB]

June 6, 2025 0 comment
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Fear

by TerryLema June 5, 2025

Fear is an ugly thing. It can pop up in a moment, unexpected and powerful. It can freeze us in our tracks. It happened to me this past Tuesday.

We were at the Costco gas station, and I pulled into a vacant space. I needed to back up to get in line with the pump. I backed about 5 feet and bumped the car behind me. I immediately hit my brakes and pulled forward. I got out of the car, heart racing. The older man who had the car behind me, scowled and immediately called for the attendant, who came right over.

His first words, “Get the store manager out here now.” The attendant explained that Costco was not involved with these types of accidents, and we should simply exchange information and insurance. Then he asked if Costco had video and she said yes.

The three of us looked over both cars and I could not see any damage on either one. The attendant and I both said there didn’t appear to be any damage. The other driver said, “You can’t tell.”

I took pictures of both cars and his information. He did the same. The attendant casually came over to me as he was snapping pictures of my information and said, “There’s nothing there.” She smiled and walked away.

When I got home, I looked up the man on Google and found he is an official from a nearby city. Immediately, I was fearful of what he might do or claim. I spent the day nursing that fear. Then this morning I remembered that the LORD promises that “fear” cannot separate us from the Love to God. I relinquished my fearfulness to the LORD and accepted His peace.  Thank you, LORD.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” [Romans 8:38 NLT]

June 5, 2025 0 comment
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We Will Always Be with the LORD

by TerryLema June 4, 2025

My daily verse last Saturday was 1Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.”

 I needed to be reminded that those who love the LORD Christ Jesus will “always be with the LORD.”

I felt worn down. After a few weeks suffering with a pinched nerve in my neck, a head cold, two MRI’s, and waiting to talk to doctors, I was dragging. Except for medical visits, and one brief grocery pick up, I had not left the house. The pinched nerve in my neck caused intense pain and weakness in my shoulder and right arm. I was miserable.

Saturday’s daily verse reminded me that any day now, the LORD Himself could descent from heaven with a shout! And at any moment we could be caught up to meet Him in the air. But it was that last phrase in verse 17 that touched my heart … “we will always be with the LORD.”

I know that right now the LORD is with me. But I also know that sometimes the stresses of this life dull my senses of His presence. But when He comes back – WHEN He comes back – we will always BE with Him. I’m living in that promise today.

 

June 4, 2025 0 comment
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How Much More?

by TerryLema June 3, 2025

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”  [1John 3:1 NIV]

The KJV says how great is the love the father has “bestowed” on us, and the new Holman Christian Standard says how great is the love the father has “given” us. I like the NIV translators best. I think the translators must have been feeling like I feel today. That English word “lavished” means bestowed, but it also means heaped, poured, smothered with, showered, covered, and loaded!

Nothing like being showered with the love of our Father God. The closest thing I can compare to in my life is the love I have for my children, grandchildren and great. I love spending time with them. I love taking them places and showing them new things. I love giving them gifts. I love smothering them with hugs and kisses. As great as my love for them, God’s love is even greater for me and you.

Jesus put it this way, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” [Matt 7:11 NIV]

How much more? So much more! So much more than we can even think or imagine. And Luke 11:13 tells us these good gifts come to us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to us through the sacrifice of God’s Son. God’s Son comes to us through that great love that the Father has lavished on us.

My praises rise to you today, Father, for Your great love.

June 3, 2025 0 comment
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Light of the World

by TerryLema June 2, 2025

We are rapidly approaching the longest day of the year at the end of June. I’ve noticed lately that it is light out when I head to bed and still light out when I wake up in the morning. (Thank God for blackout curtains!)

As I woke up to a bright morning, I was reminded of a Scripture from the Sermon on the Mount. “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.”  [Matt 5:14 HCSB]

As I listened to the morning news I was also reminded about how dark our world is getting. Evil is much more out there. The world considers this enlightenment, coming out from under the restrictive morals and rules the church has imposed upon them.

Unfortunately, their enlightenment is really darkness. The woes of Isaiah 5 surely apply: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own opinion and clever in their own sight.”  [vs20-21 HCSB]

But in the midst of this dark world, Christians are light. The darker the world gets, the brighter our light shines.  Jesus said we “cannot be hidden.”  We are not running around looking for a match to strike this little light of mine, we are like a large city ablaze on a mountain. The darker the world, the harder it will be to ignore us.

 

June 2, 2025 0 comment
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Pastor Terry Lema

Pastor Terry Lema has been married for 53 years, and has 3 children and 3 grandsons. Terry graduated from Trinity Bible College, and and recently retired as Lead Pastor at The Way Church in Middleton, Idaho.

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Pastor Terry Lema's Daily Devotions
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